APC 2011 Annual Report Download - page 85

REGISTRATION DOCUMENT 2011 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC 83
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
2
SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC, A RESPONSIBLE CORPORATE CITIZEN
Approach
Created with the support of the Crédit Coopératif, the fund’s
mission is to support the development of entrepreneurial initiatives
worldwide that will help the poorest populations obtain access to
energy. It will invest in specifi c projects:
•help jobless individuals create businesses in electricity;
•promote the development of businesses that provide access to
energy in rural or suburban areas in developing countries;
•support the deployment of innovative energy access solutions
that use renewable energies for people at the Base of the
Pyramid.
The SEEA fund brings together different stakeholders by
encouraging Schneider Electric’s employees and business partners
around the world to play an active role in this commitment. This
socially welfare investment structure, designed by Schneider Electric
to promote responsible development, constitutes a response to the
new French legislation on employee savings plans. In 2011, 2,137
Groupemployees in France showed their interest in the BipBop
program by investing a little over EUR3.3million (seepage78 ).
The aim of the SEEA fund is to promote development while
protecting the assets under management. Accordingly, it has
adopted strict management rules, such as:
•always invest in partnerships with recognised players;
•never take a majority shareholding;
•always ensure sustained company support (help develop a
business plan, technical advice, etc.) to deliver the optimum
social effi cacy while minimising risk.
>SEEA FUND INVESTMENT POLICY
France
projects projects
International
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Geographical
targets
Methodological
rules
Investment type
Action plans
Investments in France
La Foncière Chenelêt is a Chenelêt Group employment opportunity
company formed to counter energy precariousness by creating
energy-effi cient social housing. Moreover, construction sites bring
together employment opportunity companies and conventional
fi rms to promote rehiring of the unemployed.
The SIDI (International Solidarity for Development and Investment)
is an investment fund that assigns priority to the impact on
development relative to return. The fund is an important partner of
SEEA and is particularly active in the microfi nance sector.
Solasyst is a company of “La Varappe” employment opportunity
group based in Aubagne, France. The company specialises in
renewable energy solutions and has developed specifi c skills in
integrated solar panel installation. Backed by SEEA’s investment,
Solasyst will open two new branches in the south of France.
Partnership with the ADIE
Schneider Electric set up a project two years ago in partnership
with the Association pour le Droit à l’Initiative Économique (ADIE)
to help entrepreneurs start electricity-related businesses. The goal
is three-fold:
•help individuals who have in some cases been out of the workforce
for several years create their own jobs in a promisingindustry;
•contribute to the local economy;
•promote the electrical profession.
The project targets entrepreneurs who do not have access to
bank loans, notably the unemployed and low-income individuals.
Schneider Electric and Schneider Initiatives Emploi, an association
that nurtures spin-offs, fi nance part of the microloans granted to