Thomas Schumann Capital & FARAD-Group* launch (March 22nd) the first global responsible investment fund to invest in public companies that embrace water security, exhibit social, environmental and financial responsibility. The Water Security Fund tracks the world’s first benchmark index, The Euro Water Risk Index, to price financial water risk in securities. Combined, both instruments are set out to encourage responsible water management within public companies. The Water Security Fund is the world’s first non-thematic fund to pursue UN Sustainable Development Goal #6.

Responsible Investors

Today’s investors aren’t just focused on profit, they want impact too. The Water Security Fund aims to capture and protect alpha, reduce volatility, create long-term capital appreciation, and social and environmental returns. Every security is exposed to financial water risk which until recently had no viable tool or methodology to assess and price this risk. More and more investors are trying to integrate water risks into their strategies but they are currently using limited data. The Euro Water Risk Index and the aligned Water Security Fund seek to bridge the gap. Ostensibly, the fund aims to address financial water risk and exemplary water stewardship in three ways:

1. by providing access to the investment opportunity represented by companies which embrace sustainable and responsible water management

2. by integrating ESG criteria in the investment process, water security is essential to guarantee the wellbeing of citizens and tackling climate change

3. by providing a means by which to measure and hedge against idiosyncratic financial water risk in portfolios.

By 2025, $145 Trillion assets under management will be either directly or indirectly exposed to financial water risk. Physical and financial water risks are the largest threats to people, planet and profit. All investors need to be made aware of this inherent risk factor.

UN World Water Day

This World Water Day, 22nd March, is about tackling the water crisis by addressing the reasons why so many people are being left behind. Sustainable Development Goal #6 lays out the mandate: water for all by 2030. The Water Security Fund launches March 22nd from Luxembourg on FARAD-Group‘s new GreenEthica Business Unit: the only B2B platform dedicated to sustainability. Open to subscription as of Q2-2019, the fund has the objective to outperform the EURO STOXX 50 by allocation of greater investment towards companies with the best ranking in the Euro Water Risk Index. Please contact mkt@finscoms.com for more information.

* FARAD Group in 2017 received the B-Corporation certification which ranks it among the market reference points as Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) standards.

Ken Carmody.