ESG in Practice Series: Mayssa Al Midani on Engagement in the Nutrition Strategy

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Al Midani Pictet Asset Management(2)

As active managers, Pictet Asset Management can collaborate with portfolio companies to trigger positive change. Mayssa Al Midani, Senior Investment Manager in the Thematic Equities team, shares her perspective on environmental and social engagement with food companies.

Can you tell us about your active engagement in nutrition?

We invest in firms that help address global food challenges, ensure the sustainability of the food chain and provide access to quality food necessary for health and growth. A key feature of our investment process is engagement: we work closely with the firms we invest in to improve their performance across environmental, social and governance factors.

To help us maintain a constructive dialogue with the firms we have stakes in, in 2018 we established a partnership with the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI), a body which evaluates the world’s 25 largest food and beverage companies based on their contribution to ending malnutrition in all of its forms. Companies are assessed on the nutritional value of their products, their commitment to providing affordable nutrition and the responsibility of their marketing practices.

This year we are taking part as active investors in a collaborative engagement with three companies in our portfolio. 

With other investors, we are writing to these companies, bringing to their attention the specific improvements ATNI research suggests they need to make. We have set a deadline for them to respond. Once we receive their answers, we’ll hold calls with the companies to discuss their responses.

We are only able to engage with Nestlé, Danone and China Mengniu since all other companies in the ATNI index aren’t even in our portfolio because they don’t meet what we call our ‘purity’ threshold, or the percentage of their revenues exposed to nutritious foods. Our definition of nutritious foods is based on what leading health and environmental NGOs classify as foods that optimise both human and planetary health.

Partnering with other asset managers representing several trillions of assets under management gives much more weight to our actions

What are the themes of your engagement with companies in the Nutrition portfolio?

Our objective is to encourage companies to grow the share of healthy products in their portfolio, increase affordability and accessibility for all consumers regardless of income levels, adopt best practice when it comes to the responsible marketing of products to children and commit to front-of-pack nutritional labelling.

We single out the products that do not fit our definition of healthy nutrition and then urge companies to either reformulate them to make them healthier (reduce sugar, fat, salt content, or enrich them with micronutrients), or divest these categories.

We also look closely at how food is marketed. For example, when it comes to the marketing of breastmilk substitutes, we have been calling on companies to comply with the World Health Organisation code for healthy marketing of such products. They may be the only viable nutritional substitute when mothers are unable to breastfeed but they must not be marketed too aggressively so exclusive breastfeeding remains a priority.

We also request that companies link these nutritional objectives to management compensation, which is a powerful way of aligning management interests with positive nutritional impact and ensuring that companies are serious about making these changes.

Pictet AM

How did you choose this initiative ?

There is only so much we can achieve as a single entity.

Partnering with other asset managers representing several trillions of assets under management gives much more weight to our actions. 

Within Pictet, what was initially an asset management initiative has broadened to our private banking arm, Pictet Wealth Management, making Pictet Group as a whole a signatory and supporter of this engagement.

Sustainable nutrition is an area of strategic importance for the Pictet Group – which is already active in the field of nutrition and water through the Pictet Group Foundation – that’s why we feel it makes sense to pursue a collaborative engagement at the group level and to partner with other investors to magnify our impact.

Have you noticed a change in how companies respond to engagement in the past few years?

Food and beverage manufacturers are paying greater attention to the topic of nutrition, for a number of reasons. 

Minimising the impact of their activities on society and the environment has become a business imperative. 

Public interest in health and sustainability has become so widespread it is something companies can no longer ignore. Millenials and Gen-z consumers are more health conscious and increasingly want to align their purchases with their values. They want healthy, nutritious food that is responsibly produced, and are willing to pay a price premium for this. 

It has also become crucial to investors that the companies they invest in meet certain standards. More and more investment managers include ESG factors in their investment process. Regulation such as the EU’s SFDR mandating greater transparency on the sustainability profiles of investment funds will only accelerate that trend.

Public interest in health and sustainability has become so widespread it is something companies can no longer ignore

What has been the effect of Covid-19?

COVID-19 has shed light on the link between poor diets and vulnerability to infectious disease. In particular, studies have shown a strong link between obesity and COVID-19. Governments like the UK have started to implement policies targeting malnutrition as a response to the pandemic. This heightened awareness of the importance of healthy diets is fueling the growth of the functional foods markets (e.g. probiotics, supplements) and that of healthy alternatives such as plant-based foods.

