Alternative Investment Partners Private Markets (AIP Private Markets), part of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, today announced it has built upon its $800 million impact investing platform by closing on a fund which will focus on climate solutions. The $110 million fund seeks to address critical climate issues including global warming and pollution, depleting resources and eco diversity. This globally diversified private markets offering was launched in a first of its kind collaboration with the U.S. congregations of Dominican Sisters to find investment solutions which focus on climate change and aiding marginalized communities that are disproportionately impacted by global warming.
Since its inception in 2000, AIP Private Markets has focused on providing innovative client solutions within less-efficient areas of the private markets. The team leverages its broad network and expertise in primary fund commitments, secondaries and co-investments to identify opportunities, which because of size, complexity or time-sensitive nature, may be overlooked or avoided by other market participants.
AIP Private Markets launched its impact investing platform in 2014 in partnership with the Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing. The globally diversified private markets platform seeks to drive positive social and environmental impact in sectors including mobility, energy, food and agriculture, resource efficiency and the circular economy. The climate investing strategy aims to address problems holistically from global warming to pollution, depleting natural resources and decreasing ecological diversity. These can range from early stage investments in energy efficiency software to more mature opportunities like fruit producers with water-saving hydroponic irrigation systems.
“AIP Private Markets has a proud 20-year history of successfully providing solutions for clients by focusing on the inefficient segments of the market, which are even more pronounced in impact investing. The development of our impact strategy underscores the team’s creativity in seeking to achieve particular objectives across our $12 billion in client assets, and more specifically, through our robust customized platform,” said John Wolak, Head of AIP Private Markets, Morgan Stanley Investment Management.
“AIP Private Markets’ Impact Investing platform has enabled us to catalyse private sector capital to address some of the most critical challenges faced by the planet and people in need. Every dollar invested in our climate program will seek to have a concrete climate impact measurement ranging from tonnes of CO2 emission offset and litres of water saved, to reduction in air pollution levels, in addition to generating compelling private markets returns,” said Vikram Raju, Head of Impact Investing at AIP Private Markets, Morgan Stanley Investment Management. Vikram joined Morgan Stanley in 2014 from the World Bank Group where he was the Global Climate Funds Lead for the IFC.
“This AIP Private Markets climate solutions fund is a clear example of our commitment to seek to deliver commercial, high impact investment solutions to our clients,” said Matthew Slovik, Head of the Global Sustainable Finance Group at Morgan Stanley. “This effort represents a collaboration across Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing, Investment Management, and Wealth Management to drive innovation in the climate investing space.”
About Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners Private Markets
AIP Private Markets, an investment team within Morgan Stanley Investment Management, seeks to deliver innovative private markets solutions to a global client base. Its built-for-purpose team of 50 dedicated professionals draws on decades of investment experience across the breadth of private markets—including growth, buyouts, venture capital, credit and real assets. The team focuses on structurally, compelling opportunities within less efficient markets and has committed approximately $19 billion across more than 850 investments globally through March 31, 2020.
About Morgan Stanley Investment Management
Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM), together with its investment advisory affiliates, has more than 700 investment professionals around the world and $584 billion in assets under management or supervision as of March 31, 2020. MSIM strives to provide outstanding long-term investment performance, service and a comprehensive suite of investment management solutions to a diverse client base, which includes governments, institutions, corporations and individuals worldwide. For further information about Morgan Stanley Investment Management, please visit www.morganstanley.com/im.
About The Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing
The Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing (The Institue) builds scalable finance solutions that seek to deliver competitive financial returns while driving positive environmental and social impact. The Institute creates innovative financial products, thoughtful insights and capacity building programs that help maximize capital to create a more sustainable future. For more information about the Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing, visit www.morganstanley.com/sustainableinvesting.
About Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a leading global financial services firm providing investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services. With offices in more than 41 countries, the Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals. For more information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com .