The latest news in investment offerings, financial products and other services relative to wealth advisors and their clients.

Goldman Sachs Asset Management
Goldman Sachs Asset Management has launched the Goldman Sachs Paris-Aligned Climate World Equity UCITS ETF, listed on the London Stock Exchange and is expected to list on Xetra on or around 18 October.
 
The fund’s investment objective is to provide investment results that correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the Solactive ISS ESG Developed Markets Paris-Aligned Benchmark USD Index, the firm said in a statement. 

The Index comprises global developed market equities and is constructed to meet the minimum requirements for EU Paris-Aligned benchmarks, the firm added. 

The Paris Agreement is an international treaty on climate change, which aims to keep global temperatures below 1.5°C compared with pre-industrial levels by limiting greenhouse gas emissions.
 
The fund could help investors manage climate transition risks by shifting exposure away from companies or industries that have business models which are inconsistent with a low carbon future, the firm said. 

In addition to excluding certain sectors and targeting an overall greenhouse gas emissions intensity 50 per cent lower than the parent index, the Paris-aligned benchmark minimum standards require companies within the Index to show a 7 per cent year-over-year reduction in carbon emissions intensity, the firm said.
 
The fund builds on Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s commitments to responsible investing, underscored by its recent acquisition of NN Investment Partners, a European asset manager with strong ESG integration across its business, the firm continued.
 
Peter Thompson, head of Goldman Sachs Asset Management's European Exchange Traded Fund business, said: “Investors are increasingly focused on obtaining lower carbon intensity exposure to equity markets through simple, low fee and transparent products.” 

“We are excited to introduce the Goldman Sachs Paris-Aligned Climate World Equity UCITS ETF, which can contribute towards our clients’ portfolio construction and responsible investing objectives. We look forward to bringing further ETFs with ESG and sustainable characteristics to the market as we continue to expand our ETF offering to European clients,” he added.