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This year the sustainable investment industry will start to see more detailed and useful output as a result of the rapid changes in legislation, reporting and disclosure put in place over recent years, but asset managers will still need to take time to clarify theirs and their funds’ positions on ESG as well as work … Read more
Germany has gone “further and faster” on ESG this month with a new law aimed at exposing human rights issues in supply chains. The German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, which came into effect on 1 January 2023, requires companies that are headquartered, or have a main branch, centre of administration or registered seat in Germany, … Read more
Gresham House has launched a fund for investors to back greater forest cover across Ireland. The Irish Strategic Forestry Fund will provide up to €200m capital needed to create new forests. It will also acquire existing forests. It will eventually represent a portfolio of approximately 12,000 hectares of new and existing forests. Ireland’s Strategic Investment … Read more
In Japan, governance will take centre stage as wages rise and regulatory governance reforms start to come into force. Yu Shimizu, fund manager of the SPARX Japan Sustainable Fund, said megabanks and major property companies have been reviewing their governance systems and strengthening their profit base despite the headwinds of the past 30 years. “Sustainability … Read more
Seven Investment Management’s (7IM) Camilla Ritchie has retired after more than 16 years at the firm. Ritchie (pictured) has managed 7IM’s Sustainable Balance Fund since its inception in 2007, during which time the strategy has grown 76%, outperforming the 67% return posted by its benchmark, the IA Mixed Investment 20-60% Shares. Prior to joining 7IM … Read more
Global X is coming to the market with a carbon credit futures ETF, adding to roughly half a dozen US products in that category. The Mirae company filed a prospectus December 28 2022 for the Global X Carbon Credits Strategy ETF, which would track the ICE Global Carbon Futures Index. The ETF would invest at … Read more
Asset manager Hypatia Capital is hoping to ride a wave of research pointing to the strength of companies with women in top leadership positions. The Hypatia Women CEO ETF (WCEO), which debuts Monday, is an actively managed strategy that aims to capture performance alpha by investing in companies with female executives and significant female representation on boards of directors. … Read more
The small asset management firm that less than two years ago won board seats at Exxon Mobil is planning to launch its third ETF. Last Friday, Engine No. 1 filed an initial prospectus for its Transform Scarcity ETF. That product, which could commence trading in less than three months, would invest in 20 to 60 … Read more
As we embark on a new year, I’ve been thinking about how the conversation around ESG investing has evolved last year, including the impact of the energy crisis, its implications for the low carbon transition and where this has left investor demand for sustainable assets in light of this year’s challenges. Importantly, despite last year’s … Read more
DWS is preparing an Xtrackers ETF that would invest in companies seen as leaders in addressing climate change in their businesses. Late last week the company filed a prospectus for the Xtrackers MSCI USA Climate Action Equity ETF, which would focus on large- and mid-cap companies. The index targets 50% coverage of companies from each … Read more