Switzerland, October, 04 2019 - Swiss private bank Reyl Group has introduced an independent asset management affiliate, which will focus on social and environmental impact investing.

Dubbed Asteria Investment Managers, the new entity will offer exposure to various asset classes including thematic listed equities, alternative strategies, sustainable bonds, private debt, and private equity.

The business will make capital allocations to sustainable firms, in line with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The strategies provided will be structured around diversity and inclusion, planet preservation, innovation and technology as change drivers, as well as support for developing countries.

In the future, Asteria wants to improve its offering through takeovers.

The new unit’s leadership will comprise five members including Katia Coudray who will serve as the CEO. Coudray joined the group as the head of impact investing after working at Syz and UBP.

Coudray stated: “It truly is a unique opportunity to be able to create from scratch a new asset management company entirely dedicated to impact investing. This would not have been possible without the combination of strong human values and entrepreneurial culture within the REYL Group.

“We at Asteria are committed to achieving a positive impact in line with the 17 UN SDGs, in addition to our financial return objectives, across all of our strategies.”

Asteria will also be staffed by Guido Bolliger as the head of investments and equity strategies. Bolliger too worked at Syz.

Coudray and Bolliger will be supported by Natacha Guerdat as the head of research, Fabio Sofia as the head of fixed income and private debt strategies, and Francesco Genovese who will manage sales and overall commercial development.

Guerdat stated her career at Lombard Odier and later launched the company Conser as a founding partner. Sofia founded microfinance pioneer Symbiotics.

Genovese joined Reyl last September from Pictet & Cie.