Industry news and views from Panacea and our partners.
Ethical/ESG_
Square Mile Research: A Spotlight On: Unicorn UK Ethical Income Fund
This fund benefits from a series of exclusion based screens in order to ethically invest for income in smaller and medium sized UK companies.
Rathbones: Responsible Capitalism in the US: Still pursuing green
Responsible capitalism is running hot over in the US, and it looks like its not simply a flash in the pan. Fresh from a trip across the pond, Rathbone Global Sustainability Fund manager David Harrison gives his take on why greener commerce is ascendant in America. In the first chapter of Responsible Capitalism in the US: Still pursuing green, he also notes that the politics of green can sometimes get in the way of frank conversations
M&G Positive Impact Fund Annual Impact Report
There is a spectrum of approaches to responsible investment, from simplistic negative screens that exclude certain sectors or industries to the full integration of ESG factors in the investment process
Rathbones In the KNOW blog: What responsible investment looks like
Rathbones stewardship director Matt Crossman explains the Principles for Responsible Investing and how weve been putting them into practice over the past 10 years.
SRI Services: Understanding Greenwash
Recent media, generated in part in response to a recent SCM* report, indicate that greenwash fears are growing apace.
Rathbones In the KNOW blog: Be clear, be trustworthy
Brits are on board with investing sustainably to make the world a better place, but impenetrable jargon and complicated processes are preventing them from doing so. We need to try harder to speak their language, says Rathbone Global Sustainability Fund manager David Harrison.
Schroders: The fund industrys wake-up call: how investors want us to act
Jessica Ground, Global Head of Stewardship, explains why for companies, sustainability is no longer a nice to have, its an imperative.
Prudential: ESG investing
Ben Constable- Maxwell, Had of Sustainable and Impact Investment with M&G Investments, discusses ESG, who its for, strategies, drivers and ESG in practice.
SRI Services & Partners Event invitation - 9 October, Barbican
This year's SRI Services and Partners Screened, Themed & Engaged event which will be held on 9 October, during Good Money Week 2019′ at the Barbican, in London.
Aviva Investors: ESG and real assets: A matter of balance
Assessing ESG risks within real asset investments is far from straightforward. Mark Versey and Stanley Kwong use five case studies to illustrate the balance of ESG risk factors that affects investment decision-making, beyond simply trying to be green.
Royal London: What is sustainable investing?
Sustainable investing is based on a simple premise - owners and managers of capital, whether thats equity or debt, can positively influence society by prioritising investment in companies that are helping move to a cleaner, healthier, more inclusive society.
Schroders: Infographic: Sustainability Report Q2 2019
In the latest sustainability report we provide an update on the current and future state of engagement and discuss how industries ranging from fashion, to aviation, to waste, will be transformed.
Defaqto: ESG: The rub of the green
The more asset managers that incorporate environmental, social and governance thinking into their investment philosophy, the more traction ESG investing will enjoy.
SRI Services and Fund EcoMarket news update
As you will have noticed - the SRI/ESG area is somewhat 'flavour of the month', which is of course fantastic news. It does however bring certain challenges, not least with regards to finding time to write newsletters!
Aviva Investors: 'Fairtrade for finance' should be a badge of honour - not a rubber stamp
A Fairtrade-style kitemark for responsible investment is in the pipeline. Properly implemented, the initiative should improve industry standards on ESG, writes Steve Waygood.
Use of the Fund EcoMarket (SRI) fund tool has trebled over 12 months
Use of the Fund EcoMarket (SRI) fund tool has trebled over 12 months - with users indicating growing interest in both sustainability and ethical issues.
M&G: Making a difference (and a return)
The world is facing a rising tide of societal challenges, from the potential chaos associated with the breakdown of our climate, to unsustainable levels of waste and pollution, to vast and growing social inequality.
M&G: How should ESG investors think about government bonds?
Although government bonds from an ESG perspective may be more difficult than for corporates, the role they play is too important to ignore; both in terms of investment opportunities and in shaping the future. Read the latest from Maria Municchi, Fund Manager, as she discusses why government bonds can play a key role in generating return.
SRI Services: Save the Date - 9 October Good Money Week event
'back by popular demand' we are currently planning our annual Good Money Week event - (primarily) intended for financial services intermediaries.
M&G: What to look for when you are investing for impact
In this short video, Ben Constable Maxwell, Head of Stewardship and Impact Investing and Craig Hart from King & Shaxson, an ethical discretionary fund manager, discuss the rise of impact investing and the various factors to take into account when investing for impact.
Register now M&G Sustainability Forum
Dont miss the opportunity to join us for M&Gs Sustainability Forums; a new series of educational, CII accredited events that offer 90 minutes of CPD. Join us to hear from M&Gs expert investment team and external speakers discussing the hot topic of sustainability.
