Valeur Group joins the World Bank’s Wildlife Conservation Bond

Valeur Group has subscribed to the Wildlife Conservation Bond issued by the World Bank. As recently announced, the Group specialized in asset management and trading services has invested in this innovative financial instrument that supports black rhinos and local communities in the Addo Elephant National Park and the Great Fish River Nature Reserve in South Africa.
Also known as “Rhino Impact Bond”, the Wildlife Conservation Bond is the first-of-its-kind fixed income instrument created for the conservation of a particular endangered species. According to estimates, the population of black rhinos has drastically decreased in the last 50 years – from 65,000 in the 1970s to the current 2,600. This is due to the loss and fragmentation of the habitat, as well as to poaching linked to the international trade in rhino horns.
“The decision to invest in Rhino Impact Bonds strengthens our commitment to pursuing humanitarian and animals’ welfare objectives, which are the core goals of our non-profit organization Valeur Foundation” commented Lorenzo Vangelisti, CEO of Valeur Group, with regards to the decision to invest in this innovative financial instrument. “The preservation of rhinos can contribute to the defense of biodiversity and at the same time can promote employment in local communities through the creation of jobs needed to carry out this important conservation project”, he added.
Consisting of a 5-year loan of 150 million dollars, the Wildlife Conservation Bond follows an “outcome payment model” that pays returns to its investors in relation to the growth rates of black rhinos in the two South African reserves. As Valeur Group pointed out, this instrument tries to achieve the twofold result of defending the endangered species of black rhinos and protecting the entire ecosystem as well as local communities.