More Than 20% of Independent Investors Highlight the Value of Human Advice

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Independent investors consider themselves self-reliant; however, one in five finds value in human advice, according to The Cerulli Report—U.S. Retail Investor Products and Platforms 2024.

According to Cerulli Research, 22% state that it is important to be able to speak with a human specialist linked to their account, and another 33% say it is somewhat important to have this capability.

To convert these investors into formally advised clients, wealth management providers must successfully guide clients through their platform with targeted customer service offerings while removing key friction points between a client’s desire for greater financial advice and the platform’s ability to connect them with advisors who can provide it.

Apart from the importance of speaking with a human specialist, the majority are willing to pay for that privilege: 42% state that they would pay, at least to some extent, to speak with a human specialist.

Younger investors, who are the most inexperienced with self-directed investment accounts, are the most likely to offer to pay for periodic advice, with one in five stating it is very likely they would do so.

However, despite the high demand for human advice within self-directed platforms, only 39% of respondents have ever consulted an advisor.

Those with less than one million dollars in investable assets and those under 30 are the least likely to opt for this service. Low adoption is a significant hurdle for providers seeking to use human interactions as a foothold for more extensive financial advice delivery.

To facilitate this transition, platform providers must ensure that clients can easily contact specialists with questions as needs arise to foster relationship development.

“If a full-service provider’s goal in offering self-directed brokerage accounts is for those clients to eventually engage in advisory relationships, they must make those interpersonal services visible to these clients,” says John McKenna, analyst.

In this regard, McKenna emphasizes the importance of financial education.

“Early awareness, through targeted email campaigns and milestone notifications, can drive this awareness. With this increased awareness, clients are more likely to stay with the firm for future financial advice,” he added.

For large firms with multiple lines of business, the path to closer engagement can be very efficient if the walls between units are lowered.

“By identifying moments of greatest need, transitioning clients toward more advised relationships can lead to increased wallet share and a more harmonious one-stop-shop for all financial needs, creating loyal clients for decades,” concluded the analyst.

How to Use Securitization As a Key Tool for Distribution?

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Denys Nevozhai - Unsplash

Asset securitization has had a significant impact on portfolio management and distribution, providing asset managers with an additional tool to diversify, optimize performance, and manage risk more effectively. This article by the fund manager FlexFunds explores how portfolio managers can use asset securitization to enhance the distribution of investment strategies, examining its benefits, challenges, and impact on capital markets:

Asset securitization

Asset securitization is nothing more than the process of transforming any type of financial asset into a listed security. Through this financial technique, exchange-traded products (ETPs) are created, acting as investment vehicles aimed at giving the underlying assets greater liquidity, flexibility, and reach.

FlexFunds, a leading company in the set up and issuance of investment vehicles (ETPs), defines asset securitization as a tool used by asset managers as a bridge to facilitate access to investors and foster capital raising for various investment strategies.

Among the main benefits that securitization offers to portfolio managers are:

1.- Increased liquidity: The securitization process of any asset results in a product listed on the stock exchange with an individual identifier (ISIN) that can be bought and sold through Euroclear and Clearstream, making it possible to hold it in an existing brokerage account.

2.- Risk diversification: By distributing the risks associated with the underlying assets among multiple investors, securitization helps reduce exposure to risk for any individual investor. This is especially important during times of market volatility.

3.- Access to international capital: Securitization facilitates access to international capital markets, allowing companies to attract investment from a global investor base.

4.- Centralized account management: Securitization can offer the advantages of centralized account management. It avoids the administrative redundancies of separately managed accounts and allows investors to access higher-ticket projects that they would not have been able to access otherwise.

5.- Protection of assets under the structure: Because the issuance is executed through a special purpose vehicle (SPV), the underlying asset is isolated from the credit risk that may affect the manager, and thus, the investor.

