Why investment is going green

Aviva France published the first impact report of its fund dedicated to social and environmental innovation. With a budget of nearly $41 million, Finansol label and French Impact partner, Aviva Impact Investing France has supported some 50 companies since its creation in 2014. For example, nearly 16,000 jobs were created to develop solutions from which benefited 517,000 people.

Aviva Investors is expanding its US equity management business, demonstrating its determination to continue to invest in its equity management expertise. Robert Plaza joined the team as a portfolio manager. He was previously Director of Equity Research at Key Private Bank.

Nick Nikitas and Adam Schmitz, from Robert W Baird and Harris Associates respectively, have joined the team as equity analysts. Also, Nick Clare joined the team in February. They are all based in Chicago and report to Susan Schmidt, Head of US Equity Management at Aviva Investors.

These recruitments are part of the significant development of Aviva Investors’ equity management capabilities following the arrival of David Cumming as Chief Investment Officer (Equities) in January 2018. Including these latest recruitments, 18 investment professionals have now joined the equity platform.

Investment approach

Aviva’s responsible investment approach, which was originally institutional, continues today through the “Aviva Life Sustainable Solutions” offer for clients and individuals looking for responsible and high-performance solutions both in savings and in preparation for retirement.

Launched last April, “Aviva Life Sustainable Solutions” is the most complete range of responsible life insurance products on the market. That is thanks to a very wide range of SRI (Socially Responsible Investment) labeled products, management under a responsible mandate, offered by Aviva Investors France, taking into account environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria, and three Aviva thematic funds.

The Aviva La Fabrique Impact SRI fund, dedicated to job creation and the financing of social and environmental entrepreneurship in France, was successfully launched at the beginning of 2019.  The fund is managed by Mirova.

Aviva France

Aviva France has updated its Property & Casualty Brokerage agreement. It now incorporates the new obligations arising from the General Data Protection Regulation (DGPS) and the Insurance Distribution Directive (IHD).

The insurance company has received the approval of Planète CSCA. The purpose of this agreement is to define the reciprocal obligations and commitments of the insurer and the broker in accordance with the regulations in force.

They have also launched a new insurance offer: Aviva Entrepreneurs. This product is intended for all professionals with a business plan or who have created their business for less than three years.

This offer will ensure the protection of the company against the risks related to its activity (civil liability, professional multi-risk, and others) but also the creator and his family, in health and providence.

With $7 billion in assets under management, Aviva, through its subsidiary Aviva Investors France, has risen to second place in the ranking of SRI (Socially Responsible Investment) labeled assets.

“In an environment of negative interest rates, the responsible investment made easily accessible to all unit-linked (UC) investors is at the heart of Aviva’s growth strategy. This is one of the priorities of its responsible corporate approach “Aviva Sustainable Solutions.”

World high life helps investors go green

Another growth sector for many investors is CBD and medical cannabis. The market is rapidly maturing in the United States but many European countries are just opening up to the benefits of CBD and medicinal cannabis. This has created a unique opportunity for investors.

World High Life (NEX: LIFE) is a UK based company that focuses on identifying, and incubating, key cannabis and CBD prospects in the European market. The company has recently acquired Love Hemp, the UK’s largest and most successful CBD producer and plans to leverage its resources to help Love Hemp expand into new European markets.

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(Featured image by Sergey Nikolaev via Pexels)

First published in La Tribune, a third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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