The iShares ETF is one of the largest equity
ETF launches in history
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.
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Matt Kobussenmatt.kobussen@blackrock.com(646) 231-0599
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