NH Amundi Asset Management Launches ESG Mobility Infrastructure Fund

[Asia Economy Reporter Minji Lee] NH-Amundi Asset Management announced on the 17th that it has established the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Mobility Infrastructure No. 1 Fund, worth approximately 240 billion KRW. The social loan executed by this fund, which invests in acquisition financing for quasi-public city bus operators, received the highest ‘S1’ rating in ESG certification evaluation from Korea Ratings in ESG alternative investments.

NH-Amundi Asset Management is a leading asset management company driving ESG investments. Since the introduction of Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) in 2006, it has been managing the largest scale of SRI in Korea, starting with the industry’s first pension fund SRI mandate. After CEO Park Hak-joo took office earlier this year, the company launched an ESG Promotion Committee and aims to establish an ESG management system aligned with NongHyup Financial Group’s ESG Transformation 2025 policy. In particular, it declared the vision of ‘ESG First,’ introducing ESG processes across all management divisions and prioritizing ESG in all management decisions.

The NH-Amundi Asset Management ESG Mobility Infrastructure No. 1 Fund invests in refinancing and new acquisition financing for a PEF investing in quasi-public city bus operators managed by Cha Partners Asset Management. The fund aims to modernize the city bus industry by scaling up, increasing transparency, and institutionalizing small operators, thereby reducing social costs. It especially supports the transition to eco-friendly buses such as electric and hydrogen vehicles.

Park Hak-joo, CEO of NH-Amundi Asset Management, stated, “Although we have actively invested in ESG alternative assets such as eco-friendly energy infrastructure both domestically and overseas, this is the first time we have received ESG certification for a domestic social loan.” He added, “We will continue to actively discover ESG investments across all asset classes and establish ourselves as a premier ESG investment firm.”