Candriam Investors Group has added to the nascent market in socially responsible investment (SRI) funds that invest in bonds.
The Brussels-based firm has launched the Candriam SRI Bond Global High Yield fund, which limits exposure to issuers with unsustainable growth models and low regard for the environment or social values, the firm said.
Candriam, which has €111 billion in assets under management, said it believes companies that embrace sustainability related opportunities at the same time as financial opportunities are the most likely to generate financial returns.
Wim Van Hyfte, global head of responsible investments and research, said: “We believe that a comprehensive appraisal of the ESG [environmental, social and governance] opportunities and risks of issuers is essential to make fully-informed investment decisions in the fixed income space, including high yield corporate credit.”
The actively managed fund is registered for marketing in Luxembourg, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
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