The iShares ETF is one of the largest equity ETF launches in history
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF (SUSL) launched yesterday with more
than $800 million in investment from Ilmarinen, Finland’s largest
pension insurance company. Ilmarinen is making this investment by moving
assets from its S&P 500 equity exposure into SUSL, a strategy that
offers exposure to the top environmental, social, and governance (ESG)
performers within a broad U.S. equity solution.
Established in 1961, Ilmarinen has more than EUR 47 billion in
investment assets (as of March 31, 2019) and has made sustainability an
integral aspect of its overall company philosophy and investment
strategy for more than five decades.
“We’re focused on integrating ESG characteristics throughout our
investment strategy, so funds like this help us mirror our values as a
company while adding investment value in the process,” said Anna Hyrske,
head of responsible investing at Ilmarinen.
SUSL offers exposure to top ESG performers within U.S. large- and
mid-capitalization stocks of companies relative to their sector peers as
determined by MSCI, the index provider. SUSL is designed to track the
market cap-weighted MSCI USA Extended ESG Leaders Index, which builds
from the MSCI USA ESG Leaders Index framework. Companies involved in
tobacco, alcohol, gambling, nuclear power, nuclear and conventional
weapons, controversial weapons, and civilian firearms as well as
companies involved in severe controversies are excluded from the index.1
“Working with Ilmarinen has been a shining example of collaborating with
a forward thinking client to enable them to meet their own sustainable
investment goals while creating a solution for other similar minded
investors around the world,” said Sarah Kjellberg, head of U.S. iShares
sustainable ETFs at BlackRock.
ESG Metrics: Going Beyond Products
The process for analyzing ESG metrics and understanding the
sustainability profile of companies has improved with growing
availability and access to data.
In October 2018, BlackRock introduced ESG and carbon intensity metrics
alongside existing portfolio characteristics on all of our iShares
Sustainable ETFs. And in April, we expanded availability of these
metrics to 261 iShares ETFs.
All of this is part of a firm-wide initiative to expand access to ESG
data and sustainability-related insights for clients and across our
investment processes globally.
“Technological innovations and growing access to data are making it
easier to integrate ESG characteristics into investing strategies, which
means more companies will be evaluated—and invested in—according to
their ability to implement sustainable business practices,” said Brian
Deese, global head of sustainable investing at BlackRock. “It’s our
belief that sustainability-related issues should be increasingly
integrated into all aspects of investing.”
iShares sustainable investing platform is focused on offering choices
for investors, and has grown to more than $9 billion in iShares ESG ETF
assets globally (as of March 31, 2019).
About iShares
iShares unlocks opportunity across markets to meet the evolving needs of
investors. With more than twenty years of experience, a global line-up
of 800+ exchange traded funds (ETFs) and $1.9 trillion in assets under
management as of March 31, 2019, iShares continues to drive progress for
the financial industry. iShares funds are powered by the expert
portfolio and risk management of BlackRock, trusted to manage more money
than any other investment firm.2
About BlackRock
BlackRock helps investors build better financial futures. As a fiduciary
to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, our clients
turn to us for the solutions they need when planning for their most
important goals. As of March 31, 2019, the firm managed approximately
$6.52 trillion in assets on behalf of investors worldwide. For
additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com |
Twitter: @blackrock |
Blog: www.blackrockblog.com |
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock.
1 The specific exclusion criteria, such as revenue thresholds, vary by
industry.
2 Based on $6.52 trillion in AUM as of 3/31/19
Carefully consider the Funds’ investment objectives, risk factors,
and charges and expenses before investing. This and other information
can be found in the Funds’ prospectuses or, if available, the summary
prospectuses which may be obtained by visiting www.iShares.com
or www.blackrock.com.
Read the prospectus carefully before investing.
Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.
A fund’s environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) investment
strategy limits the types and number of investment opportunities
available to the fund and, as a result, the fund may underperform other
funds that do not have an ESG focus. A fund’s ESG investment strategy
may result in the fund investing in securities or industry sectors that
underperform the market as a whole or underperform other funds screened
for ESG standards.
This information should not be relied upon as research, investment
advice, or a recommendation regarding any products, strategies, or any
security in particular. This material is strictly for illustrative,
educational, or informational purposes and is subject to change.
The iShares Funds are distributed by BlackRock Investments, LLC
(together with its affiliates, “BlackRock”).
The iShares Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, issued, sold or promoted
by MSCI Inc., nor does this company make any representation regarding
the advisability of investing in the Funds. BlackRock is not affiliated
with MSCI Inc.
©2019 BlackRock. iSHARES and BLACKROCK are registered
trademarks of BlackRock. All other marks are the property of their
respective owners.
Contacts
Matt Kobussen
[email protected]
(646)
231-0599
