At AlbaCore, we focus on the long-term. As one of Europe’s leading alternative credit specialists, we invest in private capital solutions, opportunistic and dislocated credit, and structured products.
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Specialist in Asia Pacific, China, India and South East Asia and Global Emerging Market equities.
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Our philosophy is very simple. We are constantly searching for high quality businesses and when we acquire them, we will work relentlessly with them to create long-term sustainable value through innovation, ESG-led and proactive asset management.
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formerly Realindex Investments
Leader in active quantitative equities across Australian equities, global equities, emerging markets and global small companies.
Backed by a unique blend of research, portfolio construction and risk management, focused on uncovering original insights and translating them into investment strategies that are active and systematic, aiming to generate alpha.
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Stewart Investors manage investment portfolios on behalf of our clients over the long term and have held shares in some companies for over 20 years. They launched their first investment strategy in 1988.
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13 August, 2024: According to a new report on Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) or “forever chemicals” commissioned by the First Sentier MUFG Sustainable Investment Institute (the Institute) and conducted by Chronos Sustainability, PFAS contamination, and the regulatory and litigation interventions, present both risks and opportunities for investors and the companies in which they are invested.
The report highlights the critical issues surrounding PFAS and the ways in which companies and investors can work collaboratively towards a future with minimised environmental impact from these chemicals. The report encourages investors to advocate for corporate disclosure on PFAS, support proactive corporate actions to phase out PFAS, and build investor support for policy engagement.
Sudip Hazra, Director of the Institute, commented “Our analysis shows that the changing regulatory and litigation landscape presents material financial risks for PFAS producers and product manufacturers, including the potential for lost revenue due to a reduction in demand for products containing PFAS, as well as the cost and reputational impact of litigation. However, there are also positive opportunities for producers that can develop and commercialise PFAS-alternatives as well as companies that pursue a range of mitigation measures to manage the risks and capitalise on new market opportunities.”
PFAS is widely used in consumer and industrial sectors, including aerospace and defence, textiles, household products, electronics, food processing, food packaging and medical devices. It is also known to disrupt endocrine systems, increasing the risk of certain cancers, and affect immune response in humans and wildlife. Given its widespread use and persistence in the environment, PFAS contamination is a critical global concern that is drawing increasing regulatory attention.
The EU proposal to restrict around 10,000 PFAS as a family of chemicals is the broadest. It seeks to ban PFAS from all applications where substitutions are available. However, in addition to regulatory proposals there is also significant litigation risk particularly in the US, as well as lawsuits in Sweden and the Netherlands suggesting other countries might also see increased legal activity in the coming years. More broadly, there are emerging regulatory responses from Australia, New Zealand and Canada as regulators are engaged in understanding the environmental and health risks posed by PFAS contamination and developing pathways for managing PFAS emissions and contamination.
Mr Hazra concluded: “This report highlights routes where investors can support action on PFAS. For example, investors can encourage PFAS producers to create time-bound plans with clear objectives and targets for phasing out PFAS, and improved emissions management and remediation. Likewise, they can encourage product manufacturers to invest in the development and commercialisation of alternatives.”
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About First Sentier MUFG Sustainable Investment Institute
The First Sentier MUFG Sustainable Investment Institute is jointly supported by First Sentier Investors and Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation, a consolidated subsidiary of MUFG. The institute aims to help increase awareness and encourage action on important but under researched and emerging ESG-related issues. It will publish research on topics that can advance sustainable investing. An external academic advisory board informs the institute’s research agenda and ensures its publications meet high standards of rigour.
For more information, visit https://www.firstsentier-mufg-sustainability.com/
About Chronos Sustainability
Chronos Sustainability was established in 2017 with the objective of delivering transformative, systemic change in the social and environmental performance of key industry sectors through expert analysis of complex systems and effective multi-stakeholder partnerships. Chronos works extensively with global investors and global investor networks to build their understanding of the investment implications of sustainability related issues, developing tools and strategies to enable them to build sustainability into their investment research and engagement. For more information visit www.chronossustainability.com and @ChronosSustain
About First Sentier Investors
First Sentier Investors is a global asset management group providing high quality, differentiated and relevant investment capabilities to deliver exceptional investment performance for our clients. Today, across the First Sentier Investors Group, we manage US$151.5 billion* in assets across global and regional equities, cash and regional fixed income, infrastructure and property, and alternative credit.
We are home to investment teams and brands such as AlbaCore Capital Group, FSSA Investment Managers, Igneo Infrastructure Partners, RQI Investors, and Stewart Investors. All investment teams operate with discrete investment autonomy, according to their investment philosophies and based on responsible investment principles.
Our organisation was acquired by Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc in August 2019. We operate as a standalone global investment management business with offices across Europe, the Americas, and Asia Pacific.
We are a globally Certified B Corporation and signatory to the UK Stewardship Code.
*Assets under management (AUM) includes all assets managed by FSI’s investment teams and affiliates as at 30 June 2024.
For more information, visit www.firstsentierinvestors.com1
This press release is issued by First Sentier Investors (Hong Kong) Limited and has not been reviewed by the Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong. In Singapore, this press release is issued by First Sentier Investors (Singapore) whose company registration number is 196900420D. This press release has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
First Sentier Investors, FSSA Investment Managers, Stewart Investors, RQI Investors and Igneo Infrastructure Partners are the business names of First Sentier Investors (Hong Kong) Limited. First Sentier Investors (registration number 53236800B), FSSA Investment Managers (registration number 53314080C), Stewart Investors (registration number 53310114W), RQI Investors (registration number 53472532E) and Igneo Infrastructure Partners (registration number 53447928J) are the business divisions of First Sentier Investors (Singapore).
1 The Securities and Futures Commission has not reviewed the contents of this website
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