Dirk Hoozemans of Triodos IM - Impact Investing Is All We Do

Episode 35,   Jun 15, 2020, 11:00 AM

Dirk Hoozemans joined Triodos Investment Management in 2017 as Fund Manager of the Triodos Pioneer Impact Fund. He came from Robeco where he served in various senior portfolio management positions in Rotterdam, Boston and Hong Kong, including portfolio manager of Robeco Global Energy Fund and deputy portfolio manager of the Robeco NV fund. Dirk studied Econometrics at Tilburg University, and is a CFA Charterholder.

Triodos Investment Management is a globally active impact investor. They see impact investing as a driving force in the transition to a more inclusive and sustainable world. 

Triodos Pioneer Impact Fund aims to generate positive impact and competitive financial returns from a concentrated portfolio of small- and mid-cap companies providing solutions for Triodos’ seven identified sustainable transition themes.

Highlights:
  • How Triodos Pioneer Impact Fund works and how hey find companies to invest in.
  • The 7 themes Triodos invests in -  sustainable food and agriculture, renewable resources, circular economy, sustainable mobility and infrastructure, innovation for sustainability, prosperous and healthy people.
  • “The philosophy and treatment of investment management is very much a values based organization in that we change finance ... to finance change, and hence we want to make our capital work for good.”
  • “Where we are different from many other more traditional ESG investors in the respect that a lot of sustainability investors are more ratings based. First and foremost ratings are backward looking. And secondly, they often measure the quality of reporting and not so much the quality of corporate culture or corporate behavior or even corporate future. So, what we really want to do is have a forward-looking sustainability analysis and see how sustainability creates opportunities for companies.”
  • “The trend towards sustainability investment is undeniable and ESG is becoming more and more a mainstream proposition, both retail and institutional. The focus will be on moving beyond ESG and towards more impact.”
  • Resilience in Impact management is a combination of what you specifically do and what you specifically don't do.
  • In the long run, we believe we have a good trifecta or risk, return, impact.
  • Sustainability scores are backwards looking and often measure the quality of the reporting
  • The industry needs more standardisation in data and transparency.
  • Impact Leaders are positive, energetic ... and they walk the talk.

Timestamp:
[02:49] What is sustainable and impact investing?
[04:20] About Triodos Investment Management
[08:40] Dirk’s professional career evolution 
[15:00] Triodos client base and how their fund works
[20:21] How Triodos look for companies to invest
[22:42] How the Pioneer Impact Fund managed during the recent market downturn
[29:00] How to move more capital into Sustainable & Impact Investing
[31:00] How to know if my investment is impactful: navigating reports 
[35:00] Sustainability ratings and scores
[38:50] How to stay ahead as an impact fund
[40:00] What inspires Dirk and what makes an impact leader
[42:00] Walking the talk: invest with impact

Useful links:
Dirk Hoozemans - Fund Manager, Triodos IM
Sandra Bergsteijn - Head of Corporate Communication, Triodos IM
Triodos Pioneer Impact Fund 
Triodos Bank UK
Sustainalytics
Investors Back ESG in the Crisis - Morningstar
Dow Jones Sustainability Indices
Global Goals (SDGs)

--------
Connect with JP Dallmann on Linkedin, Twitter, or Instagram.
Contact us to help you transition into Sustainable & Impact Investing - ILA & Partners
How to incorporate SDGs into your business - Fast Forward 2030
Impact Leaders is produced by Podcast Publishing

--------
Important:
The content shared on this podcast does not constitute a request, offer, recommendation or solicitation of any kind to buy, subscribe, sell or redeem any investment instruments or to perform other such transactions of any kind.