Investec Alternative Investment Management (IAIM), the European mid-market private credit manager, has appointed Alicia Forry as Head of ESG, Alternative Investments.

IAIM is an alternative investment platform focused on private market credit strategies. It leverages the origination and proprietary deal flow capabilities of Investec’s direct lending team to deliver private market investment solutions for investors.

Investec’s direct lending strategy manages more than £3bn of assets and is focused on the European lower-mid market. Investors can access this through IAIM via funds, mandates, and co-investment opportunities. IAIM is the manager of Investec Private Debt Fund I (PDF I), which raised €165m in 2020 and upsized by 50% in 2022 to €250m.

With almost seven years of experience at Investec, Alicia brings a wealth of knowledge from her time in Investec’s equity research team as Head of UK Equity ESG Products, leading cross-sector ESG research on UK listed companies.

Alicia is also a member of Investec’s Sustainable Business Forum, which was set up to help co-ordinate efforts across the organisation to support clients in the transition to a net-zero economy. Across both roles, she has leveraged her ESG expertise to help more than 1,500 corporates and investors.

As part of her new role, Alicia will help to embed further a responsible investing framework and series of processes across Investec’s private market credit strategies.

The appointment represents the next step in the evolution of Investec’s alternative investment platform and exemplifies the business’ commitments to creating enduring worth and striving for long-term value for all stakeholders.

Callum Bell, Director at IAIM and Head of Direct Lending, said: “Alicia’s expertise will be invaluable to our team – helping us to embed ESG considerations into every stage of our investment process. At a time when the sustainability credentials of a business are increasingly under scrutiny, we believe that top ESG performers have an increased edge in delivering long-term value creation for shareholders.”

Alicia Forry, Head of ESG, Alternative Investments at IAIM, said: “It is a pleasure to join the IAIM team and continue working within the mid-market to enhance its ESG credentials – building on Investec’s expertise in this area. Our research recently found that 7 in 10 mid-market firms in the UK are currently planning, implementing, or have already implemented an ESG strategy – with the majority believing it makes their business more attractive to potential acquirers and investors. I look forward to working with corporates committed to developing their ESG credentials and unlocking the various layers of unrealised value they can provide investors.”

Investec has over 10 years of experience originating, investing and managing private debt assets and has originated more than €8 billion in loans across more than 300 deals over that period. The team has a strong track record of credit selection, delivering premium risk adjusted returns combined with a low default rate.

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Investec’s PDF I, launched in January 2020, is a close-ended Luxembourg-based special limited partnership. It focuses on providing senior secured debt (including unitranche) and subordinated debt for PE and corporate backed businesses between €3m-€50m EBITDA primarily based in the regions of DACH, Benelux, UK, and Ireland.

The fund has a primary focus on growth orientated lower- and mid-market businesses across its target geographies, which remain underserved by banks and fund providers.

The fund provides investors with immediate and scalable access to a proprietary source of investments – benefitting from Investec’s flexible lending mandate and a proven investment team.