Candriam Launches Sustainable Bond Fund, Targeting Positive Contributions to UN SDGs
Sustainability-focused asset management firm CANDRIAM announced today the launch of the Candriam Sustainable Bond Impact Fund, targeting investments in bond issuances that help finance projects supporting the transition to a low carbon economy or improving social disparity. The fund aims to align financial returns with a positive impact on society and the environment, according to the firm.
The fund will be classified as an article 9-financial product under the EU SFDR regulations.
The new actively managed fund will be managed by a team consisting of experienced fixed income investors and ESG specialists, including Philippe Dehoux, Head of Global Bonds, Céline Deroux, Senior Fixed Income Strategist, Nicolas Forest, Global Head of Fixed Income, Vincent Compiegne, Deputy Head of ESG Investments and Lucia Meloni, Lead ESG Governance Analyst.
According to Candriam, the fund will utilize a proprietary in-house screening approach to assess the ESG quality of issuers, and to examine how the proceeds of bond issuances will finance underlying projects that are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs)*.
Forest said:
“The sustainable bond market is fast-growing and increasingly diversified. By directly addressing the UN SDGs with this new strategy, we are able to target the full range of societal issues, providing financial inflows to specific initiatives that will make a material and positive contribution to global sustainable development.”
Meloni added:
“It is more important than ever that we come together to support a transition towards a more sustainable and fairer world. With the launch of this new Fund we are able to ensure that all projects targeted have a positive and material impact towards society and the environment.”
*The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) refer to the 17 categories of goals adopted as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by world leaders at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015, with the aim to protect the planet and improve the quality of life globally. SDG targets include ending poverty and hunger, improving education, and protecting the environment.