Another effect of the pandemic has been to highlight the threat to food security caused by disruptions in complex global supply chains. In response, we are seeing the food industry investing heavily in a wide range of high-tech solutions, many of which are geared to strengthening supply chains, raising production standards and reducing food waste.

To help us better understand these trends, our portfolio managers draw on the support of a dedicated advisory board, whose members are experts from different areas of the food industry. Among them is a medical practitioner whose research activities focus on the  link between non-communicable diseases such as obesity and diabetes and nutrition. Another is a food scientist, formerly the head of innovation, technology and R&D at Nestlé. They bring a different, science-based perspective and help ensure that our investment theme remains relevant.

To find out more about our collaborative initiatives and our corporate engagement, read our Responsible investment report.

 

Discover more about Pictet Asset Management’s  long expertise in thematic investing.

 

Information, opinions and estimates contained in this document reflect a judgment at the original date of publication and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those presented herein.

Important notes

This material is for distribution to professional investors only. However it is not intended for distribution to any person or entity who is a citizen or resident of any locality, state, country or other jurisdiction where such distribution, publication, or use would be contrary to law or regulation.

The information and data presented in this document are not to be considered as an offer or sollicitation to buy, sell or subscribe to any securities or financial instruments or services.  

Information used in the preparation of this document is based upon sources believed to be reliable, but no representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of those sources. Any opinion, estimate or forecast may be changed at any time without prior warning.  Investors should read the prospectus or offering memorandum before investing in any Pictet managed funds. Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each investor and may be subject to change in the future.  Past performance is not a guide to future performance.  The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and is not guaranteed.  You may not get back the amount originally invested. 

This document has been issued in Switzerland by Pictet Asset Management SA and in the rest of the world by Pictet Asset Management (Europe) SA, and may not be reproduced or distributed, either in part or in full, without their prior authorisation.

For US investors, Shares sold in the United States or to US Persons will only be sold in private placements to accredited investors pursuant to exemptions from SEC registration under the Section 4(2) and Regulation D private placement exemptions under the 1933 Act and qualified clients as defined under the 1940 Act. The Shares of the Pictet funds have not been registered under the 1933 Act and may not, except in transactions which do not violate United States securities laws, be directly or indirectly offered or sold in the United States or to any US Person. The Management Fund Companies of the Pictet Group will not be registered under the 1940 Act.

Pictet Asset Management (USA) Corp (“Pictet AM USA Corp”) is responsible for effecting solicitation in the United States to promote the portfolio management services of Pictet Asset Management Limited (“Pictet AM Ltd”), Pictet Asset Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd (“PAM S”) and Pictet Asset Management SA (“Pictet AM SA”). Pictet AM (USA) Corp is registered as an SEC Investment Adviser and its activities are conducted in full compliance with SEC rules applicable to the marketing of affiliate entities as prescribed in the Adviser Act of 1940 ref.17CFR275.206(4)-3.

Pictet Asset Management Inc. (Pictet AM Inc) is responsible for effecting solicitation in Canada to promote the portfolio management services of Pictet Asset Management Limited (Pictet AM Ltd) and Pictet Asset Management SA (Pictet AM SA).

In Canada Pictet AM Inc is registered as Portfolio Manager authorized to conduct marketing activities on behalf of Pictet AM Ltd and Pictet AM SA.

Pictet Asset Management: Dealing with Delta

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Luca Paolini Pictet AM

Economic growth has clearly slowed in recent months thanks in large part to the spread of the particularly infectious Delta variant of Covid. Still, with monetary stimulus in plentiful supply and vaccination rates holding firm, this dip could prove to be temporary. 

Whether inflation will be transient is not so clear, however. So far, much of the increase in inflation results from distortions caused by changing consumer behaviour – a narrow group of items such as used cars and holiday accommodation accounts for most of the price increases seen in recent months – and base effects. A concern, though, is that price pressures are starting to seep into other areas, like services.

Pictet AM

Making matters more complicated, policymakers aren’t giving particularly clear signals.

The heated inflation debate taking place within the US Federal Reserve’s ranks has spilled out into the open, and investors are still waiting for an indication of when the central bank will start to wind down its USD120 billion monthly asset purchase programme or how long the process might take.

There are other risks for investors to consider. 

While developed economies have started to get a grip on the pandemic, signs that outbreaks are possible despite mass vaccination programmes stand as a warning for what might happen this winter in the US and Europe. Meanwhile, regions that had previously been largely unaffected by Covid – like Southeast Asia – are bearing the brunt of the current wave.

