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It’s little over a month since provisional agreement was reached on the text of the highly anticipated Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). Since then, the pace quickened, with the EU releasing a final draft in the past few days, in anticipation of a ratification vote, only to have the brakes applied after Estonia, Finland, … Read more
AXA Investment Managers has launched a global bond fund aimed at decarbonisation, with investment consulting firm Aon providing seed capital of £127m. The fund, dubbed the AXA ACT Carbon Transition Global Short Duration Bond fund, will be led by Nicolas Trindade, who currently manages near £2bn for AXA IM in global and sterling liquid fixed … Read more
Never has it been more necessary for us, especially investors with a sustainability view of the world, to be able to spot the difference between a genuine solution to a sustainability problem and a red herring. We are bombarded with claims about how ‘green’ businesses are, or how a certain technology will save the planet. … Read more
Investor engagement with oil and gas companies has achieved “derisory” results and must be radically improved, including by voting down directors, according to an open letter NGO Reclaim Finance sent to 50 large investment firms yesterday. The letter stated investors ought to vote against strategic routine resolutions, suspend new investments and make public statements for … Read more
Corporates’ annual general meetings (AGMs) are a time for investors and their stewardship strategies to shine. ESG Clarity asked industry professionals to find out what they expect – and what they hope – to see this AGM season. Louisiana Salge, EQ Investors head of sustainability, is not feeling hugely optimistic about how asset managers will use … Read more
Tomohiro Ikawa, head of engagement in Japan at Fidelity International, explains how the team is applying the firm’s sustainable commitments in the region, discusses a success story from the fund and reveals areas of focus going into 2024. Fidelity have just released its approach to four sustainable commitments for 2024. These are nature loss, climate … Read more
Stewart Investors has announced the launch of the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) Investor Network, a collaborative engagement project of which it is founding member. The network brings together investment industry stakeholders to advance responsible sourcing and mining by giving investors access to due diligence tools and collaborative opportunities. Reflective of Stewart Investors’ commitment to promoting … Read more
Liontrust has added investment analyst Connor Godsell and equity analyst Linnea Bengtsson to its sustainable investment team, to its now 18-strong team. Peter Michaelis is head of the team, which includes seven members with a fixed income focus. Godsell will join the Edinburgh office while Bengtsson will be based in London. See also: – Liontrust’s … Read more
Investors with a long-term view understand a company’s ability to deliver financial results, and therefore investment returns, depends on its ability to manage physical climate and biodiversity risks, while navigating future regulation and shifting consumer tastes. It’s a key reason for engagement on climate, nature and human rights. Without effective stewardship of portfolios, risks can … Read more
Emerging markets funds face losing the French socially responsible investment (SRI) label if they do not divest from a number of jurisdictions. The Investissement Socialement Responsable (ISR) label announced stricter eligibility criteria in December 2023, including funds becoming ineligible if they invest in companies involved in new projects related to the exploration, exploitation and refining … Read more