In general terms, asset securitization is a process that allows multiple classes of assets, liquid or illiquid, to be converted into listed securities. Additionally, it offers the inherent capacity of exchange-traded products (ETPs) to transform assets into “bankable assets,” understood as assets that acquire the capacity to be distributable on various private banking platforms, according to the specialized opinion of FlexFunds.

 How can asset securitization help distribute your investment strategy?

Asset securitization plays a crucial role in the distribution of investment strategies internationally. Here are some ways this process can enhance these strategies:

  • Flexibility in strategy management: Securitization allows asset managers to access a broader range of assets that they might not otherwise have access to. This includes assets from emerging markets or specialized sectors that may offer higher returns but carry higher risks.
  • Facilitates complex investment structures: Through securitization, asset managers can structure more complex investment products, such as collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) or mortgage-backed securities (MBS), which attract different types of investors with different risk profiles.
  • Efficiency in distribution: Securitization facilitates the distribution of investment products in different jurisdictions, leveraging the infrastructure of international capital markets. This allows asset managers to reach a broader and more diverse investor audience.
  • Transparency and international standards: Securitization requires compliance with international regulatory and transparency standards, increasing investor confidence and facilitating the distribution of products in multiple markets.

 Challenges of securitization

Despite its numerous benefits, asset securitization also presents several challenges that must be managed carefully:

  1. Opacity risk: While securitization can disperse risk, it can also introduce complexities that make the products less transparent.
  2. Regulation and compliance: The regulatory requirements for securitization can be complex and vary between different jurisdictions. Managers must ensure compliance with all applicable regulations, which can increase the costs and time needed to structure and issue securitized products.
  3. Market risk: Although securitization disperses risk, the underlying assets are still subject to market risks. A deterioration in the quality of the underlying assets can negatively affect the performance of securitized securities.

The future of securitization in international capital markets

As capital markets continue to evolve, asset securitization will remain a vital tool for distributing investment strategies.

Regulations will keep changing: the securitization market has been subject to increased regulatory scrutiny in recent years, and this trend is expected to persist. As regulators gain a better understanding of the risks associated with securitization, they are likely to introduce new rules and guidelines to ensure the market remains stable and transparent.

Moreover, the growing demand for sustainable investments is driving the development of securitized products that incorporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. Asset managers are exploring the securitization of green assets, such as renewable energy projects, to attract investors seeking to generate a positive impact along with financial returns.

In summary, asset securitization is a powerful tool that can enhance the distribution of investment strategies in international capital markets. By transforming any type of asset into listed securities, securitization improves liquidity, diversifies risk, and facilitates access to global capital. However, it is crucial to carefully manage the associated challenges, including transparency, regulation, and costs.

If you want to know how asset securitization can enhance your investment strategy and facilitate capital raising in international markets, contact the specialists at FlexFunds at contact@flexfunds.com

Inventories Weigh on the Global Lithium Market

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Litio (Wikipedia)

The outlook for lithium has become a topic of interest, given the mineral’s role in batteries, positioning it well to capitalize on trends in energy transformation and electric vehicles. However, inventories are weighing down the market, according to a recent analysis by Macquarie.

The commentary, signed by analyst Alice Fox, warns that the anticipated recovery in mineral prices this year has lost momentum sooner than expected. This is due to “insufficient supply being released at lower prices and the accumulation of raw material reserves dragging down the market.”

In March and April, there was a “strong seasonal recovery” in Chinese productin of carbonate and hydroxide, although it is estimated to have moderated in May, according to the analyst. This has led to an increase in lithium carbonate inventories, which now stand at 92,000 tons, their highest level since these data were first collected.

Additionally, Macquarie highlights that battery inventories in China slightly increased in March, despite original equipment manufacturers in the country seasonally increasing electric vehicle sales since the Lunar New Year.

