Liontrust is to broaden its sustainable investment offering to European fund buyers through the launch of the Irish-domiciled GF Sustainable Future Global Growth Fund on 12 November 2019.
The Fund will use the same investment process that has been applied by the Liontrust Sustainable Investment team to managing its Global Growth strategy for UK investors since 2001.
Managed by Simon Clements and Peter Michaelis, the Fund is being launched to meet the growing demand for sustainable investment from across continental Europe. Liontrust GF SF Global Growth will join two other Sustainable Investment funds in Liontrust’s Irish range – GF SF Pan European Growth and GF SF European Corporate Bond.
The Liontrust Sustainable Investment team manages 10 UK-domiciled funds and has doubled its assets under management from GBP2.3 billion in April 2017 to GBP4.6 billion on 30 September 2019.
The team’s investment process starts with a thematic approach in identifying the key structural trends that will shape the global economy of the future, such as the move towards a low carbon economy, digital security and healthier eating. The team then invests in well run companies whose products and operations capitalise on these transformative changes.
The five largest holdings for the SF Global Growth strategy are currently Alphabet, Autodesk, Ecolab, Visa and Iqvia Holdings.
Among the team’s key differentiators is the fact that all the sustainable elements are integrated within a single team. Every team member is responsible for all aspects of financial and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) relating to an investment decision.
This means the team engages with companies across a broad range of issues relating to stages in their process, including screening criteria, sustainable investment themes and company specific ESG issues.
Liontrust’s Chief Executive John Ions (pictured) says: “There is growing demand for sustainable investing as an increasing number of people care about how they make their money as well as how much money they make.
“This is an ever-more competitive area and we are enjoying rising interest in our team and their funds because of their rigorous investment process, 18 years of managing sustainable investments and the successful long-term track record.
“Our new fund will enable European investors to benefit from the team’s experience, knowledge and proven capability through its global growth strategy.”
The Liontrust GF SF Global Growth Fund is registered for sale in Ireland, the UK, Germany, Austria, Norway, Spain, France, Italy, Finland, Sweden, Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Guernsey and Belgium.
