German asset manager Commerz Real announced today the establishment of an Impact Investment Division, intending to “focus to a greater degree than in the past on capital investments whose returns are not measured solely in terms of economic success, but also with a view to their positive impact on society and the environment.”

Investors demanding responsible investment

Explaining the new strategy, Dr. Andreas Muschter, Chief Executive Officer of Commerz Real, said:

“More and more investors would not only like to earn money, but also do something good with their investment. As an established asset manager for real assets we intend to meet this need and assume responsibility.”

Commerz Real’s new division will develop a portfolio focused on ecological and social return, aimed at both institutional and private investors. One of the key focus areas of investment will be in renewable energies. The company already manages 50 brownfield solar power plants with a nominal capacity of 380 megawatts and twelve onshore wind farms with a nominal capacity of about 171 megawatts.

New ESG hires

The new division will be led by the company’s new Head of Impact Investment, Tobias Huzarski. Prior to joining Commerz Real, Mr. Huzarski, 37, was a partner at Loric Ventures, an early-stage fintech and proptech investor, and had also worked at Man Group and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.

Commerz Real also deepened its ESG bench with the recent hiring of Viola Joncic as its new Head of Sustainability. Ms. Joncic, 33, joined Commerz Real after working as Manager, Sustainability Services at Deloitte.

Huzarski and Joncic will collaborate to develop a sustainability strategy for Commerz Real, including reviewing the performance of current and future investments with a closer view to ESG criteria than the asset manager has used in the past.

“Impact Investment will network the core areas of sustainability, digitalisation and real assets in a consistent and creative manner. We will develop solutions that offer investors access to conservative and sustainable investments, and in doing so attain positive ecological, social and civil outcomes,” explained Huzarski.

About Commerz Real

Commerz Real, a member of the Commerzbank Group, is an asset manager with AUM of 33 billion Euros. The company invests in tangible assets including real estate, solar parks, ships, power grids and production plants.