Prescient Investment Management has released its 2025 Responsible Investing Report, reinforcing its belief that responsible investing is not an alternative approach — but sound investment management grounded in measurable results.
“Responsible investing has matured from principle to practice,” says *Michelle Green, Credit Analyst and Chair of Prescient Investment Management’s ESG Committee. “This year, we’ve gone beyond process to demonstrate tangible outcomes — quantifying, for example, how our investments translate into job creation and infrastructure development — while continuing to deliver strong financial returns for our clients.”
Navigating ESG Controversy Through a Sustainability Lens
While debate around ESG continues globally, Prescient Investment Management maintains that responsible investing remains vital as a long-term risk management and sustainability tool, particularly in economies undergoing transition.
“We view ESG through the lens of sustainability rather than ideology,” explains Green. “It’s about enabling responsible transition — helping companies evolve, supporting economic resilience, and ensuring that investors benefit from that evolution. Our role is to enable change, not impose it—by setting measurable milestones and tracking progress over time.”
This pragmatic approach reflects Prescient Investment Management’s conviction that ESG integration is not a compliance exercise but a disciplined framework that supports risk-adjusted returns and positive societal outcomes.
Infrastructure and the Power of Measurable Impact
A central theme of this year’s report is the intersection between infrastructure investment, sustainability, and measurable impact. With South Africa’s ambition to unlock over R1 trillion in infrastructure investment, Prescient Investment Management believes the asset class is critical to both national development and investor outcomes.
“Private sector participation in infrastructure is growing globally because it offers stable, uncorrelated returns and supports real economic progress,” says Green. “In South Africa, our own experience demonstrates this: our Prescient Clean Energy Debt Fund has grown from R1 billion five years ago to R5 billion, and our Infrastructure Debt Fund now stands at R2.8 billion—bringing our total infrastructure investment to approximately R8 billion.”
She adds that Prescient Investment Management’s infrastructure investments—spanning clean energy, water, logistics, and transport — represent a practical expression of responsible investing. “These are investments that deliver measurable development outcomes while strengthening portfolios. The Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPP) has shown what’s possible when public and private sectors work together. It’s a blueprint we believe can be replicated across other sectors.”
Harnessing AI and Data Science for Deeper ESG Insight
Another focus area in the 2025 report is Prescient Investment Management’s use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data science to sharpen ESG insights and identify correlations between sustainability indicators and portfolio performance.
“Our philosophy is grounded in data,” explains Conway Williams, Head of Credit at Prescient Investment Management. “By applying systematic, data-driven methods to ESG analysis, we’re able to assess risk and opportunity more effectively — strengthening portfolios while contributing to long-term resilience.”
Williams adds that alternative assets such as infrastructure, private credit, and renewable energy play an increasingly important role in building portfolio resilience. “The energy transition is both inevitable and investable,” he says. “Allocating capital to well-structured, sustainable projects allows us to support economic transformation while protecting our clients’ long-term interests. Responsible investing isn’t about concession — it’s about integrating sustainability into every aspect of risk and return.”
A Measurable Commitment to the Future
Ultimately, the report affirms Prescient Investment Management’s long-standing philosophy: responsible investing requires patience, partnership, and perspective.
“Success in responsible investing depends on collaboration and a long-term mindset,” concludes Williams. “We work closely with borrowers, co-investors, and clients to anticipate risks and sustain value creation over time. Our focus remains on measurable, sustainable outcomes that deliver certainty in an uncertain world.”
The Prescient Investment Management Responsible Investing Report 2025 is available for download – here.
Disclaimer:
Prescient Investment Management (Pty) Ltd, an authorised Financial Services Provider (FSP 612), is the appointed Trustee of the Prescient Infrastructure Debt Fund and the Prescient Clean Energy Infrastructure Debt Fund. These Trusts are private ventures and is not open to the members of the public as defined in the Collective Investment Schemes Control Act No 45 of 2002 (“CISCA”). Due to confidential nature of the associated Funds private placement documents, these documents are not publicly available.
Please note that there are risks involved in buying or selling a financial product, and past performance of a financial product is not necessarily a guide to future performance. The value of financial products can increase as well as decrease over time, depending on the value of the underlying securities and market conditions. There is no guarantee in respect of capital or returns in a portfolio. No action should be taken on the basis of this information without first seeking independent professional advice. The information contained herein is provided for general information purposes only. The information does not constitute or form part of any offer to issue or sell or any solicitation of any offer to subscribe for or purchase any particular investments. Opinions and views expressed in this document may be changed without notice at any time after publication and are, unless otherwise stated, those of the author and all rights are reserved. The information contained herein may contain proprietary information. The content of any document released or posted by Prescient is for information purposes only and is protected by copyright laws. We therefore disclaim any liability for any loss, liability, damage (whether direct or consequential) or expense of any nature whatsoever which may be suffered as a result of or which may be attributable directly or indirectly to the use of or reliance upon the information. *Representative acting under supervision. For more information, visit www.prescient.co.za.
