Asset Management
The ESG Phenomenon - Leonteq, Daubenthaler & Cie, KKR
Developments and commentary in and around the ESG investment space.
Leonteq
Leonteq has teamed up
with the German asset manager, Daubenthaler & Cie, to issue what
it claimed yesterday is the world’s first “donation certificate,”
offering impact investing for clients via an index-tracker
entity.
The organisations are launching the BeneFaktorZertifikate®
product range. Leonteq Securities is acting as the issuer and
index sponsor, while Daubenthaler & Cie is contributing its
expertise as the index advisor. LIXX GmbH will act as index
administrator of the new BeneFaktorIndex® family, the firms said
in a statement.
BeneFaktorZertifikate® are open-ended index tracker certificates
on the underlying thematic index, BeneFaktorIndex®. The donation
certificates invest in socially relevant future themes. Some 10
per cent of the annual product fees is given to a non-profit
organisation pursuing impact goals.
The first BeneFaktorZertifikat® "No Animal Testing" is offered
for subscription in Germany exclusively via comdirect, a brand of
Commerzbank, starting yesterday. It is comprises shares from
companies which confirm that they do not conduct animal testing,
and the donation of this BeneFaktorZertifikat® is given to PETA
for their commitment to animal protection.
KKR
Kohlberg
Kravis Roberts, the US-based investment house, has agreed to
buy most of ERM, a
sustainability consultancy - a move which highlights how this
area remains a hot business and finance topic.
The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
KKR will acquire the stake from OMERS Private Equity and Alberta
Investment Management Corporation, with ERM’s management team and
partners remaining as minority investors.
Founded 50 years ago, ERM has built technical expertise in
environmental health, safety, risk and social matters, and has
more than 5,500 consultants, including 580 partners, across 150
offices in over 40 countries.
ERM partners will continue to be shareholders in the business.
KKR’s investment is being made through its Core Investments
strategy, which represents capital targeting longer-term
opportunities. KKR is a long-standing client of ERM’s consulting
services, KKR said.
The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter 2021,
subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing
conditions.