An additional worry is China. Covid-driven lockdowns, a tightening of credit supply earlier this year and Beijing’s regulatory and market reforms have all dampened growth and raised uncertainty for the business community. A big puzzle facing the Chinese government is why households are spending so little and how to get them spending more. Taking all this into account, we have chosen to reduce exposure to some cyclical stocks (Japan) but maintain our overall neutral stance on all major asset classes. 

Our business cycle analysis offers up a mixed picture. We are now less positive on the UK, Switzerland and Europe outside of the euro zone. However, we believe that weakness in the US is likely to be transitory, driven by a resurgence of the virus, which will merely postpone the pickup in consumption rather than undermine the underlying strength of the recovery.

In light of weakness in US consumption and construction we have lowered our GDP growth forecast for this year to 6.5 per cent from 7 per cent, but continue to expect a robust expansion of some 5.3 per cent for 2022.

The euro zone, meanwhile, has offered positive surprises. The leading indicator is very strong. Online indicators show that mobility is back above pre-pandemic levels, which suggests that Europeans have learned to live with Covid.

Pictet AM

Our liquidity indicators show that Chinese credit growth peaked last autumn and then started to contract four months ago. This means that even though the People’s Bank of China’s recently cut its bank reserve requirement ratio, the lagged effects from prior tightening will linger for the rest of the year.

That said, global liquidity conditions in the coming months will be primarily determined by the pace of monetary tightening in the US. The major risk is that the US tightens too much too soon. For now, though, liquidity conditions worldwide remain supportive for riskier asset classes, with central banks still more generous than they were in the months following the global financial crisis a decade ago, while private liquidity creation in the form of loans remains at about its long run average.

Our valuation indicators show that even though global bonds have become expensive, particularly US Treasuries and euro zone bonds, equities are more expensive still. 

If liquidity conditions turn negative – in other words, if the rate of money supply expansion falls below the nominal rate of GDP growth – then global stocks’ price to earnings ratios will come under pressure. That’s especially true because P/E ratios are very high for this stage of the cycle relative to earnings growth (see Fig. 2) – our models suggest these ratios will contract 5 to 10 per cent by the year end.

Our technical indicators show that equity sentiment remains neutral across all regions, while strong short-term trends support bonds. By contrast, a sharp loss of momentum is weighing on commodities.

Separately, investor risk appetite has pulled back from euphoric levels in mid-May across asset classes.

 

Opinion written by Luca Paolini, Pictet Asset Management’s Chief Strategist. 

 

Discover Pictet Asset Management’s macro and asset allocation views.

 

Information, opinions and estimates contained in this document reflect a judgment at the original date of publication and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those presented herein.

Important notes

This material is for distribution to professional investors only. However it is not intended for distribution to any person or entity who is a citizen or resident of any locality, state, country or other jurisdiction where such distribution, publication, or use would be contrary to law or regulation.

The information and data presented in this document are not to be considered as an offer or sollicitation to buy, sell or subscribe to any securities or financial instruments or services.  

Information used in the preparation of this document is based upon sources believed to be reliable, but no representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of those sources. Any opinion, estimate or forecast may be changed at any time without prior warning.  Investors should read the prospectus or offering memorandum before investing in any Pictet managed funds. Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each investor and may be subject to change in the future.  Past performance is not a guide to future performance.  The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and is not guaranteed.  You may not get back the amount originally invested. 

This document has been issued in Switzerland by Pictet Asset Management SA and in the rest of the world by Pictet Asset Management (Europe) SA, and may not be reproduced or distributed, either in part or in full, without their prior authorisation.

For US investors, Shares sold in the United States or to US Persons will only be sold in private placements to accredited investors pursuant to exemptions from SEC registration under the Section 4(2) and Regulation D private placement exemptions under the 1933 Act and qualified clients as defined under the 1940 Act. The Shares of the Pictet funds have not been registered under the 1933 Act and may not, except in transactions which do not violate United States securities laws, be directly or indirectly offered or sold in the United States or to any US Person. The Management Fund Companies of the Pictet Group will not be registered under the 1940 Act.

