ESG and Sustainability
The rise of ESG factors in investment decision making will have a dramatic impact on returns and opportunities in the 21st century. A recent survey by LGT Capital Partners and Mercer showed that 57% of respondents believe that incorporating ESG standards into investment decisions will raise returns. Just 9% argued they reduce returns on investment.
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Revaia, Europe’s largest female-founded venture capital firm, has successfully raised €150 million ($160 million) for its second fund, Revaia Growth II. The funding was secured from sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and institutional investors across Europe, with support from existing partners like Bpifrance and new backers such as mutual insurer Carac and the European Investment Fund.
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More Stories on ESG and Sustainability
Venture Capital: Farmland CO2 Remover Andes Lands $30M
Andes, a climate tech startup, has completed a $30 million Series A funding round, bringing its total funding to $38 million. The company uses beneficial microorganisms to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and convert them into minerals in the ground.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Amundi Rolls Out Climate-Change Focused ETFs In Europe
Amundi has introduced two new funds to its lineup of ETFs designed to combat climate change. These funds are focused on small-cap equity markets in Europe and the developed Pacific region. The Amundi MSCI Pacific ESG Climate Net Zero Ambition CTB UCITS ETF and Amundi MSCI Europe Small Cap ESG Climate Net Zero Ambition CTB UCITS ETF have been added to the Deutsche Börse Xetra in euros.
Venture Capital: Square And Social Change Fund United Launch Accelerator For Black and Latino Entrepreneurs
On March 14, Square (NYSE: SQ) and the Social Change Fund United jointly announced the launch of an accelerator program aimed at supporting Black and Latino entrepreneurs. The program, called “Forward,” offers mentorship, coaching, and funding to early-stage businesses.
Alternative Investments/ESG: BNP Paribas Debuts Two New ESG-Focused Fixed Income ETFs
BNP Paribas Asset Management has launched two new ESG-oriented fixed income ETFs, each with an expense ratio of 0.15%. The BNP Paribas Easy JPM ESG EMU Government Bond IG 1-3Y ETF tracks the JP Morgan ESG EMU Government Bond IG 1-3 Year Index, while the BNP Paribas Easy Euro Aggregate Bond SRI Fossil Free ETF is linked to the Bloomberg MSCI Euro Aggregate ex Fossil Fuel SRI Select Index.
Alternative Investments/ESG: A New Franklin Templeton ETF Targets Stocks In Decarbonizing EM Countries
Franklin Templeton has launched the Franklin MSCI Emerging Markets Paris Aligned Climate UCITS ETF, which will track the MSCI Emerging Markets Climate Paris Aligned Index. This index spans large- and mid-cap stocks in 24 emerging regions that are taking active steps to decarbonize their economies.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Goldman Sachs Launches Muni Bonds ETF With ESG Focus
Goldman Sachs Asset Management has launched the Goldman Sachs Community Municipal Bond ETF, which aims to maximize tax efficiency by providing exposure to investment-grade, tax-exempt municipal securities.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Alger Debuts ESG-Focused Growth Equity ETF
Fred Alger Management, LLC has launched the Alger Weatherbie Enduring Growth ETF (NYSEARCA: AWEG), a vehicle suited for investors looking for quality growth stocks that also score well on ESG parameters. The new ETF is a non-transparent, actively managed ETF that will run with a portfolio of 30 or fewer growth stocks.
Alternative Investments/ESG: A New ETF From First Trust Seeks Out Companies In Democratic EM Countries
First Trust Advisors has launched a new fund, the First Trust Bloomberg Emerging Market Democracies ETF (NYSEARCA: EMDM), which focuses on companies in emerging market countries with high regard for political rights and civil liberties.
Alternative Investments/ESG: The Energy And Remediation ETF From Horizon Kinetics Rides Two Boats
Horizon Kinetics has unveiled the Horizon Kinetics Energy and Remediation ETF (NYSEARCA: NVIR), a fund listed on the New York Stock Exchange that aims to strike a balance between meeting global energy needs and investing in existing remediation technology. The actively managed fund will hold both attractive, carbon-based energy companies and remediation companies that use existing technology to generate carbon-based energy in a more environmentally sensitive manner.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Global X Debuts ESG-Focused, Options-Based ETFs
Global X ETFs, a company based in New York that offers exchange-traded funds (ETFs), has revealed the introduction of two new funds. These funds, the Global X S&P 500 ESG Covered Call ETF (XYLE) and the Global X Nasdaq 100 ESG Covered Call ETF (QYLE), add to the company’s range of options-based funds.
