Ethos and Vontobel have been combining their expertise for 20 years in the successful sustainable investment fund “Vontobel Fund (CH) - Ethos Equities Swiss Mid & Small”. Ethos provides an investment universe focused on the best companies in terms of sustainability. Vontobel's Swiss equities team uses fundamental analysis to select the appropriate stocks. Ethos then exercises shareholder voting rights on the selected stocks. The fund now has assets of 977 million Swiss francs.
Twenty years ago, Vontobel and Ethos launched a Swiss fund of small and mid-cap companies. At that time, there were practically no actively managed equity funds with smaller market capitalisations that also took sustainability criteria into account. Vontobel and Ethos have therefore combined their expertise to launch the “Vontobel Fund (CH) - Ethos Equities Swiss Mid & Small” fund. The fund currently has assets of CHF 977 million and its carbon footprint is 17% lower than its benchmark index (SPI Extra).
Vincent Kaufmann, CEO of Ethos, emphasises: “The strong interest among investors shows that environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria are important for their investments. Furthermore, in Switzerland we have extremely attractive investment opportunities in small and medium-sized companies, which are also at the forefront in terms of sustainability.”
Dr Carla Bänziger, Portfolio Manager and Senior Research Analyst at Vontobel, adds: “Our twenty years of success are based on a clear vision and a trusting relationship with Ethos. We are proud to have been able to offer our clients a high-yield sustainable mid- and small-cap financial product for so long.”
The fund invests in 46 Swiss companies with a small to medium market capitalisation that demonstrate good practices in ESG issues. Ethos creates an investment universe of the best companies in terms of sustainability. Only companies with above-average Ethos ratings in the areas of ESG and greenhouse gas emissions are included in the portfolio. Vontobel Asset Management manages the fund and selects stocks from the investment universe using fundamental analysis. In addition, the fund systematically exercises shareholder voting rights in accordance with Ethos’ voting guidelines and Ethos engages in dialogue with the management of these companies on ESG issues.
Sustainability report 2023 (in French)
