Vikram Raju, Head of Climate Private Equity Investing at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, shares his views on the opportunity set in climate investing in APAC and beyond, the potential returns investors expect, and why setting ambitious standards is vital.

This a general communication, which is not impartial and all information provided has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes and does not constitute an offer or a recommendation to buy or sell any particular security or to adopt any specific investment strategy. The views and opinions and/or analysis expressed are those of the author or the investment team as of the date of preparation of this material and are subject to change at any time without notice due to market or economic conditions and may not necessarily come to pass. Forecasts and/or estimates provided herein are subject to change and may not actually come to pass. Information regarding expected market returns and market outlooks is based on the research, analysis and opinions of the authors or the investment team.

Private capital has a key role to play in boosting the stock of affordable housing, but negative stereotypes about the sector are a major stumbling block. In this episode, we’ll discover why it’s so important to debunk negative stereotypes if we are to boost investment in affordable housing. We’ll hear from an academic, an institutional investor, and fund managers who are putting much-needed capital to work. Joining us on the show are five experts: Jonathan F.P. Rose, President, Jonathan Rose Companies; Robert Silverman, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning; Andrew Siwo, Director of Sustainable Investments and Climate Solutions, New York State Common Retirement Fund; Bobby Turner, Principal and CEO, Turner Impact Capital; and Pamela West, Managing Director, Real Estate Impact Investing at Nuveen.

In collaboration with CAIA, our new podcast explores how fund managers, investors, and other industry professionals are looking to do good while doing well

Every city needs hospitals, schools, civic facilities, and homes that working families can afford. But due to fiscal constraints, European governments have cut back on investing in social infrastructure. That’s left private capital funds to step in.

Over the last decade, the number of private capital funds investing in European social infrastructure has more than tripled, while the amount raised has more than doubled, from $2.1bn in 2011 to $4.5bn in 2021, Preqin data shows.

But what exactly are fund managers doing to improve essential services, other than providing capital? And how possible is it to make a return?

In our first episode John G. Levy, Director of Impact at Franklin Real Asset Advisors, shares why what he calls “mission alignment” is so important, the challenges of measuring impact, and how he expects the social infrastructure space to change over time.

For even more ESG insights and analysis, visit our ESG Content Hub.

Elodie Dupuy, Founder and Managing Director at growth equity fund Full In Partners, on key challenges women face – from the “VP drop off” to perfectionism – and what can be done to address them

Across the globe, the alternative assets industry is making slow but steady progress in improving female representation in its workforce. True, COVID-19 had a disproportionate economic impact on women. Even so, the proportion of women in alternatives inched higher to 20.3%, up slightly from 19.7% in November 2019, according to Preqin’s latest Women in Alternative Assets report. Venture capital led the pack with the highest share of women employees, at 21.8%, up 62 basis points on the previous year. Also, the asset class had the highest percentage of women in senior roles, at 13.7%. But there is much more to be done if the VC industry is to better support and retain women leaders.

Elodie Dupuy, Founder and Managing Director at growth equity fund Full In Partners, spoke with Preqin’s Head of Content, Nicole Lee, about the key challenges women face as they rise to senior roles, and shared her views on what can be done to advance gender equity.

For even more data and expert insights, listen to our webinar recording, or visit our Women in Alternatives 2021 page.

Dmitri Sedov, Chief Product & Marketing Officer at Preqin, talks to Susan Gray, Head of Global Infrastructure at S&P Global Ratings, about the various difficulties and challenges they have identified in the recent adoption of ESG in the private capital sector.