ClearBridge Investments, a specialist in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investment, has launched the ClearBridge Sustainability Leaders Fund, the first ClearBridge ESG equity strategy to be offered in a mutual fund format.
The new fund enables shareholders to make an impact through responsible investments and access the ClearBridge team's more than two decades of ESG experience.
The ClearBridge Sustainability Leaders Fund takes a multi-cap approach that seeks financially attractive companies with demonstrated ESG leadership, as well as emerging opportunities. Reflecting ClearBridge's position on the forefront of ESG investing and commitment to long-term results through active management, the fund aims to provide a comprehensive view of sustainability, without relying on exclusionary screens.
"The ClearBridge Sustainability Leaders Fund actively looks for companies with quality attributes that can positively impact future shareholder value. More investors each day are coming to believe that focusing on ESG principles can help deliver attractive, risk-adjusted performance over the long term. We're excited to offer shareholders a vehicle to invest in this discipline," says Terrence Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of ClearBridge Investments.
Mary Jane McQuillen, Managing Director, Portfolio Manager and Head of Environmental, Social and Governance Investment, says: "Both Derek and I are very proud to launch the ClearBridge Sustainability Leaders Fund. We take ESG principles seriously. It is not merely a screen or an overlay; it is part of how we conduct fundamental research on all of the stocks we consider and it defines how we think about all companies considered for investment in all client portfolios."
Derek Deutsch, CFA, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, says: "Our team is actively engaging with companies' management teams to establish an open dialogue regarding their current ESG policies and future expectations. We believe that we are able to provide our clients long term growth while investing in fundamentally attractive companies with the appropriate ESG criteria."
