T. Rowe Price Launches $200M Emerging Markets Blue Bond Fund

T. Rowe Price, in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and with initial commitments exceeding $200 million from investors including Builders Vision and Xylem, has launched the Emerging Markets Blue Economy Bond Strategy. This fund focuses on investing in corporate bonds within emerging markets to support sustainable water management and ocean preservation projects such as marine ecosystem conservation, wastewater treatment, coastal climate adaptation, and clean water infrastructure. The strategy aligns with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 6 and 14 and adheres to the EU’s highest sustainability standard under Article 9 of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation. The initiative aims to catalyze the blue bond market by demonstrating a viable investment model that mobilizes private capital at scale while addressing critical global water and ocean challenges. T. Rowe Price executives emphasize the fund's role in protecting water resources and driving impact investments, while the fund’s management is led by Samy Muaddi and Matt Lawton. The firm expects to raise up to $500 million and is supported by prominent investors like Lukas Walton’s Builders Vision platform, reflecting strong financial backing and commitment to sustainable investment themes.