News

• Aviva SRI cull 'part of wider fund management trend'

  31 January 2012

  The announcement yesterday by insurer Aviva that it is to close its sustainable and responsible investment (SRI) equities desk is part of a wider realignment of the fund management industry, and does not reflect on the health of the SRI market, according to the head of UKSIF.

• Spain's renewables subsidy cut to benefit green utilities – analysts

  31 January 2012

  The decision by Spain's government to suspend its renewable energy subsidy scheme will add to pressure on developers and equipment manufacturers, but is likely to be a positive for the country's clean energy generators, according to analysts.

• Renewables M&A deals up 40% in 2011 – PwC

  30 January 2012

  Mergers and acquisition (M&A) deals in the renewables market rose 40% last year, "driven by industry shake-out", says consultancy PwC.

• UK invests £110m in IFC climate funds

  27 January 2012

  The UK government has invested £110 million ($157 million) into two new commercial funds, aiming to leverage in at least £3 billion of private capital for green investments in developing countries.

• Expiring tax credit threatens US wind expansion

  27 January 2012

  The US Congress should extend the production tax credit (PTC) for wind before the end of the first quarter of 2012 to keep the industry growing at its current robust rate, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).

• ADB places second water bond

  27 January 2012

  The Asian Development Bank has raised $265 million from Japanese investors into its second water bond.

• UK carbon tax could 'devastate industry' – MPs

  26 January 2012

  A committee of UK parliamentarians has warned that the government's planned top-up tax on emissions allowances could have a "devastating effect" on industry.

• Rising tide for Impax water strategy

  26 January 2012

  Environmentally themed investment funds have had a difficult time of late, but Impax Asset Management claims its water strategy has performed better than most.

• Recycling fund delivers 50% return since 2008

  26 January 2012

  A UK recycling fund has reached £100 million ($157 million) in assets and delivered an almost 50% return since its launch in 2008.

• S&P sets out solar securitisation challenges

  26 January 2012

  Securitisation may be a "viable option" for solar photovoltaic (PV) developers, says rating agency Standard & Poor's (S&P), but it has set out a list of concerns that are likely to prove daunting to structurers and credit ratings firms.