China's Growth Threatens to Dry Up
For years, China has been a beacon with its high rates of growth. But the economic boom is having a worsening impact on the environment. Pollution and overexploitation of water reserves are endangering not only the health of the population but also China's continued development. Companies which provide services and technologies geared towards the sustainable use of water are finding a very attractive market in China. Find out more in the latest edition of SAM Insights on the world's most heavily populated country.
"Energies of the future" SAMcast with energy analyst Bjoern Tore Urdal
Whether you are a driver filling your car at the petrol station, a home owner ordering heating oil or a consumer grappling with mounting inflation, we are all affected by high oil prices. At the start of June 2008 the price of crude almost reached the USD 140 mark, a new nominal record for the price of "black gold". This creates new opportunities for alternative energy forms that are kinder on the environment.
The market prospects for energy resources with future potential are excellent, as SAM's energy analyst Bjoern Tore Urdal explains in this SAMcast interview. He comments on the enormous potential of solar energy, the advantages of natural gas, and the reasons why the oil price is set to remain high over the long term.
Test your energy knowledge by entering our competition and you might be lucky enough to win a solar bag worth more than CHF 800.
June 5, 08
SAM (Sustainable Asset Management) Awarded "Runner-up" Financial Times Sustainable Investor of the Year
SAM has been awarded "Runner-up" Sustainable Investor of the Year in the Financial Times and IFC (part of the World Bank Group) Sustainable Banking Awards, the first year this category featured. The jury particularly valued SAM's pioneering and globally leading position, as well as its innovation and thought leadership, in the area of sustainability investing.
Media Release
June 4, 08
SAM names Roman Binder new Chief Operating Officer and member of Executive Committee
SAM (Sustainable Asset Management) has appointed Roman Binder Chief Operating Officer (COO) and member of the company's Executive Committee for effect as of June 1, 2008. As former Chief Credit Officer Private Banking Asia Pacific & Middle East, Singapore, and Chief of Staff for the Chief Credit Officer, Zurich, at Credit Suisse, as well as due to his many years of consulting activities at McKinsey, Roman Binder has an ideal background for supporting the planned growth strategy of SAM as the company's COO. In this position he will bear responsibility for the Controlling, Legal & Compliance, IT, Project Management, as well as the Risk Management & Investment Controlling business units.
Media Release
June 2, 08
SAM highlights its role as trailblazer in the financial industry by placing the world's first CHF sustainability convertible bonds
As investment advisor to Sustainable Performance Group AG, Zurich (SWX: SPG), SAM (Sustainable Asset Management) has assisted in the successful issuance of the world's first CHF-denominated sustainability convertible bonds (issue volume: CHF 50 million). SAM advises SPG in its investments, which focus on sustainable growth themes such as water, energy, resource efficiency and healthy living; based on NAV, those investments currently amount to CHF 320 million. The newly issued convertible bonds enable a broad spectrum of investors to benefit from those megatrends; the placement also underscores SAM's role as a trailblazer in the area of sustainability investments.
Media Release
April 3, 08
2007 financial year: SPG records yet another successful year - shares gain in value by 17.7%
Shares of the leading investment company for sustainability investments, Sustainable Performance Group (SPG), rose in 2007 by roughly 18%, while its MSCI World ex Financials benchmark index gained only 7.4% over the same time frame. The successfully completed capital increase in October 2007 underscores the high level of investor interest in the investment strategy of SPG. SPG shares combine the growth potential of small- and medium-sized listed companies with the promising, future-oriented themes of energy, water, healthy living and resource efficiency. The broadly diversified SPG portfolio is supplemented up to a maximum of 10% of total assets by in-vestments in unlisted (private equity) up-and-coming companies in the "cleantech" area.
Media Release
March 25, 08
Market Volume of Sustainability Investments Soars 67 Percent
Sustainability investments are still booming in Switzerland. In 2007 the market volume of sustainably managed assets rose 67% to CHF 30 billion. The volume of sustainable investment funds and other collective investments increased by as much as 92%, while the market as a whole contracted slightly over the same period. The main growth drivers included new products under the investment themes of water, renewable energies and climate change. According to a survey of the biggest providers, including SAM as the Swiss market leader, private investors accounted for 53% of the total volume, outstripping institutional investors for the first time. Equities are still the most important asset class, accounting for 83% of the total market volume. Report: Sustainable Investments in Switzerland 2007
Media Release
February 21, 08
SAM doubles assets under management (AUM); records successes in Asia; expands in USA and into Canada. AUM rose in 2007 by CHF 4.7 bln. or 125% to CHF 8.5 bln
SAM (Sustainable Asset Management), the leading Investment Group for sustainability investments, registered a 125% increase from CHF 3.8 billion to CHF 8.5 billion for the 2007 financial year.
In total, assets under management together with assets under advice (e.g. via licenses) amounted to CHF 15.1 billion. In addition to keen European interest in SAM’s investment products, strong demand came particularly from Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. Also in the USA, market successes have been achieved during the four months since the launch of the first US-registered SAM funds, especially among large foundations and family offices. For the current year, SAM continues to reckon with strong demand from Europe, Asia and particularly the USA. SAM’s investor base mainly includes private investors, wealthy private clients, family offices, foundations and public pension funds.
Media Release
February 07, 08
New SAM study: «Water - a market of the future»
Climate change is putting increasing pressure on the world's water supply, even as the global population grows and more water of better quality is required. Given those circumstances, water is becoming a valuable commodity and, in response, innovative companies are opening up new, high-margin business fields that center on H2O. Those are the findings of the recently published SAM study entitled «Water - a market of the future».
We are pleased to make this study available to you: «Water - a market of the future». If you would like to receive the study in printed form, please get in touch with us via e-mail (com@sam-group.com).
Water Study (pdf)
