KGAL reinforces ESG focus with appointment of new ESG Officer

Given the importance KGAL places on ESG, the ESG Officer will report directly to the Management Board – KGAL Group continues on its path as a sustainable asset manager with the appointment of the proven ESG expert and rating specialist Susanne Marttila. In addition KGAL also plans to introduce new investment solutions in the area of energy transition assets to further enhance its sustainability strategy.

"Sustainability is a key component of KGAL’s DNA, and is clearly demonstrable by a number of factors such as the launch of the first KGAL fund for renewable energies in 2003, the implementation of environmental protection as a strategic goal since 2010, the signing of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment in 2018, and the adoption of the climate strategy last October," explains Gert Waltenbauer, CEO of KGAL GmbH & Co. KG. "We are therefore delighted that, as of September 2021, Susanne Marttila will be advancing the expansion of our ESG activities and the fulfilment of our social responsibility in her role as ESG Officer."

Susanne Marttila has specialised in sustainable investments since 2007, most recently in the role of Regional Head EMEA, ESG Ratings at Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS). As the former Head of the ESG Corporate Ratings Team Extractives, Energy & Utilities at ISS and a long-standing and respected analyst at oekom research AG, she has extensive expertise in the field of ESG.

The focus of her previous work, for instance sustainable energy supply and climate change, is an ideal fit for KGAL. "Climate change is presenting the world with unprecedented challenges. Investments in renewable energies are central to meeting these challenges as the basis of the energy transition," says Susanne Marttila. "But the sustainable orientation of the real estate sector and future-proof mobility also play very important roles in climate protection."

Infrastructure asset class renamed as Sustainable Infrastructure

Another chapter is also being written by KGAL's Infrastructure investment division. As one of the pioneers of the energy transition, KGAL has acquired 150 photovoltaic plants, wind farms and hydroelectric power plants on behalf of its clients since 2003 – and to date total investments amount to approximately EUR 3.2 billion across ten European countries.

As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability KGAL will be unveiling another promising investment opportunity for investors in the infrastructure sector: energy transformation – also known as Power-to-X – and the associated decarbonisation of our environment. "This involves, for example, the transformation of sustainably generated electricity into other energy vectors, such as hydrogen, heat, but also ammonia, in order to decarbonise industry, households and agriculture," explains Michael Ebner, Managing Director of KGAL Investment Management GmbH & Co. KG with responsibility for the infrastructure asset class. Because of this expanded focus of the infrastructure asset class it will now be known as the Sustainable Infrastructure asset class. Michael Ebner: "We want to set an example and continue to enhance our sustainability profile. Everyone should be able to see from the outset that our infrastructure fund offerings are 100 per cent focused on sustainability."

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