Pictet Asset Management (USA) Corp (“Pictet AM USA Corp”) is responsible for effecting solicitation in the United States to promote the portfolio management services of Pictet Asset Management Limited (“Pictet AM Ltd”), Pictet Asset Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd (“PAM S”) and Pictet Asset Management SA (“Pictet AM SA”). Pictet AM (USA) Corp is registered as an SEC Investment Adviser and its activities are conducted in full compliance with SEC rules applicable to the marketing of affiliate entities as prescribed in the Adviser Act of 1940 ref.17CFR275.206(4)-3.

Pictet Asset Management Inc. (Pictet AM Inc) is responsible for effecting solicitation in Canada to promote the portfolio management services of Pictet Asset Management Limited (Pictet AM Ltd) and Pictet Asset Management SA (Pictet AM SA).

In Canada Pictet AM Inc is registered as Portfolio Manager authorized to conduct marketing activities on behalf of Pictet AM Ltd and Pictet AM SA.

 

Smart Beta ETFs Are Gaining Traction with European Private Banks

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Pixabay CC0 Public Domain. Los fondos ETFs con estrategias smart beta ganan atractivo entre los clientes de la banca privada europea

Nearly half (46%) of the European private banks and independent wealth managers expect demand for smart beta exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to increase over the next 24 months, according to the latest issue of “The Cerulli Edge-Europe Edition“, a survey by Cerulli Associates.

“Forty-four percent of the respondents to our research expect passive ETF demand to increase over the next two years,” says Fabrizio Zumbo, associate director, European asset and wealth management research at the firm. Besides, the research indicates that European private banks’ average portfolio allocation to ETFs is set to increase from 18% in 2020 to 25.7% by 2022 and that specific sector/country exposure is by far the most important consideration for these institutions when evaluating ETFs.

According to Zumbo, there have been some interesting developments away from the mainstream asset classes. For example, some notable differences emerged when Cerulli asked European private banks and independent wealth managers to identify what they expect to be the most in-demand passive fund strategies and exposures. “EUR bonds were the clear winner among private banks, with almost half as many references again as USD bonds. In contrast, wealth managers expect other bond strategies to be most popular, with little to choose between their expectations for thematic, corporate, and emerging market bonds”, he reveals.

The research also shows that the COVID-19 pandemic-related market turmoil provided a significant stress test of the resilience of bond ETFs and their success triggered interest from investors who had not previously considered using ETFs in fixed income. In addition, a combination of regulatory tailwinds and unprecedented client demand has led to a surge in ESG investing.

“ETFs are also becoming an area of innovation in investment strategies, with thematic approaches that focus on sustainable food sources or specific climate change criteria, for example, being released in ETF format by default”, concludes Cerulli.

Companies with Stand-Alone ESG Committees Have Higher Sustainability Scores

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Pixabay CC0 Public DomainImagen de Gerd Altmann. NN IP

A joint study by NN Investment Partners (NN IP) and governance services provider Glass Lewis reveals that companies with stand-alone ESG committees do tend to have higher ESG scores. According to the asset manager, this is reflected in its proprietary ESG Lens.

The research shows that companies with this supervisory structure account for the highest proportion (28%) of firms in the top quartile of ESG Lens scores and have above-median ESG Lens scores generally. Although those with ‘below board’ committee oversight of sustainability also have 28% in the top quartile, this category only accounts for 15% of second quartile performers versus 36% for stand-alone committees. Overall, the highest proportion of above-median ESG Lens scores are registered at companies with specialized committees -whether at or below board level- to oversee sustainability performance. 

Firms with other types of oversight structures and their percentage representation in the top quartile include: combined board committee (16%); whole board (13%); and not disclosed (16%). 

Besides, those located in Europe and the United States, which have more developed extra-financial reporting expectations and obligations, tend to have stand-alone board level ESG committees (26% and 28% respectively). However, while the quality of disclosure is strong in Europe, the same cannot be said for the US, where many companies appear to have taken a “legal minimum” approach to disclosure. The relatively weak reporting requirements in the United States versus Europe may explain the differences in disclosure quality.

Supervisory structures by regions

NN IP

 

Stand-alone committees are most prevalent in the energy sector (44%), followed by materials (37%), financials and consumer staples (both 29%), utilities (21%), industrials (19%), consumer discretionary (13%) and healthcare (10%).

“How much oversight boards provide on sustainability varies and may often be quite limited. The decision to adopt stand-alone or combined board-level ESG committees remains voluntary but is influenced both internally, such as having a company culture that values sustainability, and externally by factors such as stakeholder and regulatory pressures. Given these committees are voluntary, they could be viewed as signalling a company’s heightened focus on the strategic performance of ESG, but this may only reflect a superficial commitment”, commented Adrie Heinsbroek, Chief Sustainability Officer at NN IP.