Global sales of battery electric vehicles, meanwhile, increased by 10.6% between January and April, representing a “considerable year-on-year increase,” but also a “notable slowdown” compared to the 26.9% growth rate in 2023. Conversely, sales of plug-in hybrid vehicles increased by 49.7% between January and April, compared to 44.5% in 2023.

Looking ahead, Fox notes that “the pace of expansion in electric vehicle sales in China is expected to slow to 24.6% this year, from 30.2% last year. The Chinese market is maturing, with a penetration rate in cities of 67.9% in 2023, compared to the national average of 35.7%.” While total Chinese exports of such vehicles increased by 19.6% in the first quarter, exports to the European Union fell by 19.6% year-on-year in January and February.

“At this point, it is difficult to determine whether the reduction in exports to date is due to lower demand or a premature response to potential tariffs, which might need to be 40% or 50% for the market to become unattractive to Chinese exporters,” writes the analyst.

Regarding spodumene prices—a lithium aluminum silicate—they reached a high of $1,240 per ton in early May, 46% above their January lows, but have since lost momentum.

“Mainland China’s hydroxide and carbonate prices recovered marginally from their lows following the Lunar New Year holiday, driven by unconfirmed reports of an environmental crackdown on domestic producers, inventory replenishment, and concern over the cancellation of warrants in the GFE market for inspection. However, prices did not make significant gains and have recently weakened slightly due to increased inventories,” comments Fox.

Scala Capital Finds Peace of Mind in Profitability for Its Clients Through Private Credit, Says Alberto Siblesz

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RIA Scala Capital seeks to advise and educate its clients so they understand and are encouraged to invest in private credit, thus providing the peace of mind of achieving good returns, said the firm’s founding partner, Alberto Siblesz, to Funds Society.

“Although our portfolios can include fixed income, equities, ETFs, mutual funds, among others, we are strong believers in private credit. I feel more secure with private credit,” responded the executive who resides in Miami.

Siblesz also explained the “arduous” work done at Scala Capital to include alternative products in their portfolios. They conduct studies of private fund management firms in sectors such as real estate, private credit, private equity, and venture capital.

The firm emphasizes that there is a significant opportunity to invest in alternatives, but they also argue that financial education for clients is necessary due to the nature of these investments and the limited liquidity of the underlying assets in which these funds invest.

The RIA has a diverse client base, with 35% domestic market, 30% Venezuelans, 15% Peruvians, 10% Colombians, and 10% from other Central and South American countries.

“Latin Americans want more liquidity and less correlation with the markets,” and this way they can increase their exposure to alternatives, he assured.

Scala has $270 million under management, according to information provided to Funds Society at the end of April, and is looking to expand in South Florida.

A few months ago, they hired Estefanía Gorman and Nicolas Martinez.

“The firm seeks to continue growing with advisors who want to be independent and need some industry support,” concluded Siblesz.

Citi Will Remain in Mexico Even After the Sale of Banamex, According to Jane Fraser

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Citibank reaffirmed its commitment to Mexico, a country where it is currently in the process of selling its retail banking division, Banamex. This action by the U.S. bank is significant, highlighted by the visit of global director Jane Fraser to the virtual president-elect of the country, Claudia Sheinbaum.

On Wednesday afternoon, Jane Fraser, CEO of Citi, accompanied by Ernesto Torres Cantú, Director of Citi International, and Manuel Romo, General Director of Grupo Financiero Citibanamex, met with the winner of the presidential elections held on Sunday, June 2.

“Jane Fraser mentioned that Citi has had a presence in Mexico for over 100 years and that the country will continue to be very important for our operations. She expressed her enthusiasm for the opportunities ahead and the significant role Citi can play in supporting the growth plans, hoping to return to Mexico soon,” said Citibanamex in a statement.

Additionally, during the meeting, Fraser and Sheinbaum exchanged ideas about the opportunities the country offers in the coming years and Citi’s support for the sustainable and shared prosperity economic projects proposed by the president-elect, which both leaders share.

