Abrdn has invested £75 million in a sustainable private placement on behalf of its strategic partner Phoenix Group in The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

The long term loan, issued under the LSE’s sustainable finance framework, will be used for green and social projects at the school, including a new building overlooking Lincoln’s Inn Fields Park in central London that will provide adaptable spaces for teaching, research and conferences.

The building has been developed with sustainability, energy efficiency and carbon minimisation at the core of its design and is set to be LSE’s first Net Zero Carbon building.

Matt Hamilton-Glover, investment manager at Abrdn said: “This investment allows us to support LSE’s long-term mission: ‘for the betterment of society’ whilst matching the long term liabilities of our strategic partner, Phoenix.

“In particular, with this investment LSE will be better enabled to teach and inspire the next generation of leaders, de-carbon their estate and undertake research in key areas aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals – these are values which we at abrdn share with LSE.”

LSE’s chief finance officer Mike Ferguson said: “Securing this investment is a milestone moment for LSE.

“The funding will play a crucial role in helping us realise our ambition of being the leading social science institution with the greatest global impact and securing a sustainable future, as set out in our strategic plan, LSE 2030.”