He believes that in terms of external factors, while recommendations, soft law, and shareholder expectations can influence companies into setting up committee oversight of sustainability and ESG issues, mandatory extra-financial disclosure requirements have a more direct and material impact on the presence of defined oversight structures: “European companies, for example, which are affected currently by the greatest regulatory pressure to report extra-financial information, are the most likely to have some form of ESG committee in place, while companies in the energy sector may have more stand-alone or combined committees due to greater scrutiny of environmental issues, most notably climate change”.

Heinsbroek pointed out that the research findings “once again” show the important effect of companies having ESG in focus, and the impact on their ESG performance. “As active investors, we continue to engage with companies to put this on their radar and exert our influence by having discussions on this topic”, he concluded.

You can find the full report by NN IP/Glass Lewis that explores the links between ESG supervision and performance here.

Nordea Asset Management Will Open an ESG Hub in Singapore

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Pixabay CC0 Public Domain. Nordea Asset Management abrirá un centro ESG en Singapur

Nordea Asset Management (NAM) has announced this week its plans to open an ESG hub in Singapore by the end of the year in response to its “growth and successes” in the region. In a press release, the asset manager has revealed that this is a strategic decision to establish its first ESG hub outside of its Nordic headquarters.

In this sense, they believe that the hub will allow them to be closer to clients in Asia-Pacific and better understand how companies are embracing sustainability in the region. “NAM is pleased to establish an ESG hub in Singapore, which will enable us to enhance our local servicing, ESG capabilities, investment platform and distribution reach in the region. Sustainability issues have gained significant interest in Asia in recent years, and investors are increasingly asking for ESG solutions. The time is right to meet that demand,” says Nils Bolmstrand, CEO of Nordea Asset Management.

The asset manager has explained that Singapore is an attractive choice for its first overseas ESG hub due to its stable investment environment and the government’s commitment to tackle the problems of carbon emissions and embrace the doctrines of sustainable finance. In its view, Singapore’s Green Finance Action Plan, launched in 2019, marks “a significant step in the country’s transition towards a sustainable future”.

NAM’s new ESG hub will supplement its local Singapore distribution office, established in 2013, and will be fully integrated with NAM’s ESG-focused internal investment boutiques as well as NAM’s award-winning Responsible Investments team. The plan is to start implementing the hub in the latter part of 2021.

Fidelity International Expands its Sustainable Offering with a Global Equity Fund Targeting Decarbonization

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Foto cedidaDe izquierda a derecha: Velislava Dimitrova, gestora principal de Fidelity Funds - Sustainable Climate Solutions Fund; y Cornelia Furse, cogestora de la estrategia.. Fidelity International amplía su gama sostenible con un fondo de renta variable global para la descarbonización mundial

Fidelity International (Fidelity) has announced the launch of the Fidelity Funds — Sustainable Climate Solutions Fund, a global equity portfolio of leading companies that benefit from decarbonization. It will be managed by experienced sustainable thematic investors Velislava Dimitrova and Cornelia Furse.

In a press release, the asset manager has revealed that the fund aims to achieve long-term capital growth by investing in companies which enable global decarbonisation efforts. In other words, firms that offer technologies and solutions that materially reduce greenhouse gas emissions versus incumbent technologies. Investments will include companies involved in the design, manufacture or sale of products or services in technologies or solutions such as (but not limited to): electric vehicles, green hydrogen, autonomous vehicles, renewable energy, smart grids, industrial automation and agricultural efficiency.

 

“Climate change has prompted decarbonisation policies around the world to help achieve global carbon neutrality. The world needs to decarbonise urgently, at a faster pace that we have seen to date, and investors can play a major role in supporting this change. The decarbonisation challenge is on a scale unmatched in human history. But it is one that offers the companies meeting it a 30-year period of growth that surpasses even the internet revolution. Our Sustainable Climate Solutions Fund offers investors access to this long-term global megatrend”, says Dimitrova, Co-Portfolio Manager. 

Fidelity believes that to keep global warming to the 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels as recommended in the Paris Agreement, the global economy will need to go through a radical transformation, affecting every area of human activity. This means reversing over 150 years of rising greenhouse gas emissions and reaching, or exceeding, net zero targets within 30 years – at a cost of 144 trillion dollars, almost seven times annual US GDP. According to the firm’s analysts, the race to net zero is on, and almost a quarter of all companies will be carbon neutral by the end of this decade.

