René, the slogan of the new sustainable theme funds is 'Why not invest in the future? We ask back: Why is Swisscanto launching these products - and why now?
The launch marks the logical expansion of our asset management expertise with sustainable thematic funds. That is our long-standing expertise. On the investment side, we have been dealing with sustainability, which remains of central importance to us beyond fashion trends, for almost three decades. The current ‘Earth Night’, an initiative against light pollution that marks the start of our campaign emphasises the importance of the sustainable approach.
In total, no fewer than three new thematic funds are being launched. They are dedicated to three major challenges that will continue to occupy humanity for generations to come: These are, firstly, the hope of a healthy long life, secondly, the more careful use of resources and, finally, the trend towards digitalisation. Why are these also attractive investment themes?
In our opinion, the investment themes addressed by the Swisscanto theme funds can benefit from long-term, structural growth drivers and enjoy a political tailwind. This in turn can act as a catalyst for investments. The demand is likely to be enormous, as the example of digitalisation alone shows: According to some industry experts, spending on IT could double in the next ten years. With our thematic funds, we want to actively invest in companies that can benefit disproportionately from these developments.
The sustainability aspect plays an important role in these funds. Why?
In our opinion, companies that align their products and services with sustainable challenges at an early stage - such as climate protection - enjoy a strategic advantage and can benefit from strong demand due to their contribution to finding solutions. This means that the investment strategies also fulfil the primary objective of achieving a financially attractive return and thus creating added value for investors. With this in mind, our thematic funds focus on selected companies that make a significant contribution to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.