Covid-19, Natural Disasters Boost Demand For Esg Funds -- Eastspring

KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 (Bernama) -- The COVID-19 pandemic and increase in natural disasters have heightened investors' focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG), thus rising demand for such related funds. Eastspring Investments Bhd chief executive officer Raymond Tang said a study covering nearly 24,000 respondents globally, including Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia, highlighted that awareness of sustainability and social issues among investors has increased during the pandemic. ‘’Impact investing as a segment of sustainable investing helps address issues like climate change, food and access to affordable housing, which is why all of us thought it was an opportune time to launch the Eastspring Investments Global Impact Fund,’’ he said during a virtual launch of the fund Monday. Eastspring Investments Global Impact Fund is a wholesale feeder fund investing targeted at Malaysian investors keen to generate positive social and environmental impact alongside long-term capital returns. The fund was designed to feed into the Wellington Global Impact Fund to achieve its objectives by investing primarily in global equities, focusing on companies whose core business addresses positive ESG change and has long-term future growth. Head of distribution Yap Siok Hoon reckons now is a good time to invest as the market has actually corrected. ‘’The Ukraine and Russia war, obviously when it happened, the people and the market reacted very quickly and we didn't face only one crisis. COVID-19, when it happened, the market collapsed but then it went up again. ‘’I think the inflationary pressures, prediction of recession, whether for China, the US or the world, is always there,’’ she said. The fund’s 21-day initial offer period commenced today and ends on May 8, 2022. Investors can purchase units of the fund with a minimum investment of RM1,000 at RM0.50 per unit. -- BERNAMA