The First Finnish Asset Manager to Sign the Operating Principles for Impact Management

United Bankers Becomes the First Finnish Asset Manager to Sign the Operating Principles for Impact Management

United Bankers is proud to announce that it has signed the Operating Principles for Impact Management (OPIM), becoming the first Finnish asset manager to commit to this internationally recognized framework for managing impact investments.


The Operating Principles for Impact Management (OPIM) are a comprehensive global framework designed to help investors manage their investments to generate positive, intentional social and environmental impact alongside financial returns. Initiated by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and coordinated by the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), the Principles provide clear guidelines for integrating impact considerations throughout the entire investment lifecycle - from setting objectives and managing portfolios to measuring, verifying, and reporting impact performance with transparency and accountability.


As of 2025, the Principles have been adopted by 169 financial institutions worldwide, representing over USD 510 billion in impact assets under management.


"We are proud to align with a globally recognized standard for managing impact. The OPIM Principles support our long-term goal of combining competitive returns with measurable environmental and social outcomes," says John Ojanperä, CEO of United Bankers.

 

 

 

 


Impact at the Core: UB Timberland Funds and UB FIGG


United Bankers applies the OPIM Principles across two key areas of its impact investment portfolio:

 

  • UB Timberland Funds, which invest in sustainably managed forests in Finland, contributing to climate change mitigation and biodiversity
  • UB Forest Industry Green Growth Fund I (UB FIGG), a private equity fund targeting the green transition in forest and bio-based industries


"Investors increasingly want to understand the real-world outcomes of their capital. By adopting the OPIM framework, we ensure that impact is assessed, measured, and communicated using global best practices," says Seela Sinisalo, Head of ESG and Impact at United Bankers


About UB Forest Funds


United Bankers’ Forest Funds invest in sustainably managed forest assets primarily in Finland and the Baltic countries. The funds aim to deliver long-term, stable financial returns while promoting sustainable forest management that supports biodiversity and contributes to climate change mitigation. By following ambitious sustainability criteria, UB Forest Funds create economic value alongside measurable positive environmental and social impacts. The Timberland funds currently manage approximately 713,86 (MEUR) in assets under management (AUM).


About UB Forest Industry Green Growth Fund I


UB FIGG is a closed-end private equity fund launched in 2023 to promote climate change mitigation and enable the green transition by investing in companies that replace fossil-based materials, utilize wood and agricultural side streams more efficiently, and scale sustainable innovations across industries. In 2023 UB FIGG was the first investment fund in Finland to become signatory of the OPIM principles.

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For more information:
Seela Sinisalo Head of ESG and Impact 
seela.sinisalo@unitedbankers.fi


Learn more about the Impact Principles: https://www.impactprinciples.org