Fraser reaffirmed that during the second half of 2024, there will be two solid, specialized financial institutions operating, each in its business segment: Banamex and Citi Mexico.

The CEO of Citi congratulated the virtual president on her historic victory on June 2 and celebrated that it occurred in a democratic environment, expressing her pleasure that Mexico will have a female president for the first time.

“This was a notable event, bringing together the first woman elected to be president of Mexico and the first woman chosen to lead one of the most relevant and iconic banks on Wall Street,” said Citibanamex. The CEO of Citi also met with Rogelio Ramírez de la O, the Secretary of Finance and Public Credit, congratulating him on his reappointment in the next government and wishing him luck.

More Fuel for a Soft Landing Thesis

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Pixabay CC0 Public DomainCredit: Lars Nissen from Pixabay

U.S. stocks rebounded in May, with the S&P 500 (+4.9%) reaching another all-time high during the month. Big tech led the rally, with NVIDIA (NVDA) continuing its rise after reporting another stellar quarter. The ongoing AI spending boom has driven NVIDIA’s impressive growth, which now has the third largest market capitalization in the U.S. – trailing only Microsoft (MSFT) and Apple (AAPL).

Stocks were higher as investors were encouraged by April’s inflation report, which strengthened market expectations for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates soon, fueling optimism for a soft landing. The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index rose by 0.3% from March to April, in-line with expectations and indicating that inflation may be cooling.

Despite realizing gains on deals that closed, interest rate and market volatility, as well as a general “risk-off” environment contributed to wider spreads overall, offsetting the gains on a mark-to-market basis. Deals that closed in May included Exxon Mobil’s $68 billion acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources, Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ $5 billion acquisition of Alpine Immune Sciences, and Owen Corning’s $4 billion acquisition of Masonite. Spreads widened across the board on pending transactions, and most notably for Hess/Chevron, DS Smith/International Paper, and the liquidation of Seritage.

Convertibles started off strong in May but cooled by month end. Generally, positive earnings reports outweighed mixed macro data for the month. New issuance picked up strongly this month and we are well on pace to see the best year for issuance since 2021. With interest rates remaining higher, convertibles’ relatively low interest rates should make them a compelling option as companies look to refinance without a significant increase in interest expense. Recent issuance has been offered at attractive levels for investors, while still offering companies a competitive cost of capital. This issuance has led to a consistent bid for convertibles that will mature over the next two years, a change from last year when many of these converts lagged the broader market.

 

Opinion article by Michael Gabelli, managing director at Gabelli & Partners 

Private Credit I: Origins, Classification, Characteristics, and Risks

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Private credit has emerged as a popular asset class over the past decade, especially among sophisticated investors seeking diversification and attractive returns outside traditional public markets. In the following lines, we analyze this asset class from its inception, considering both the opportunities and the risks that must be carefully assessed.

Origins of Private Credit

The birth of private credit is closely tied to the banking sector in the United States. As shown in the following chart, from the end of World War II until the 1980s, the number of banks in the United States ranged between 13,000 and 15,000. Following the financial crisis known as the Savings & Loans Crisis, the number of banks gradually decreased to 8,000. Later, due to the Great Financial Crisis, a second wave of consolidations reduced the number of banks to the current 4,000. Not only did the number of banks decrease, but the size of the surviving banks grew significantly, leaving a large gap in the segment of medium-sized banks that, in turn, served the middle market segment. This market went from having thousands of banks offering medium-sized loans to not having enough banks to request loans from, particularly during crisis periods.

This gap in the mid-small financial segment was filled by non-banking financial companies such as GE Capital or CIT and what is known as Business Development Companies (BDCs). BDCs can be public companies, listed on stock exchanges and registered with the SEC, through which investors, by purchasing their shares, provide the capital that is lent to medium and small companies. They can also be established as private companies or funds.

