by Benjamin Bailey, CFA, Praxis Mutual Funds & Everence Financial
Praxis Mutual Fund shareholders expect us to invest with their values in mind. The Praxis Impact Bond Fund turned 25 this year and through the first half of the fund’s tenure we diligently focused on screening out holdings contrary to those shared values. In 2006, our eyes were opened by a public bond offering that showed us what positive impact bonds (those bonds that make a positive impact on the climate and/or communities) could do.
According to US SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investing, Socially Responsible Investing (“SRI”) has reached the $12 trillion asset mark. Unfortunately, the vast majority — 97 percent, to be precise — comprises investments in the traditional capital markets in which decisions are made using Environmental, Social, or Governance (“ESG”) criteria. While I applaud people adding ESG screens to their portfolio, it is imperative that we find ways to support direct, community-level investments.
This is the first of two articles from GreenMoney's International ESG/SRI Investing issue featuring short profiles on a number of the International SRI Mutual Funds, which invest in companies outside the United States. The information below comes from each Fund and is subject to change. We have included their website links for you to look up the latest information including Company Holdings, Country Allocations and Financial Performance.
Uncovering investment opportunities with a focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors across the world’s fastest-growing region.
Blog
by Vivek Tanneeru, Portfolio Manager at Matthews Asia
In Asia, ESG investing encompasses large, transformational changes. It focuses on companies that can potentially deliver profits and growth from improving the quality of life across the region. Within this context, Matthews Asia launched the Matthews Asia ESG Fund more than four years ago. Managed by Vivek Tanneeru, the Fund seeks to capitalize on the growth of the region by investing with an ESG lens.
To boost portfolio ESG quality and the potential for improved risk-adjusted returns
Article
by Scott LaBreche, Director at Impax Asset Management
The megatrends underlying the transition to a more sustainable economy, such as climate change and widening inequality, are global issues. It should come as no surprise, then, that companies are addressing sustainability risks and opportunities regardless of their domicile.
So investors may be wondering, how are companies in developed markets outside the U.S. and Canada performing on sustainability issues? It varies, of course, but on the whole, they are performing better than those in the U.S.
by Doug Lynam, book author and financial professional
I’ve always hated talking about money. Growing up in a rich family, I learned through the behavior of those around me that money and materialism were evil. Instead of being used in love and service, money was weaponized and became a tool to manipulate and control behavior. So when I began studying philosophy and religion in high school and read the words of Paul the apostle, “For the love of money is the root of all evil,” I mistakenly believed Paul was right. I was a proto-monk in the making.
by Danielle Burns, Head of Business Development at CNote
After college, I started to work in a meaningful career and my passion began to shift towards creating an environment for myself that I could be proud of and fully support. I started to think more holistically about money. How would it contribute not only to my life but to the lives of others around me? I wanted my money to support both the tangible and intangible needs and desires. I also knew that I didn’t want to be defined by money whether in the red or black.
