If it’s not ethical it’s not scalable

”We fundamentally believe that working actively with sustainability and ESG matters is key to high and sustainable value creation”

VEF’s mission is to create long-term sustainable value for our shareholders by investing in the future of finance across emerging markets. We believe our sustainable investment approach creates value both for the communities we invest in and for investors. Our key value and guidance in our investments is our ever-present mantra, ’if it’s not ethical, it’s not scalable’.

Since the beginning, we have worked on integrating sustainability matters into our business. As a company, we have prioritized robust governance practices and being a diverse and inclusive company. As an investor, our focus has been on having a sustainability focused investment process. We have always been of the view that ensuring solid governance practices and addressing social matters is key to creating long-term value for our own investors as this is a precondition for growth in emerging markets. By minimizing risk and creating conditions to reap opportunities, it supports growth for VEF as an investment company and for the investments we make and manage.

VEF Sustainability focus areas

Our sustainability work is focused on three key areas that we believe are the most relevant and material to VEF and our investment focus.

Active ownership and sustainable investing

VEF takes pride in the truly active ownership approach to investing we have. Our investment decision-making process is based on two core beliefs:

1. The power of active shareholding, to ensure strong governance and responsible business practices; and

2. Sustainability as a fundamental part of business.

Sustainable portfolio management starts with a robust investment process and even before we invest. We have an investment process backed by thorough sustainability and impact analysis and the investment team and Head of Sustainability work together on all investments to ensure that they live up to our sustainability standards both before we invest but also throughout the lifetime of the investment.

With our active ownership approach, we seize the opportunity to be a sustainability partner to our portfolio companies and ensure that our values and ethical principles are trickled down to them. We have set a minimum standard for all our portfolio companies with the VEF ESG Principles and VEF Responsible Finance Principles and require all portfolio companies to formally commit to these.

VEF ESG Principles

VEF Responsible Finance Principles

VEF’s Responsible Finance Principles are based on our mantra “If it’s not ethical, it’s not scalable” and we require all our portfolio companies to work in accordance with these.

  1. Provide responsible, fair, and transparent financial products.
  2. Have clear and understandable terms and condition.
  3. Work to prevent over-indebtedness.
  4. Provide accessible and clear customer service in a timely and responsive manner.
  5. Handle personal data responsibly, securely and in accordance with law.
  6. Promote digital financial literacy and awareness initiatives

Responsible and impactful investing

We divide our investments into two different sustainable investment categories: Responsible Investing and Impactful Investing. All our investments fulfill the criteria of being responsible investments, but according to our own definition they are not all impactful investments.

 

 

Impact - fintech as a force for good

VEF’s largest and most meaningful contribution to emerging markets is the positive impact the portfolio companies can have on society by providing access to financial products to consumers and MSMEs in these markets. VEF can make a difference by allocating capital to companies that contribute to development of society and the lives of consumers and MSMEs in the emerging world.

 

 

Fintech for financial inclusion, wellness and fairness

In large parts of the world, financial services for consumers and MSMEs are either unavailable, of poor quality and/ or discriminately expensive. 1.4 bln adults globally remain unbanked and many of those are in our core markets, including India, Pakistan and Indonesia. Fintech companies providing digital financial services, such as mobile wallets, electronic payments, fintech apps, digital credit services, etc. can reach people and businesses previously excluded from these services and can support positive change in emerging markets.

 

Fintech for the green transition

Improving access to renewable energy in emerging markets is key for the transition to a carbon-free society. As emerging markets are home to over 60% of the global population, and are expected to account for almost 80% of the global growth in electricity demand going forward (given increasing populations, economic development and rising incomes), it will not be possible to achieve net zero without including these markets. Fintech companies can play a pivotal role by unlocking access to financial solutions that allow and enable investing in renewable energy sources, particularly for consumers.

 

 

Polycier

Hållbarhetsrapporter

VEF 2023 hållbarhetsrapport

VEF 2022 hållbarhetsrapport

VEF 2021 hållbarhetsrapport

VEF 2020 hållbarhetsrapport

Visselblåsning

VEF är ett bolag som vill bedriva verksamhet enligt högsta affärsetiska standard. Vi förväntar oss att alla anställda, samt relevanta tredje parter som har förbindelser med VEF, ger sig till känna och uttrycker all seriös oro för någon aspekt av vår verksamhet. Den som har något att rapportera kan göra det anonymt här. Sådana rapporter tas emot av VEFs juristfunktion och kommer att vidarebefordras till styrelsens ordförande eller VD, såsom lämpligast. Alla rapporter hanteras konfidentiellt. Om du har några frågor eller vill rapportera muntligt, vänligen kontakta legal@vef.vc.

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