Furse, Co-Portfolio Manager of the strategy, points out that unlike other climate funds, this one focus on carbon reduction, not carbon avoidance. “Investing in low emission sectors will not be enough to reverse 150 years of rising greenhouse gas emissions. Our fund will identify and invest in existing and emerging solutions that help decarbonise society. The decarbonisation trend is currently at the early stage of penetration and will be driven by a combination of innovation, improving economics, accelerated governmental support and changing consumer behaviours. It is the stocks exposed to these themes that will drive superior investment opportunities for our investors”, she adds.

The Fidelity Funds — Sustainable Climate Solutions Fund, which is classified Article 8 under the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), forms part of Fidelity’s expanding Sustainable Family of Funds. The asset manager currently manages more than 10 billion dollars in sustainable funds across its equity, fixed income, ETF and multi asset.

“We strive to become a trusted partner to our clients, delivering innovative investment solutions that meet their financial and non-financial objectives. Investing sustainably is key to achieving this. Our Sustainable Family of Funds has grown substantially in recent years, and I am pleased that we can now offer clients access to the decarbonisation megatrend”, highlights Christian Staub, Managing Director Europe at Fidelity. 

In his view, the race to net zero “is on”; that’s why they have also committed to reduce their operational carbon emissions to net zero by 2040, and they’re working collaboratively with peers in the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative, supporting and the transition towards global net zero emissions.

About the portfolio managers

Velislava Dimitrova has 13 years of investment experience. She joined Fidelity in 2008 and worked as an analyst until 2014, covering a number of sectors including European Media, European Utilities and Materials. She was subsequently appointed co-Portfolio Manager on global team-based portfolios where she had specific sector responsibilities, including the Fidelity Global Demographics strategy between 2017-19, which cemented her interest in thematic products. In 2018, she built on her vision of running a sustainable thematic strategy when she conceptualised and started managing Fidelity Sustainable Climate Solutions, where she is currently Lead Portfolio Manager. In February 2021, Velislava took on a Lead Portfolio Manager role for the Fidelity Sustainable Water & Waste strategy. She has an MBA from MIT Sloan and a BBA from Sofia University.

Cornelia Furse has 11 years of investment experience. She joined Fidelity in 2010 and worked as an analyst until 2021 covering a number of sectors including European Mid-cap Utilities, US Health Care, US Consumer Discretionary and US Capital Goods. She was appointed co-Portfolio Manager on the Fidelity Sustainable Climate Solutions strategy in 2019 and as co-Portfolio Manager on the Fidelity Sustainable Water & Waste strategy in February 2021. She has an MA in Classics from Oxford University.

Neuberger Berman Appoints Sarah Peasey as Director of European ESG Investing

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Nimalan Tharmalingam City of London
Pixabay CC0 Public DomainNimalan Tharmalingam . Nimalan Tharmalingam

Neuberger Berman, a private, independent, employee-owned investment manager, has announced the appointment of Sarah Peasey in the newly created position of Director of European ESG Investing. 

Based in London, she will report to Jonathan Bailey, Head of ESG Investing, and will work directly with the investment teams to further incorporate ESG principles across asset classes and to enhance long-term value for clients.

Peasey joins Neuberger Berman from Legal and General Investment Management (LGIM), where she served as Head of Responsible Investment Strategy – Investments. There she worked closely with the CIO to drive long term responsible investment strategy, with a focus on research and portfolio management across all investment capabilities, whilst also providing the investment perspective to support product innovation and shape client solutions. Prior to this, she was an Investment Strategist and head of fixed income investment

‘‘Sarah brings with her more than a decade of investment experience and we’re thrilled to have her on board as we continue to engage our European clients on important sustainability topics like net zero. She will work with our investment teams across the region to continue to innovate their approach to ESG investing”, Bailey commented.

Meanwhile, Dik van Lomwel, head of EMEA and Latin America, pointed out that Neuberger Berman has a long history of integrating ESG into investment processes while helping their clients achieve their investment goals. “With Sarah’s extensive experience, we hope to further generate sustainable, long-term returns for our clients through our approach to ESG, as seen in our recent £1.3bn climate transition-related multi-asset credit mandate from the Brunel Pension Partnership which is designed to align Brunel’s portfolio with the Paris Climate Agreement”, he concluded.

