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News from around the sector
Investing in vaccines for children promises healthy returns
, Added: 05 March 2009A new Vaccine Investment ISA aims to raise £50m to help vaccinate children in poor countries and offer investors in the UK a strong financial return.
Every £1,000 invested will enable the International Finance Facility for Immunisation Company (IFFIm), to fund the immunisation of more than 130 children against five life threatening diseases. The ISA will be available through HSBC and aims to offer a fixed return of 16.2%, with original capital returned in full at the end of the fixed five year one month term.
The IFFIm was created to accelerate the availability of predictable, long-term funds for health and immunisation programmes through the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immuniation (GAVI) Alliance. IFFIm has the support of governments led by the UK, who have pledged to contribute money over 20 years. This allows IFFIm to repay the initial investments plus the fixed return.
“This is not a donation. It’s an investment opportunity with an ethical bonus. The money will be used for GAVI’s immunisation programmes which will set up millions of the world’s poorest children for a healthy life,” said Dr Julian Lob-Levyt, CEO of the GAVI Alliance. “What could be a more rewarding investment than that?”
HSBC will also offer a Vaccine Investment Plan for those who have used or are not eligible for an ISA allowance, for amounts up to £999,999. The minimum investment is £1,000.
IFFIm has launched initiatives in a number of countries including a recent vaccine bond scheme in Japan.
The Vaccine Investment Plan and Vaccine Investment ISA will be available through HSBC from 2 March to 24 April. For more information visit the HSBC website, call 0800 328 1293 or visit any HSBC branch.
