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Two New SDG-Themed Funds Land in the Nordics

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Stockholm (NordSIP) – Responding to growing investor demand for funds that target positive sustainable outcomes, Columbia Threadneedle Investments, a global asset manager, announced the launch of two new funds now available to Nordic investors. The Columbia Threadneedle (Lux) Sustainable Outcomes Global Equity fund and the Columbia Threadneedle (Lux) Sustainable Outcomes Pan-European Equity fund were registered in Luxembourg in May.

The funds are now available to investors in Denmark (to institutional investors, only), Finland, Norway and Sweden and complement the UK sustainable equity strategy launched in 2015.

“We know that investors want to support solutions to the world’s sustainability challenges. Demand for sustainable investment is growing as governments work toward achieving global climate and social goals, and we have seen this intensify as the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic are assessed,” Michaela Collet Jackson, Head of Distribution, EMEA at Columbia Threadneedle Investments said.

“As a founding signatory to the UNPRI, Columbia Threadneedle’s disciplined responsible investment philosophy has long been integral to our investment process and we have consistently achieved high ratings under the UNPRI2. As investors seek sustainability-focused investment, we are applying this discipline to our growing range of dedicated RI funds. We are excited to launch these funds which will be managed by our well-regarded global and European equities teams,” Jackson added.

Columbia Threadneedle’s Sustainable Outcomes funds are equity strategies that focus on investing in high-quality companies targeting positive sustainable outcomes and strong financial returns. The funds focus on eight themes, drawn from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The portfolio managers, Pauline Grange and Andrea Carzana, work with Columbia Threadneedle’s fundamental research and RI analysts to build a portfolio of companies that align with these themes and criteria. They use Columbia Threadneedle’s own RI ratings, which provide an assessment of material ESG risks4 and opportunities for over 8,000 companies worldwide.

Assessing competitive advantage is at the heart of this approach – both understanding the source of a company’s competitive edge, and the structure of the industry in which it operates.

“In a world of societal and environmental change, companies that set out to invest and innovate for a more sustainable future not only support the planet and its inhabitants, but also their potential to generate strong financial returns and stable growth over the long-term. As active investors, we encourage firms to adjust practices and innovate for solutions – not just to manage ESG risk, but to also create opportunities to deliver positive change aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals. Importantly, those companies must be consciously thinking about, and acting on their impact,” Pauline Grange, Portfolio Manager of the Columbia Threadneedle (Lux) Sustainable Outcomes Global Equity fund says.

“The strategy underlying the Columbia Threadneedle (Lux) Sustainable Outcomes Global Equity has been running as a separate strategy for institutional clients, allowing the investment team to successfully demonstrate the investment thesis and build a track record.”

“Investor demand for sustainable equities is a structural shift supported by governments and society to address environmental and social issues. Companies are on the path to more sustainable governance, operations and products. We will direct capital to those companies with the strategy, will and potential to enable these shifts,” Andrea Carzana, Portfolio Manager of the Columbia Threadneedle (Lux) Sustainable Outcomes Pan-European Equity fund concludes.

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