Classification of Private Credit

There are different ways to classify private credit into subcategories, each with its own characteristics and risk-return profiles. These categories include:

1. Direct Lending: Loans to medium-sized companies that do not have access to public capital markets. Direct loans are often collateralized and have strict covenants that provide additional protections for lenders.
2. Special Situations: Non-traditional lending scenarios where companies seek financing due to extraordinary circumstances or specific needs that are often complex and require customized solutions.
3. Mezzanine Debt: This type of debt is positioned between senior debt and equity in a company’s capital structure. It offers higher returns than senior debt but carries higher risk due to its subordination.
4. Distressed Debt: Investments in the debt of financially troubled companies. Distressed debt investors seek to benefit from the restructuring of these companies.
5. Asset-Based Financing: Includes loans secured by specific assets, such as real estate or inventory, providing an additional level of security for lenders.

The following chart shows the main subcategories of private credit compared to traditional liquid fixed income and bank debt markets.

Relationship Between Private Equity and Private Credit – Sponsored Transactions

Often, transactions in the direct lending subcategory occur when a private equity (PE) fund wishes to acquire part or all of a company’s equity. The PE fund becomes the sponsor of the transaction and invites a BDC to participate by lending money to the target company, positioning itself in the senior part of the capital structure, protected by the sponsor’s equity injection. Due to these types of sponsored transactions, a significant percentage of private credit deal flow is closely linked to PE transactions.

Characteristics of Private Credit

Attractive Returns and Diversification

Private credit offers returns generally higher than those obtainable in public bond markets. These additional returns compensate for illiquidity and, in many cases, the greater complexity of these instruments. Some of the most notable characteristics of private credit are:

1. Inflation Protection: Since many private loans have variable interest rates, they can offer effective protection against inflation. This is especially relevant in economic environments where interest rates are rising.
2. Strong Financial Covenants: Private loans often include rigorous financial covenants that allow lenders to intervene early if the borrower’s financial situation deteriorates. This can include restrictions on the borrower’s ability to incur additional debt or make dividend distributions.
3. Flexibility and Customization: Private credit allows for greater customization in loan structuring compared to public bond markets. This flexibility can include payment terms tailored to the specific needs of the borrower and lender.

Risks of Investing in Private Credit

1. Credit Risk: The most obvious risk is that the borrower may not be able to meet its payment obligations. While financial covenants can mitigate some of this risk, it remains a crucial consideration. Private loans are often made to medium-sized companies that may be more vulnerable to economic cycles.
2. Lower Liquidity: Unlike public bonds, private credit instruments are not traded on liquid secondary markets. This means investors may have difficulty selling their investments before maturity without incurring significant discounts.
3. Complexity and Administrative Costs: Structuring, managing, and monitoring investments in private credit can be complex and costly. It requires a specialized and experienced team, which can increase operational costs compared to more traditional investments.
4. Interest Rate Risk: While variable-rate loans can offer protection against inflation, they can also expose borrowers to higher interest costs in a rising rate environment, potentially affecting their ability to pay and increasing credit risk.

Final Considerations

Given the above, does it make sense to include private credit funds in client portfolios at this time? It may not be prudent to give a generic “yes” without considering the characteristics and needs of investors, but an asset class with a 20-year history, nearly $2T in assets, and consistent results having weathered the Great Financial Crisis (2007-2008) and the 2020 pandemic deserves serious consideration. Let’s review some important details:

Firstly, the fact that institutional investors maintain positions in private credit provides great stability to the asset class. American pension funds, with a very long-term investment horizon, hold private credit investments ranging between 5%-10% of assets under management. Additionally, 38% of family offices (FOs) worldwide invest in private credit, increasing to 41% if the FO is located in the United States. On average, private credit investments make up 4% of total assets, although this varies depending on the volume under management.

Secondly, it is a strategy that produces and distributes cash flows, a highly valued characteristic during market panic or volatility. Additionally, as of the end of 2023, these cash flows are 30% higher than those provided by high yield bonds, and more than 100% over treasury bills.

