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The Mediterranean’s sperm whales and their ecosystem may seem an unlikely investment target. But a new finance model puts the fruits of investments in sustainable assets to work for both clients and protecting the marine environment of some of the world’s busiest and most polluted waters.

The Mediterranean carries around 30% of the world’s shipping and yet its surface area covers less than 1% of the globe’s oceans. In addition to shipping, the sea’s 46,000 kilometer coastline, home to 450 million people, hosts an estimated one-third of the world’s tourists.. The pressures created by dense shipping and populations have degraded the Mediterranean basin. Over the past 50 years, the sea has lost 41% of its marine mammals and one-third of its fish. There are now fewer than 1,000 sperm whales left in the western Mediterranean, and both whales and dolphins are too often trapped in fishing nets, killed in collisions with shipping, or disturbed by noise pollution from humans.

Asociacion Tursiops, a Palma de Mallorca-based non-profit group of marine biologists, tracks dolphin and whale populations in the Mediterranean in an effort to provide them with safe zones Working with the University of St. Andrews since 2003, it logs cetaceans’ routes around and through the Mediterranean in an effort to design strategies to provide protected zones to avoid collisions, the number one cause of premature mortality.

Designed by the Syz Group, an investment certificate now connects sustainable asset know-how with the opportunities triggered by the European Union’s 540 billion euro ‘Green Deal’ spending plans.

Syz has experience in designing investment solutions aimed at generating performance and a direct impact. The bank previously partnered with the World Bank to launch the first bonds in Switzerland linking private investors to Sustainable Development Goals. More recently, Syz introduced an investment solution supporting BNP Paribas’ commitment to a reforestation initiative. Building on these positive experiences, Syz is now partnering with Kepler Chevreux to invest in a basket of companies in the renewable energy, circular economy, water and waste, eco-products and services sectors. Three-quarters of this Syz certificate’s investors choose the share class that then distributes some of the certificate’s returns to Asociacion Tursiops.

“This combination of investing in the green economy and supporting ecological research has been hugely popular with our clients,” says Carole Millet, head of sustainable investing at Syz in Geneva. “They are getting promising portfolio yields while sharing the returns in an excellent cause,” she says. “It brings together the benefits of philanthropy and green investing.”

For the marine biologists at Asociacion Tursiops, the pledge to share investment returns over several years offers stability to their research in the Mediterranean.

 

 

Disclaimer

This marketing document has been issued by Bank Syz Ltd. It is not intended for distribution to, publication, provision or use by individuals or legal entities that are citizens of or reside in a state, country or jurisdiction in which applicable laws and regulations prohibit its distribution, publication, provision or use. It is not directed to any person or entity to whom it would be illegal to send such marketing material. This document is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as an offer, solicitation or recommendation for the subscription, purchase, sale or safekeeping of any security or financial instrument or for the engagement in any other transaction, as the provision of any investment advice or service, or as a contractual document. Nothing in this document constitutes an investment, legal, tax or accounting advice or a representation that any investment or strategy is suitable or appropriate for an investor's particular and individual circumstances, nor does it constitute a personalized investment advice for any investor. This document reflects the information, opinions and comments of Bank Syz Ltd. as of the date of its publication, which are subject to change without notice. The opinions and comments of the authors in this document reflect their current views and may not coincide with those of other Syz Group entities or third parties, which may have reached different conclusions. The market valuations, terms and calculations contained herein are estimates only. The information provided comes from sources deemed reliable, but Bank Syz Ltd. does not guarantee its completeness, accuracy, reliability and actuality. Past performance gives no indication of nor guarantees current or future results. Bank Syz Ltd. accepts no liability for any loss arising from the use of this document.

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