Picard Angst launches the "ESG Competence Center"

In the Global Risk Report drawn up by the World Economic Forum in 2020, environmental and climate risks occupied the first five places for the first time ever. In 2021, problems caused by infectious diseases are still among the greatest risks facing the world.

The world is reacting to this. The Paris Agreement signed by 196 parties at the United Nations Climate Change Conference sets out the aim to limit global warming to less than two degrees above pre-industrial levels. Over the next few years, the EU will invest 1.8 billion euros into the Green Deal with the aim of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Similar efforts are also being made in the US and other major economies.

There is a great deal of change happening on a regulatory level. With the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation, the EU has since March 2021 required companies in the finance sector to provide a comprehensive sustainability report, and this will be further expanded next year.

It therefore does not come as much of a surprise that the volumes for sustainable investments in Switzerland alone rose by 30% to CHF 1520 billion in 2020. Standing at CHF 694 billion, the volumes invested in sustainable funds exceeded those invested in conventional funds for the first time ever. The sustainable investments reported by asset owners represent approximately one-third of all of the assets managed by Swiss pension funds and insurance companies.

Strong growth in sustainable investing

The demand for sustainable investing has grown massively in recent times. The volume of sustainable funds already makes up 52% of the entire Swiss fund market, while the sustainable investments reported by asset owners represent 33% of all of the assets managed by Swiss pension funds and insurance companies. SWISS SUSTAINABLE FINANCE

Impact investing is becoming increasingly important

The latest Swiss market study on sustainable investing shows that investors are focusing increasingly on impact following the integration of ESG criteria: ESG engagement sits in second place in 2020 and, in addition to impact investing, is enjoying the greatest growth with 65%. SWISS SUSTAINABLE FINANCE

In the medium and long term, companies with good ESG ratings will be more commercially successful than competitors that have struggled with the sustainable transformation or do not have sufficient corporate governance. Investors are increasingly avoiding companies with high ESG risks.

A holistic investment approach that takes into consideration environmental, social and corporate governance factors in addition to purely economic aspects can result in better investment results. We believe that ESG criteria are an additional relevant source of information and part of the risk management system for helping to identify and utilise investment opportunities and reduce investment risks. By utilising the ESG criteria, we are increasing the probability of achieving investment goals.

The Picard Angst "ESG Competence Center" has developed its own ESG methodology based on the integrative approach of considering ESG data from a wide range of external providers and label organisations. With the Picard Angst ESG Layer, we have an effective tool to hand for incorporating ESG aspects into investment decisions. This is modular in structure, thus enabling the various client requirements and investment goals to be met. We take into consideration both the minimum standards that have to be adhered to and also the ESG optimisation procedure for maximising sustainability aspects. This means, for example, that companies that are on exclusion lists, such as that of the Swiss Association for Responsible Investments or operate in controversial areas are excluded.