Thirdly, the fact that it is a largely illiquid strategy reduces portfolio volatility and correlations with other asset classes, acting as a diversifier.

Finally, it is very important to highlight that the dispersion of returns among different private credit managers is substantially wider than among public credit managers, and the persistence in the different quartiles is very pronounced. This implies that the manager selection process is the determining factor, and it invalidates the use of averages as an indicator of the asset class’s performance.

Due to its private nature, access to information about different private credit managers is limited, making evaluation difficult. At Fund@mental, we have developed expertise in private funds and offer an analysis and due diligence service.

Analysis by Gustavo Cano, Founder and CEO of Fund@mental.

Vector Casa de Bolsa Aims to Surpass US$16 Billion in Assets by 2025

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Vector Casa de Bolsa announced that, according to figures from the National Banking and Securities Commission (CNBV), at the end of 2023, it reported a net operating income of 3.517 billion pesos ($195.38 million), which compares favorably with the same figure from the previous year, when it registered 3.201 billion pesos ($177.83 million), showing an almost 10% year-on-year increase. Looking ahead, the entity aims to reach 300 billion pesos ($16.667 billion) in assets under custody by 2025.

In fact, over the past five years, the brokerage firm led by Edgardo Cantú has achieved sustained annual growth of 10% between Vector Casa de Bolsa and VectorGlobal, its international arm. Recently, the company reported that it surpassed 251 billion pesos ($13.944 billion) in consolidated assets under custody at the end of 2023.

To achieve its goals, the Mexican firm will focus on three strategic pillars:

  • Asset Management (funds and asset management): It will consolidate its process of managing and supervising its portfolios of financial assets, such as stocks, bonds, investment funds, and other assets.
  •  Internationalization: Vector is the only independent Mexican brokerage firm with a global presence, operating in 11 countries through its subsidiary VectorGlobal. This year, the strategy of geographic diversification will continue to strengthen its presence in international markets, particularly in Canada, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, the United States, Peru, Venezuela, Brazil, Uruguay, and Panama. It will also continue exploring other markets.
  •  Innovation and Digital Transformation: Vector has always been at the forefront of technological innovation, adopting new technologies to improve its services and provide a superior user experience. The company has made significant investments in cutting-edge platforms and applications that provide market data, trading tools, and real-time investment analysis, allowing users to make informed decisions and manage their portfolios effectively.

“Our strategic plan and vision for the future aim to drive our growth with a focus on investors and the evolution and strengthening of our core business. We are very proud to position ourselves as leaders thanks to our net operating income, a result of our commitment and efforts,” said Edgardo Cantú.”

Sustainable ETFs: A Polarized Global Market with Europe as the Leading Region

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Sustainable ETFs have experienced extraordinary growth, reaching $550 billion in assets under management by the end of 2023, according to a report published by State Street and JP Morgan AM, which outlines the key trends in the passive management industry. One of the main conclusions of this document is the significant disparity between the situation and evolution of ESG ETFs on both sides of the Atlantic.

The report explains that ESG ETFs have undergone substantial development over the past decade. The most pronounced increase occurred during the pandemic years, 2020 and 2021, when assets under management grew by $335 billion, a 275% increase compared to 2019. “The COVID-19 pandemic greatly accelerated ESG investment, highlighting the importance of addressing global challenges such as pandemics, climate change, and biodiversity loss. This period emphasized the need for a more comprehensive investment strategy that integrates traditional financial analysis with a broader consideration of a company’s social and environmental impact,” the report explains.

Europe Reigns Supreme

The growth and development of this segment of the industry have been uneven on both sides of the Atlantic. According to the report, European investors have consistently led the adoption of ESG ETFs, driven by strong legislative frameworks such as the SFDR (Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation) and a deeply ingrained cultural emphasis on sustainability.

