<strong>By: STANLIB</strong>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">STANLIB Credit Alternatives launched the STANLIB Khanyisa Impact Investment Fund. The Fund will pursue investment opportunities in areas that support South Africa’s economic development. True to its name, derived from the isiZulu word “Khanyisa”, which means to illuminate, to turn on or to light up, the Fund will spark economic and social benefits through investment in infrastructure, inclusive financial services and agriculture.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The Fund was launched via live virtual stream supported by two renowned keynote speakers, Dr Miriam Altman and Dr Thabi Leoka who shared their insights on impact investing and its benefits for South Africa.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Commenting on the launch of the Fund, STANLIB’s Head of Investments, Mark Lovett said, “The STANLIB Khanyisa Impact Investment Fund represents the next step in STANLIB’s ESG journey at a time when the imperative is very clear for South Africa. The Fund’s impact objectives will provide measurable developmental benefits for investors in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.” </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The STANLIB Khanyisa Impact Investment Fund forms part of a broader effort in helping drive private capital into impact themed investments that directly address a range of the country’s socio-economic challenges. As a result, the Fund will focus on investments that aim to increase economic capacity building (via transformational infrastructure), reduce income inequality (by funding SMEs and affordable housing and healthcare projects), improve food security and provide wider access to renewable energy. The Fund will constitute of a diversified pool of credit exposures that offers a higher yield than traditional fixed income propositions, regular income distributions and long-term capital preservation. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The Fund’s objective is to generate a return of CPI plus 4.5%, over a rolling 12-month period. The closed-ended LLP Fund is available in the institutional market, with a first close target during the second half of 2020. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The STANLIB Credit Alternatives team has been managing a bespoke suite of Impact and Development-focused portfolios for the last 10 years. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Johan Marnewick, Head of STANLIB Credit Alternatives said, “We are very excited about the launch of the STANLIB Khanyisa Impact Investment Fund. This new Fund will complement and strengthen our existing Impact assets, which make up more than a quarter of STANLIB Credit Alternatives’ total assets under management (AUM) and have successfully generated returns for clients while achieving tangible socio-economic and environmental benefits.”</span>