ASrIA, with GE Capital as sponsor, is holding its first workshop for the private equity community in Hong Kong on incorporating sustainability into investment practice.  The purpose of the workshop is to discuss the business sense in incorporating sustainability issues into investment decisions.  That means, assessing companies from an environmental and social perspective as part of basic risk analysis and decision-making.  Plus it means looking to invest early in companies in ‘industries of the future’ such as cleantech, renewables, healthcare, waste management.

Almost US$2.4 trillion is now invested in sustainable and responsible investment (“SRI)”) funds globally.  The trend towards SRI shows no signs of slowing with assets in U.S. diversified mutual funds decreasing by 9.5% in H1 2002, but assets in SRI funds increasing by 3%.  Companies listing on global stock markets will increasingly be expected to meet with SRI funds’ expectations on ‘responsibility’.  Come and discuss why it makes sense to assess the environmental impact of a company’s operations, to make sure appropriate health and safety standards and employee benefits are in place.  Does the extra work add long-term value?  

The workshop will provide guidance to individuals and organizations regarding methodologies for undertaking this wider risk assessment in investment decisions.  Draft guidelines on how to assess and analyse the wider issues will be made available. 

Date:	Tuesday 3rd December, 2002
Time:	3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Location:	Hughes Room, Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Central
Speakers:	Harjit Bhatia, Managing Director, GE Equity Tim Krause, Manager of Financial Institutions Group, International Finance Corp. (IFC) Melissa Mowbray-d’Arbela, Managing Director, Maven International Tessa Tennant, Executive Chair, ASrIA Panel Chair:  Louisa Mitchell, Executive Director, ASrIA
Agenda:	3:15 – 3:30 pm Registration 3:30 – 3:35 pm Introduction by Louisa Mitchell 3:35 - 3:50 pm   Tessa Tennant                         An introduction to sustainable and responsible investment in Asia. 3:50 - 4:15 pm   Harjit Bhatia                         Sustainable and responsible investment:  good business sense? 4:15 – 4:40 pm Melissa Mowbray-d'Arbela                         Practical application of sustainability considerations in investment analysis. 4:40 – 5:00 pm Tea break 5:00 – 5:25 pm Tim Krause Lessons learned at the IFC:  two case studies of IFC sustainable investments. 5:25 - 5:55 pm   Q&A/Discussion 5:55 - 6:00 pm   Closing remarks 6:00 – 6:30 pm  Drinks and networking
Delegates:	Who should attend?  Private equity and venture finance professionals.
Registration:	Limited places.  Register early with Sweeta on sweeta@asria.org .
Contact:	Louisa Mitchell, Executive Director, AsrIA, +852 3105 3701, louisa@asria.org Sweeta Motwani, Administrative Director, ASrIA, +852 2891 9298 or.