As of 2023, the region maintains a dominant advantage, representing nearly three-quarters of the global ESG ETF market, with assets totaling $402 billion. While North America has slightly lagged behind Europe in the growth of ESG ETF assets, it has still maintained a strong presence, with total assets currently at $131 billion, just $10 billion less than its peak in 2021. The report indicates that this trend was supported by an increase in U.S. corporations adopting ESG standards and favorable changes in U.S. government policies, making ESG funds more attractive to retirement plans.

The Asia-Pacific region, while considerably smaller in scale compared to Europe and North America, has shown notable growth. From a modest start with $385 million in ESG ETF assets in 2014, the region expanded its portfolio to $15 billion by 2023.

According to the report’s data, from 2014 to 2023, the number of ESG ETFs globally skyrocketed from 148 to 1,826, highlighting a shift towards sustainable investment. “The EMEA region led this growth, with ESG ETFs expanding from 107 to 1,281, demonstrating a strong commitment to ESG principles. North American ESG ETFs grew from 34 to 430, reflecting an increasing interest in sustainable investment, although at a slower pace than in EMEA. The APAC region, starting from a smaller base, saw a steady increase from 7 to 115 ESG ETFs. The recent trend in ESG ETF launches, especially in North America, is quite distinctive. Despite a general slowdown in new ESG ETF introductions in 2023, the sharp decline in North America is particularly noteworthy,” the report adds.

After a period of robust growth culminating in 115 new funds in 2021, North America experienced a sharp decline to just 13 new launches in 2023. This drop starkly contrasts with the previously buoyant trend and reflects broader shifts in investment priorities.

Flows Tell the Full Story

The full stance of North American (NORAM) investors on ESG, as the study shows, is clearly illustrated through ETF flow trends, highlighting a significant move away from ESG investments in the region. “In 2020, global net flows into ESG ETFs soared to $93 billion, reaching a peak of $165 billion in 2021. During this peak, the EMEA region contributed an impressive $109 billion in net flows, representing 65% of the total, while NORAM also saw a significant increase with approximately $51 billion,” the report indicates.

However, this upward trajectory in North America changed notably in the following years. By 2023, net flows in this region not only decreased but also turned negative. The report explains that this sharply contrasts with the steady growth in EMEA, which recorded nearly $50 billion in net flows during the same period. “This shift dispels the previous assumption that North America was rapidly scaling and poised to surpass Europe in the ESG ETF space. Current trends, according to the report, point to a reevaluation of NORAM investors’ strategies towards ESG investments, particularly in the United States,” the document states.

A key conclusion is that the decline in ESG investment, particularly in the U.S. in recent years, can be attributed to several factors, with a significant one being the rise in anti-ESG legislation driven mainly by political changes. This trend began gaining momentum in 2021 and reached new levels in 2023, with over 150 anti-ESG bills and resolutions introduced in 37 states. Although many of these proposals were rejected or stalled, by December 2023, at least 40 anti-ESG laws had been passed in 18 states, according to Harvard Law School. Conservative factions have also initiated boycotts against brands they consider overly progressive, resulting in considerable opposition to such brands and the ESG initiatives they support.

Investor dissatisfaction is another important factor in the declining interest in ESG initiatives. There is a growing preference for strategies that emphasize financial returns and a profit-centric approach, leading to less focus on social causes that do not produce immediate economic benefits.

According to the report, as a result of these dynamics, companies, including ETF issuers, have started to downplay ESG discussions, leading to a decrease in the promotion of related products and a subsequent decline in net flows into ESG ETFs compared to previous years. This divergence in investment philosophy has allowed ETF issuers to introduce Anti-ESG funds, which have seen increased interest over the past year. These Anti-ESG funds emphasize a more traditional profit-focused approach, attracting investors who prioritize financial returns over broader ESG goals.

