Valeur Group’s commitment to sustainability has been officially recognized by FFS (Forum per la Finanza Sostenibile), the Italian organization that promotes the inclusion of environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria in financial products and services. The Group run by Lorenzo Vangelisti is in fact part of the network created by FFS, entirely dedicated to sustainable investments, that enables banks, insurance companies, foundations, associations and no-profit organizations to share experiences, knowledge and skills.
Lorenzo Vangelisti’s company has taken part in several initiatives and events linked on some level to Sustainable Finance. SRI (Sustainable and Responsible Investment) is indeed a powerful tool that could shape the economic development model and bring it in line with sustainability principles. The independent Group specialized in asset management, advisory, risk management, trading and real estate shares the same vision. In May of last year, for example, Valeur Group made the decision to invest in the World Bank Wildlife Conservation Bond, a financial tool created to support black rhinos and the local communities that inhabit the areas of Addo Elephant National Park and the Great Fish River Nature Reserve in South Africa.
As can be read on FFS official site, Valeur Group’s success is also due to the “achievement of high ethical standards”, which means that the company’s activities are carried out “in accordance with UN Principles for Responsible Investment and CFA Institute ethical and professional standards”. According to the Group founded by Lorenzo Vangelisti in 2010, the investment process cannot exclude “considerations on sustainability issues and on the fact that it can help identify and distinguish more vulnerable sectors and companies from resilient ones”.
The Group has even developed an internal methodology to assess portfolios’ level of sustainability. Basically, it takes into account the scores of main ESG providers, it establishes a minimum target for each asset class and it then compares the portfolio with specific reference benchmarks. Lastly, the company introduced very tight parameters on the inclusion of ESG factors in the investment process and on risk monitoring.