AllianzGI announces the first close of the Allianz Credit Emerging Markets strategy at USD 690mn of commitments
20 January 2026 | Allianz Global Investors (AllianzGI), one of the world’s leading active asset managers with EUR 580Bn in assets under management, announced today the first close of the Allianz Credit Emerging Markets (ACE) strategy with total commitments of USD 690mn. With a target final close of USD 1Bn, the strategy aims to mobilize large-scale private investment in support of the Paris Agreement goals and objectives across emerging markets. The target investments aim to accelerate progress toward the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The strategy has a blended structure enabling institutional and professional investors to take a senior position to the junior capital that provides first-loss protection and aims to significantly limit volatility and enhance returns. Anchor institutional investors include Allianz and GastroSocial Pensionskasse while the first loss capital will be provided by Global Affairs Canada – the federal department of Canada responsible for international development and humanitarian assistance –, British International Investment – the UK’s Development Finance Institution (DFI) – and the Inter-American Development Bank Invest. The Swedish International Development Agency and Impact Fund Denmark will act as first loss guarantors.
The strategy looks to mainly co-invest with DFIs and Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) that showcase local expertise, strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards and a track record of low default rates and high recoveries.
The ACE strategy was developed in alignment with the objectives of the Global Investors for Sustainable Development (GISD) Alliance. It draws on dialogue with GISD members to mobilize private capital and advance innovative financing for SDG-aligned sectors in developing countries. ACE aims to contribute to reducing the USD 4.3 trillion SDG investment gap by unlocking capital for underserved sectors and regions, with a focus on climate action, gender equality and poverty reduction. ACE intends to invest in a well-diversified pool of private debt instruments in low carbon sectors across emerging markets. In pursuit of aligning with the overarching goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement, the strategy targets investments in clean energy, smart agriculture, sustainable infrastructure, financial institutions, and certain manufacturing activities. Furthermore, ACE intends to invest in emerging markets globally including Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as Asia Pacific.
Edouard Jozan, Head of Private Markets, AllianzGI, said: “Addressing climate change cannot be focused solely on investing in developed markets – launching ACE is a bold step forward in mobilizing institutional capital towards emerging markets to address global development priorities including climate. This strategy is a great example of the power of collaboration between the public and private sector and the significant potential for further scale of investment. The launch of ACE reflects our commitment to continued innovation, and it builds on our already strong track record in blended finance and impact investing. Leveraging our longstanding partnerships with DFIs and MDBs, we aim to deliver investors with both attractive returns and measurable positive outcomes. “
Ludovic Subran, CIO, Allianz , added: “The first close of ACE marks an important milestone in leveraging our long-standing expertise in blended finance investments to channel meaningful private capital toward the world’s most urgent sustainability challenges. Emerging markets hold extraordinary potential for both climate progress and long-term value creation, and this strategy demonstrates how thoughtful structuring can unlock that potential at scale. We are proud to collaborate with leading public institutions and private investors to deliver a solution that combines resilient financial performance with real-world impact.“
ACE expects to apply rigorous ESG analysis, including IFC Performance Standards, and impact screening with a view to generate impactful and measurable outcomes. Impact metrics are expected to include GHG emissions avoided, jobs created (gender-disaggregated where possible), financial inclusion metrics and renewable energy capacity installed, among others.
With a decade of experience in development finance and impact credit, AllianzGI is a pioneer in blended finance. The firm has launched multiple large-scale vehicles including a USD 1.1Bn partnership between Allianz and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) under the latter’s Managed Co-Lending Portfolio Program (MCPP), the EUR 200mn Africa Grow Fund, the USD 1.1Bn SDG Loan Fund, and the EUR 450mn Emerging Markets Climate Action Fund. ACE builds on this legacy, offering institutional investors access to a new asset class that aims to generate a low correlation to public markets, low volatility, attractive expected returns and strong sustainability credentials.
What investors say:
Leslie Maasdorp, Chief Executive, BII, remarked: “At BII we recognise that we must use our scarce concessionary capital to unlock the vast pools of private finance that is required to meet the global challenge of the climate emergency and drive sustainable, impact-led growth in some of the least developed countries in the world. Today’s announcement is another milestone for BII in achieving that key objective.”
Beat Wust, CIO and Head of Asset Management, GastroSocial Pensionskasse, added: “We are proud to participate in this landmark collaboration between public and private investors at scale which will lead to real world impact.”
Cam Do, Director General, Development Finance Bureau, Global Affairs Canada, commented: “Scaling private sector investment into developing countries is essential to tackling climate change while driving inclusive economic growth. This initiative demonstrates the transformative potential of blended finance—unlocking institutional capital to deliver both competitive returns and measurable impact. By partnering across public and private sectors, we can accelerate solutions that strengthen economies, build resilience, and create a safer, more prosperous world for all.”
Lars Bo Bertram, CEO, Impact Fund Denmark, said: “Impact Fund Denmark is proud to play a leading role in the Allianz Credit Emerging Markets strategy, which shows how blended finance can scale to deliver real-world impact. By providing first-loss protection, we enable private investors to channel capital into projects that accelerate the energy transition, expand financial inclusion, and create jobs in emerging markets.”
Jakob Granit, Director General, Sida, commented: “To combat climate change in line with the Paris Agreement, public resources are far from sufficient - Sida is therefore collaborating with the private sector to mobilize private capital for sustainable investments in emerging economies. I am pleased that Sida is now partnering with Allianz Global Investors, jointly with national and multilateral development finance institutions, in support of the Allianz Credit Emerging Market Fund, to ensure sustainable investments at country level.”
The strategy will be managed by the Development Finance Team headed by Leticia Ferreras Astorqui. The team is part of the wider Allianz Global Investors Private Markets platform with more than 170 investment professionals located across the globe.
Contact:
Marion Leblanc-Wohrer
Tel: +33 6 85 15 74 54
Email: marion.leblancwohrer@allianzgi.com
About Allianz Global Investors
Global Investors is a leading active asset manager with more than 700 investment professionals in over 20 offices worldwide, and managing EUR 580 Bn in assets. We believe that with every change comes an opportunity. Our goal is to actively shape the future of investing for all our clients, wherever their location and whatever their objectives. Curious and active in everything we do, we aspire to generate impact beyond alpha, steering our clients’ assets towards the right place at the right time, and building solutions that draw on capabilities across public and private markets.
Our focus on protecting and growing our clients’ assets allows us to create trusted partnerships, underpinned by a commitment to sustainability and driving positive change.
* Data as at 30 September 2025. Total assets under management are assets or securities portfolios, valued at current market value, for which Allianz Global Investors companies are responsible vis-à-vis clients for providing discretionary investment management decisions and portfolio management, either directly or via a sub-advisor (these include Allianz Global Investors assets which are now sub-advised by Voya IM since 25 July 2022). This excludes assets for which Allianz Global Investors companies are primarily responsible for administrative services only. Assets under management are managed on behalf of third parties as well as on behalf of the Allianz Group.