November 24, 2020 / Regnan Credit Impact Trust
EIGHT years ago Nasima Khatun (pictured above) started work as casual labourer at Bangladesh food and beverage producer PRAN Group.
Picture: Gazi Nafis Ahmed/ IFC
Today the 30-year-old mother of two is a full-time line supervisor in the tomato-processing division at PRAN’s plant in Natore, 250km north-west of Dhaka.
“Before working here, I did not know that women too could work and earn a living,” Nasima says. “I have now become smarter and have learnt a lot about women’s empowerment and about life.”
Now Nasima believes in her ability to work, earn a living and contribute significantly to her family’s well-being.
More women like Nasima are finding career paths with help from investors in Regnans Credit Impact Trust.
Nasima’s job is partly funded by International Finance Corporation’s social bond program, which includes Regnan’s Credit Impact Trust as an investor.
The IFC, a triple-A rated bond issuer, has raised more than $US 3 billion via 40 social bonds since 2017.
The funds are lent at low rates and on good terms to organisations that focus on under-served populations in emerging markets including women and low-income communities with limited access to essential services, basic infrastructure and finance.
IFC’s 2019 bond — which was supported by Regnan — provided a $US15 million low-cost loan to Pran Group to create new jobs while investing in food lines that source from small farmers and micro businesses.
PRAN makes high-quality, low-cost, processed and packaged food readily available to the lower- and middle-income population of Bangladesh and other countries.
IFC social bonds also put students into schools, supply technology and provide micro business loans and housing loans.
Regnan’s Credit Impact Trust invests in a range of social and green bonds that support projects which make a positive impact in communities — while also earning attractive returns. Find out more about the fund here.
About Regnan
Regnan is a responsible investment leader with a long and proud history of providing insight and advice to investors with an interest in long-term, broad-based or values-aligned performance.
Building on that expertise, Regnan recently expanded into responsible investment funds management, backed by the considerable resources of Pendal Group.
For more information, please contact Head of Regnan and Responsible Investment Distribution Jeremy Dean at jeremy.dean@regnan.com.
Regnan thanks the Internatinal Finance Corporation for their co-operation in producing this article. Find out more about the IFC’s social bond program here.
This document has been prepared by Pendal Institutional Limited (Pendal) ABN 17 126 390 627, AFSL No 316455 and the information contained within is current as at November 25, 2020. This document is for general information purposes only, should not be considered as a comprehensive statement on any matter and should not be relied upon as such. It has been prepared without taking into account any recipient’s personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Because of this, recipients should, before acting on this information, consider its appropriateness having regard to their individual objectives, financial situation and needs. This information is not to be regarded as a securities recommendation. The information in this document may contain material provided by third parties, is given in good faith and has been derived from sources believed to be accurate as at its issue date. While such material is published with necessary permission, and while all reasonable care has been taken to ensure that the information in this document is complete and correct, to the maximum extent permitted by law neither Pendal nor any company in the Pendal Group accepts any responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of this information. Pendal is the responsible entity and issuer of units in the Regnan Credit Impact Trust ARSN: 638 304 220 (the Fund). An Information Memorandum is available for the Fund (IM) and can be obtained by calling 1800 813 886 or visiting www.pendalgroup.com. You should obtain and consider the IM before deciding whether to acquire, continue to hold or dispose of units in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is subject to investment risk, including possible delays in repayment of withdrawal proceeds and loss of income and principal invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
