Sustainable finance flourishes in Quebec:
Investi Fund selects its first two asset managers
Montreal, February 21st 2024 - On the occasion of the OFF of the Sustainable Finance Summit organized by Finance Montréal this morning, Investi, the $300 million investment fund created for the benefit of Quebec's sustainable finance ecosystem, unveils the identity of the two assets managers who will be entrusted with managing an equity portfolio. The Fund’s investment committees members have selected Manulife and Van Berkom, two established firms offering innovative sustainable finance and ESG investment solutions that will contribute to stimulating innovation in the Quebec financial sector.
A unique collaboration for the future of sustainable finance
Launched in May 2023, the Investi Fund is led by Innocap, a global leader in managed account platforms, as well as Finance Montréal, Quebec's financial cluster. Investi aims to showcase the best talents and attract the most innovative sustainable investment strategies. The Fund benefits from the collaboration of 10 major Quebec financial organizations - National Bank Investments, Bâtirente, Beneva, CDPQ, Desjardins, Fondaction, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, the Trottier Family Foundation, Optimum Financial Group and the Samara Family Office - to make sustainable finance a driving force of the Fund’s outreach. Innocap manages and coordinates Investi's daily activities while being responsible for distribution to institutional investors and ensuring a rigorous institutional framework for due diligence, risk management and monitoring. Finance Montreal is at the heart of the development and promotion of Quebec's financial industry as a center of excellence in sustainable finance.
For sustainable and innovative strategies
Of the 50 applications received, Van Berkom and Manulife stood out for their relevant ESG approaches combined with superior expected financial performance. The strategies proposed by the two firms were selected after a comprehensive due diligence review and in-depth analysis of their ESG approach, both at the firm and investment strategy levels.
”We are honored to have been selected by Investi for our expertise, differentiated investment process and insight into the lower carbon economy. The expertise of our teams brings additional focus on innovation and sustainability to uncover investment opportunities with firms who are meeting net zero targets or looking to significantly reduce emissions,” said Colin Purdie, Chief Investment Officer, Public Markets, Manulife Investment Management.
“We are proud to have been selected as equity manager for the Investi Fund, and thus contribute to Quebec’s international influence in terms of responsible investment. As experts in small-cap stocks, not only is our goal to generate superior returns over the long term, but the integration of ESG and sustainable development factors is also at the heart of our concerns, and we consider it our duty to support portfolio companies in their ESG efforts,” said Mathieu Sirois, President, Van Berkom Global Asset Management.
These initial announcements are just one of many more to come. Further mandates are expected to be confirmed. Innocap is in a continuous evaluation process of proposals to entrust other management mandates in all asset classes: fixed income, hedge funds, equities and private equity.
"After several months' work, we are now awarding the first Investi fund management mandates. Momentum is building and the collaborating financial institutions have expressed the wish for more investors to join the movement. We are convinced that Investi will enable the most innovative sustainable finance strategies to shine," says Caroline Bergeron, Senior Director, Impact and ESG Solutions at Innocap.
"The awarding of these investment mandates marks Investi’s kick off. The initiative has a dual mission of being an engine for economic development but also a lever for Quebec's financial sector. Things are moving in Quebec in sustainable finance, and this is just the beginning. Further announcements are planned for the future and I invite all those involved in investment and management to join in this structuring and necessary initiative for a viable future," declared Jacques Deforges, General Manager of Finance Montréal.
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About the Investi Fund
Investi is a family of investment funds created for the benefit of the sustainable finance ecosystem. With its dedicated sustainable growth capital intended to be invested with experienced managers offering the best sustainable investment strategies, Investi encourages the finance industry to adopt best practices in ESG integration and impact investing. Leveraging its collective intelligence, Investi raises industry standards to create lasting change in the world of finance. To learn more about the Investi Fund, visit www.investi.ca.
About Finance Montréal
Established in 2010, Finance Montréal, the financial cluster of Quebec, is at the heart of the development and promotion of Quebec's financial services industry and its positioning as a global business hub that is growing, competitive, attractive, and innovative. With its International Financial Center team, Finance Montréal works to attract foreign financial companies to Montreal. The organization also focuses on fintech and innovation, sustainable finance, and talent development. As a hub for the financial community, Finance Montréal mobilizes its stakeholders around these areas, including the community built around the Montréal FinTech Station that it administers. To learn more about Finance Montréal, visit www.finance-montreal.com/en or our LinkedIn page.
About Innocap
Since 1996, Innocap has provided institutional investors with a superior model to structure, control, and access their alternative investments through its dedicated managed accounts platform. Innocap is the world's first dedicated managed accounts platform with $59 billion USD in assets as of December 31, 2023, >300 funds, and >$900 billion USD in client assets utilizing its technology. It benefits from strong and long-term committed institutional shareholders, including CDPQ, BNY Mellon, BNP Paribas, Fonds de solidarité FTQ, and Walter Global Asset Management. The Innocap team consists of more than 350 innovative professionals, and its robust financial technology operates from 7 offices worldwide, including its headquarters in Montreal. To learn more about Innocap, visit www.innocap.com/en or consult our LinkedIn page.
About Manulife Investment Management
Manulife Investment Management is the brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. Our mission is to make decisions easier and lives better by empowering investors for a better tomorrow. Serving more than 17 million individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members, we believe our global reach, complementary businesses, and the strength of our parent company position us to help investors capitalize on today's emerging global trends. We provide our clients access to public and private investment solutions across equities, fixed income, multi-asset, alternative, and sustainability-linked strategies, such as natural capital, to help them make more informed financial decisions and achieve their investment objectives. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com.
About Van Berkom
Van Berkom Global Asset Management is a specialized investment management firm founded in 1991 by J. Sebastian van Berkom. Based in Montreal since inception, the company is 100% employee-owned and is focused on small and mid-capitalization equities across five strategies: Canada, U.S. (Small & Small-Mid), Greater China and Global. Time-tested over 30 years, our investment philosophy is to assemble high-quality, focused portfolios with a high-value enhancement potential. Van Berkom manages stock portfolios for large North American pension funds, corporations, foundations, and endowment funds. As of December 31, 2023, Van Berkom had assets under management totalling 5 billion Canadian dollars. For more information, please visit www.vanberkomglobal.com
Media Contact
Sophie Pasquier
COPTICOM
514-437-3984
spasquier@copticom.ca