La Française AM Boosts its Management Team with Three New Talents

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Foto cedidaPaul Troussard, Victoire Dubrujeaud y Delphine Cadroy. Paul Troussard, Victoire Dubrujeaud y Delphine Cadroy

To support the development of its High Yield credit and Large Cap equities expertise, La Française AM, the securities investment manager of the group La Française, has announced in a press release the arrival of three new talents.

Victoire Dubrujeaud and Delphine Cadroy have joined the High Yield team, led by Akram Gharbi, Head of High Yield Investment, within the credit division, headed by Paul Gurzal, Head of Credit. The asset manager believes that they will both enhance the strong development of La Française AM’s expertise in fixed maturity funds, which represents more than 1 billion euros in assets under management (as at 31/05/2021).

Dubrujeaud, High Yield Fund Manager, will bring “a solid knowledge of the high yield market” acquired over ten years of experience, mainly as a credit analyst. She began her career at Amundi Asset Management as an Investment Grade Credit Analyst, specialising in the consumer, distribution and healthcare sectors, before diversifying into High Yield in the chemicals, metals and gaming sectors. In 2017, she joined SCOR Investment Partners as a High Yield and Leveraged Loans Analyst, then became Fund Manager/High Yield Analyst at ODDO BHF Asset Management in 2019 where she managed nearly 2 billion euros in fixed maturity funds. 

Cadroy, High Yield Fund Manager, joins La Française AM after five years of international experience beginning in London with Société Générale as an analyst in syndicated loans, before joining Amazon, then Moody’s as an Analyst in Leveraged Finance, responsible for a portfolio of twenty companies, rated high-yield and operating in the healthcare, business services and consumer sectors.

“The development of the high-yield market and the growing demand from investors for this asset class are pushing us to strengthen our expertise in this area and expand our international coverage”, Gharbi, Head of High Yield Investment, commented.

Besides, Paul Troussard has joined the Large Cap Equities team to strengthen the coverage of the euro zone, under the direction of Nina Lagron, Head of Large Cap Equities, who said that his arrival will allow them to “focus on the team’s new sustainable investment themes.”

Troussard, Large Cap Equities Fund Manager, spent more than four years at Clartan Associés as a European equities fund manager, all sectors. There, he developed an expertise in extra-financial analysis by participating in the implementation of an ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) investment strategy and in the launch of a sustainable European small and mid-cap fund. 

The Fourth Law of Investing

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Pixabay CC0 Public DomainLa cuarta ley de la inversión. La cuarta ley de la inversión

If You Have Long-Term Goals, You Must Think Long-Term.

“It’s not timing the market, it’s time in the market that matters.” —Financial services industry adage

After years of education, decades of experience, and a lifetime of insight and perspective, Jeremy Siegel, the Russell E. Palmer Professor of Finance at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and author of the 1994 book, Stocks for the Long Run, needed just five words to summarize, as the quote indicates, what wise investors have always known: investing is a long-term proposition.  

Unlike bonds, which represent a debt of the issuing company, shares of stock represent ownership, or equity in the issuing company. When an investor buys a bond, she knows that the company will compensate her with regular interest payments, in return for the use of her money. Those who invest in stock do so with the hope that as a company becomes successful, the company’s stock will appreciate in price and shareholders will see their investment increase in value.  

Studies have shown that the individuals who earn the best investment returns—despite economic changes and market fluctuations– are investors who buy stock and remain invested for the long term. While most investors know intellectually that investing in stock is a long-term proposition, emotionally they want an instant winner. If they don’t get one, they’ll move on to the next opportunity. That short-term, hit-and-run thinking negatively affects investor returns and we have the numbers to prove it.

For more than 25 years, Dalbar, a financial services market research firm, has studied investor behavior and success by comparing individual investors’ performance to investment market performance. Dalbar’s studies have demonstrated time and time again that individual investors earn less than investment indices.  

One Dalbar study for the time period ending in 2013, compared investors’ returns to the returns of the S&P 500 Index. In the study they discovered that between 1983 and 2013, the S&P 500 returned an average 11.1% per year while, over the same time period, the typical stock mutual fund investor earned an average of 3.69% per year.  Of the difference, Dalbar attributed 1.4% to mutual fund expenses and the rest to investors’ poor timing decisions. But how do we know that short-term thinking is negatively affecting investor returns?

This chart from Dr. Daniel Crosby’s book, The Laws of Wealth: Psychology and the Secrets to Success demonstrates, that on balance, equity investment holding periods since the 1940s have generally declined. Specifically, compare the 8-year average holding periods of the 1960s to the 2010s when investor holding periods averaged just 5 months.