While Europe, according to the report, exhibits a less polarized approach to ESG investment and has largely set a global example in ESG adoption, the past few years have seen a slight slowdown compared to the momentum of 2020 and 2021. Despite significant investment flows in 2022 and 2023, European interest in ESG has somewhat waned due to economic uncertainties, high interest rates, inflation, and geopolitical tensions, which may have led investors to shift towards other investments.

Moreover, the underperformance of certain ESG strategies, particularly in thematic areas like renewable energy, affected by rising financing costs, material inflation, and supply chain disruptions, among other factors, has played a role in fostering this cautious sentiment. Additional concerns about greenwashing and evolving regulations, covering issues such as fund reclassification and SFDR implementation, have created uncertainty for ESG investors, potentially causing them to temporarily pause investments until greater clarity emerges.

The Active Approach

The analysis of NORAM’s negative net flows in 2023 reveals a distinctive pattern: $6.6 billion in outflows predominantly came from passive funds, while active ESG ETFs were in demand, attracting $5.3 billion in new capital. This shift indicates a growing preference for active management in ESG investment. Investors, according to the study, appear to be moving towards strategies that offer greater flexibility and alignment with their specific investment goals, diverging from the constraints often associated with passive funds. For some investors, active ESG investment could offer a more dynamic approach, allowing them to have a potentially greater social impact and more direct influence over corporate behavior through activism.

According to the report, this involves deep analysis and engagement with companies in the form of activism, although it typically carries higher fees than passive strategies. By the end of 2023, the proportion of actively managed ETFs within the total AUM of ESG ETFs in NORAM had significantly increased to 13%, compared to just 3% in 2018. This notable growth underscores a substantial shift in investor preference towards active management in the ESG space over the past five years.

In Europe, passive ESG ETFs remain the predominant choice for investors, holding a significant 94% share of total ESG ETF assets. They also maintain a dominant position in terms of annual net flows. This trend persists despite a general decline in inflows into ESG ETFs on the continent that leads in ESG.

The acronym ESG stands for environmental, social, and corporate governance, introduced by the United Nations in the 2004 document titled “Who Cares Wins.” This document marked a crucial moment, advocating for the integration of these critical factors into financial analysis and decision-making. Over the subsequent 19 years, ESG has transformed from a niche concept into a central element of corporate strategy, permeating every sector of the industry, including financial instruments like ETFs.

ZEDRA Will Expand Its Corporate and Fund Services Offering

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ZEDRA, a global specialist in Active Wealth, Corporate and Global Expansion, and Fund and Pension & Incentive Solutions, together with CreaPartners, an independent provider of corporate, investment fund, and family office services based in Luxembourg, have announced their plan to embark on a new collaboration project. This partnership will merge the strengths of both organizations, marking a pivotal moment for ZEDRA as it expands its corporate and fund services offering.

With over 1,000 current employees in 16 key locations and 28 offices, this latest development further underscores ZEDRA’s ambition to be recognized as an international leader in corporate and fund services, the company explains in a statement.

With nearly twenty years of experience, the CreaPartners team, consisting of 25 professionals, has been providing central administration services for corporations, developers, investors, alternative fund managers, issuers, securitization vehicles, wealth managers, high-net-worth individuals, and family offices.

Ivo Hemelraad, CEO of ZEDRA, comments: “The synergies between CreaPartners and ZEDRA further consolidate our joint approach of being the preferred partner for clients in the corporate and fund sectors. We look forward to working with the CreaPartners team. I am confident that this advancement will add great value to our clients and employees worldwide, who will benefit from the wealth of knowledge and experience that the CreaPartners team brings.”

The board of directors of CreaPartners Sàrl welcomes this new collaboration and comments: “Our clients recognize us as a preferred partner thanks to our working model, advanced technology, and our deep understanding of the legal, regulatory, and tax environment in Luxembourg and internationally. We are delighted to collaborate with ZEDRA as we evolve our operations in the alternative investment sector.”