Innovative Vaccine Investment ISA will help save children’s lives

Investors are being offered an opportunity to save money and help save lives with a new Vaccine Investment ISA which aims to raise £50 million to vaccinate children in the world's poorest countries. Every £1,000 invested will help immunise more than 130 children against five life-threatening diseases. As well as the Vaccine Investment ISA there is a Vaccine Investment Plan for those who have used or are not entitled to an ISA allowance for amounts up to £999,999. The minimum investment is £1,000.

The funds raised by the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm) will be used by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI Alliance), a public-private partnership to support vaccination programmes in 70 developing countries.

"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. What could be a more rewarding investment than that?" said Dr Julian Lob-Levyt, CEO of the GAVI Alliance.

HSBC, in collaboration with IFFIm, the GAVI Alliance and the World Bank, designed the innovative Vaccine Investment Plan and Vaccine Investment ISA offered by HSBC that aims to provide a fixed return of 16.2 %, together with the original capital repaid in full at the end of the fixed five year one month term.

With the World Bank acting as its Treasury Manager and managing IFFIm's finances, IFFIm has raised more than US$1.6 billion to support GAVI immunisation programmes since 2006. IFFIm has triple-A rating due to the support of seven governments led by the UK, who have pledged to contribute money over 20 years. The proceeds of these pledges are used, among other things, to repay the initial investments plus the fixed return.

Stephen Green, Group Chairman of HSBC said: "We are proud to be able to offer this innovative investment opportunity while also supporting a most worthwhile humanitarian cause. By raising funds for GAVI's immunisation programmes through IFFIm, we will be helping to save and protect a large number of lives in the poorest countries of the world."

International Development Secretary of the UK, Douglas Alexander said: "The economic downturn could push millions of people into extreme poverty and cause the deaths of up to 2.8 million children. Innovative initiatives like this are vital if we are to prevent this financial crisis from becoming a human crisis. That is why Gordon Brown is leading a new Taskforce on Innovative International Financing for Health Systems, to help save the lives of many millions more."

Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Stephen Timms MP said: "I am pleased we have been able to ensure that IFFIm bonds can be made available through an ISA. This will enable investors looking for ethical returns to benefit from the tax advantages of ISAs and increase funding for life saving vaccines in developing countries. I congratulate all involved in this initiative"

The Vaccine Investment Plan and Vaccine Investment ISA are the first initiatives of their kind in the UK to raise funds from personal investors and pay them a competitive return for their funds whilst protecting children in the world's poorest countries from life-threatening diseases.

The Vaccine Investment Plan and Vaccine Investment ISA will be available through HSBC on a non advised basis from 2 March to 24 April. For more information go to hsbc.co.uk/vaccine