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Three ways investors can avoid falling into the short-term investor mindset:

  • Work with a financial advisor who understands you and your life goals. Increases in life expectancy require investors to have financial and investment plans that assume they will live until age 100, which means that some of us may be retired for 30 or 40 years. In addition to focusing on your goals, your advisor will recommend investment strategies and securities that fit your needs.

 

  • Become a student of stock market history (just a student, not a professor). Compare short-term (1-5 year) market performance to long-term performance (5+ years). Notice that, while markets can fluctuate dramatically over a one- or two-year period, those dramatic fluctuations become small hiccups when you consider longer time periods.

 

  • Avoid looking at your investment accounts every day, because what you see on any given day may cause you to take unnecessary action like selling a security. Greg Davies, the head of Behavioral Finance at Oxford University studied investment account values and found that if an investor looks at her account values every day, 41% of the time she will see they are down in value; the investor who looks at their accounts every 5 years will see their account is down 12% of the time; and the investor who looks at their account every 20 years will never see they have lost money.

 

When Jeremy Siegel titled his book, Stocks for the Long Run, he gave us the answer to investor success. But his book’s title didn’t explain the critical role financial advisors play in ensuring that the habit of long-term investing is widely adopted.

 

Important Information
 

The views expressed are subject to change and do not necessarily reflect the views of Thornburg Investment Management, Inc. This information should not be relied upon as a recommendation or investment advice and is not intended to predict the performance of any investment or market.

This is not a solicitation or offer for any product or service. Nor is it a complete analysis of every material fact concerning any market, industry, or investment. Data has been obtained from sources considered reliable, but Thornburg makes no representations as to the completeness or accuracy of such information and has no obligation to provide updates or changes. Thornburg does not accept any responsibility and cannot be held liable for any person’s use of or reliance on the information and opinions contained herein.

Investments carry risks, including possible loss of principal.

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Founded in 1982, Thornburg Investment Management is a privately-owned global investment firm that offers a range of multi-strategy solutions for institutions and financial advisors around the world. A recognized leader in fixed income, equity, and alternatives investing, the firm oversees US$45 billion ($43.3 billion in assets under management and $1.8 billion in assets under advisement) as of 31 December 2020 across mutual funds, institutional accounts, separate accounts for high-net-worth investors, and UCITS funds for non-U.S. investors. Thornburg is headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, with additional offices in London, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

 

For more information, please visit www.thornburg.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAVINCI Hires Esteban Morgan as Sales Manager for Argentina

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Foto cedidaEsteban Morgan. ,,

Esteban Morgan has joined DAVINCI Trusted Partner as Sales Manager for Argentina, the financial services firm’s founders, Santiago Queirolo and James Whitelaw, confirmed to Funds Society.

Morgan will be responsible for serving the Argentine clients of DAVINCI, a company that currently distributes the strategies of two international asset managers: Allianz Global Investors and Jupiter Asset Management.

“It is essential for us to have a local presence in Argentina. It is a strategically important decision that reinforces our commitment to our clients and allows us to continue with our growth plans in the region. Additionally, the pandemic continues to make travel difficult, so we are excited to bring Esteban on board so that we can be closer to the advisors who have always been with us,” explained Queirolo, Managing Director of DAVINCI Trusted Partner, at the company’s Montevideo headquarters.

Morgan holds an Economic degree from Universidad Torcuato Di Tella (Buenos Aires) and in 2018 he approved the master’s in finance courses from the same university. In 2019 he performed satisfactorily the Level 1 exam from the CFA Program. With more than 8 years’ experience in the financial sector, Esteban started his career in the Portfolio Personal’s commercial team (PPI).

Recently he worked as a VP in the Santander Argentina Investment Banking team participating in the execution of multiple structured finance transactions including syndicated loans, debt capital markets issuances, export & agency finance loans and corporate finance for main banks clients. This year he was appointed as responsible for leading Sustainable Financing alternatives, advising clients in green loans certification and compliance with ESG standards.

Meanwhile, the firm maintains its international expansion plans in the other relevant Latin American markets. “We have restructured our team to deepen our presence in key markets such as Chile, Peru, Colombia, Panama and Brazil. As health protocols allow, we will begin to visit our clients and present Jupiter Asset Management’s strategies,” explained Whitelaw, Managing Director of the firm created a year ago.