Alternative Investments/ESG: BNY Mellon To Launch ETF Focused On Empowerment Of Women
BNY Mellon (NYSE: BK), a leading investment management company, has announced plans to launch an actively managed exchange-traded fund (ETF) that invests in companies supporting women’s empowerment. The BNY Mellon Women’s Empowerment ETF will focus on investing in companies that aim to improve women’s quality of life, with a particular focus on gender equity in the workplace and products or services that enhance women’s productivity.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Four New ETFs From DWS Themed On UN Sustainable Development Goals
DWS, the German asset manager, has launched four new exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on the London Stock Exchange, the Xetra market and the Borsa Italiana, as part of its suite of products that support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Three of the new ETFs target Goals three, six and seven and one delivers diversified exposure across multiple SDGs.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Calamos Launches ETF For Global Sustainable Stocks
Calamos Investments LLC, in partnership with NBA player Giannis Antetokounmpo, has listed the Calamos Antetokounmpo Global Sustainable Equities ETF (NYSEARCA: SROI) on NYSE ARCA.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Timothy Plan Unveils Biblical High Dividend ETF
Timothy Plan, an investment company based in Florida, has launched a new ETF that is suitable for investors who abide by biblical principles. The Timothy Plan Market Neutral ETF (NYSEARCA: TPMN) is a market-neutral strategy that aims to provide high dividends. It invests in dividend-paying stocks of companies across various market capitalizations in developed markets.
Venture Capital: Two New Venture Funds Focus On Africa And Climate Investing
Partech closed on €245 million (~$263 million), while Planet A raised €160M (~$171 million).
Alternative Investments/ESG: Sprott Unveils ETFs For Clean Energy Metals
The four new ETFs focus on providing investors pure-play exposure to critical minerals essential to the generation, transmission, and storage of cleaner energy.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Six New Responsible Funds Flag Off Morgan Stanley’s ETF Platform
Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM) has launched its ETF platform with six Calvert ETFs listed on NYSE Arca. The ETFs feature Calvert’s responsible investing approach and offer access to four indexed and two active ESG strategies across asset classes.
Artificial Intelligence: AI-Powered Study Finds Earth Will Reach 1.5C Warming In The Next Decade
A new study warns that the world is close to exceeding a critical climate threshold, signaling that time is rapidly running out to avoid the most disastrous effects of global warming.
Venture Capital: Steel Decarbonizing Company Boston Metal Raises $120M
Boston Metal, a decarbonization tech firm for steel production, announced the close of its $120M Series C funding led by ArcelorMittal. Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund and SiteGround Capital also joined as new investors, along with existing ones.
FinTech: Wahed, A Fintech Backed By Aramco, Opens London Branch For Shariah
New York-based fintech startup Wahed, which is backed by oil giant Saudi Aramco (TADAWUL: 2222) and French soccer player Paul Pogba, has opened a physical branch in London, UK to target the country’s 3.9 million Muslims with sharia-compliant investment management and advice services.
Venture Capital: Decarbonized Cement Startup Sublime Systems Nabs $40M
Sublime Systems, a developer of technology for decarbonized cement production, announced the closure of a $40 million Series A funding round led by Lowercarbon Capital and featuring participation from existing investors like The Engine and Energy Impact Partners. Siam Cement Group, the largest cement producer in Southeast Asia, is also joining as a strategic investor.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Putnam Has Five New Active ESG-Focused ETFs Listed On The NYSE
Putnam Investments has launched five new transparent, actively managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange. These new ETFs nearly double the firm’s range of actively managed ETF products.
Venture Capital: CalPERS Will Fund $1B To Promote Diversity In Alternative Fund Managers’ Investments
The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), a pension fund with assets worth $457 billion, has announced that it is committing $1 billion to support diverse and underrepresented private market investors through asset managers TPG and GCM Grosvenor.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Invesco Launches Global High Yield ESG ETF
Invesco has introduced a new ETF, the Invesco Global High Yield Corporate Bond ESG UCITS ETF, that aims to tap into the growing demand for both high yield and ESG-focused ETFs. The ETF which expands Invesco’s fixed income range, is listed on the London Stock Exchange. (ETF Stream)