SRI Services & Fund EcoMarket Newsletter
Things have once again been pretty interesting in sustainable, responsible and ethical investment (SRI) recently, particularly with public opinion being piqued by developments that I would barely have dared dream possible even five years ago.
Aviva Investors: ESG focus: China's green mission
China's recent emphasis on environmental issues may be a welcome relief to Trump's climate change denials, but is there a disconnect between state rhetoric and the practices of its companies?
M&G Investments: Impact isnt ESG
While responsible investing is hardly a new concept, there is a fair degree of confusion around what is meant by ESG and how this fits into the broader spectrum. Veronique Chapplow, Investment Specialist, discusses ESG and how it does not always equal ethical in her latest article.
M&G Investments: Impact isnt ESG
While responsible investing is hardly a new concept, there is a fair degree of confusion around what is meant by ESG and how this fits into the broader spectrum. Veronique Chapplow, Investment Specialist, discusses ESG and how it does not always equal ethical in her latest article.
Invesco: Beyond Brexit: sourcing sustainable income and alpha opportunities
Mark Barnett, Head of UK Equities speaks about the UK equity market and how it is an attractive place for the long-term investor. Read more about, opportunities in domestic stocks, and his long-term investment approach.
Legg Mason: Slowing Fast Fashion
The sustainability credentials of the US$1.3 trillion global fashion industry are coming under heightened scrutiny. In the last 15 years, world clothing production has almost doubled, with more than 300 million people employed along its value chain. However, the growth of this huge industry has come at a significant cost, and there is now increasing awareness of its outsized environmental and societal impacts*.
M&G Investments: The Journey of Sustainable Investing
What we think of as sustainable investing has developed significantly over many years and is now a key item on the agenda. Maria Municchi, Fund Manager, discusses this development as well as outline the multi asset approach to better align the financial and sustainable goals to contribute towards a more sustainable future.
M&G Investment: A new route to sustainable investing?
Investing provides the opportunity to take part in the world economy, share its challenges and opportunities and influence our future. Discover M&Gs new multi asset approach to sustainable investing in this short video with Maria Municchi, Fund Manager of the recently launched M&G Sustainable Multi Asset Fund.
Aviva Investors: The AIQ Podcast: Ethics & Alpha - by Steve Waygood
Does investing responsibly mean sacrificing returns? Such a seemingly simple and innocuous question can cause all manner of confusion.
FECIF Insight February 2019
From a recent survey carried out by a famous global investment company, 46% of investors want to focus more on sustainability criteria for their portfolio choice
What did people search for on Fund EcoMarket?
Thanks to some fancy footwork from our IT support team we are now able to report on the top filter searches people have used on Fund EcoMarket.
Are you investing for impact?
Investing to help improve society and the environment does not mean giving up economic returns. The M&G Positive Impact Fund, launched in November 2018, aims to invest in companies that address the worlds major social and environmental challenges, while generating long-term wealth for its customers.
M&G: 4 recommendations to up your ESG game
Sustainability is increasingly becoming more of a need than a choice for society and investors alike. Although a handful of ESG data providers have already emerged to meet this demand, Mario Eisenegger, Investment Specialist, outlines four recommendations to help asset managers up their ESG game.
M&G: 4 recommendations to up your ESG game
Sustainability is increasingly becoming more of a need than a choice for society and investors alike. Although a handful of ESG data providers have already emerged to meet this demand, Mario Eisenegger, Investment Specialist, outlines four recommendations to help asset managers up their ESG game.
Plastic (not so) fantastic
The ultra-long lifespan of plastics is proving an ecological challenge. As consumers become alarmed at the environmental contamination caused by synthetic organic polymers, we look at the alternatives and the role of investors in pushing for change.
M&G Webcast: Introducing the M&G Positive Impact Fund
Join us on Thursday 21 February at 10am, where we will discuss the recently launched M&G Positive Impact Fund with John William Olsen, fund manager, and Ben Constable Maxwell, Head of Sustainable and Impact Investing.
Legg Mason: ESG: Conservation Can Create Capital
Water conservation and stewardship initiatives are helping companies from manufacturing to consumer goods to gain competitive advantages and manage future risks.
SRI Services & Fund EcoMarket newsletter
You will have noticed that Fund EcoMarket has changed a great deal this year. The site is now reformatted and responsive - which makes it mobile friendly. ( It is now running at 6-800 unique users per month, with average user times of 4-5 minutes). We have also split each of the key filter areas into sub categories - to make our ever expanding research easier to use. This is still being finessed so the paper downloads are not available yet - however you can click 'print' at any time! We of course welcome your feedback on what we might add as well as what we could improve.
Aviva Investors: Ethics and Alpha
The latest issue of AIQ explores the most critical themes in the world of responsible investment. Our cover story focuses on the biggest question for investors: can you do well out of doing good?