Natixis ESG unit Mirova launches fund to invest in green bonds
French bank Natixis has launched a fund to invest in green bonds managed by its responsible investing subsidiary Mirova to capitalise on increased demand for environmentally friendly investments. The Mirova Global Green Bond Fund is aimed at "investors who recognize the opportunities that renewable energy and ecological transition may present and would like a vehicle to invest in these projects", said David Giunta, president and CEO of Natixis Global Asset Management for the US and Canada. The fund's bonds quality will be tied to the environmental impact and sustainability of projects. 

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Natixis Global Asset Management announced today the launch of the Mirova Global Green Bond Fund (MGGYX), a high-conviction fixed-income mutual fund managed by Natixis Asset Management U.S., LLC utilizing the investment and research expertise of Mirova. Mirova is an asset manager, based in Paris, that specializes in responsible investing, which for this strategy includes environmental, social and governance (ESG) analysis combined with identification of value in the green bond universe. Green bonds finance projects that provide environmental and sustainable benefits.

“Investors are looking at ESG more closely to understand global trends that may impact their portfolios over the long term,” said David Giunta, President and CEO of Natixis Global Asset Management for the U.S. and Canada. “We are pleased to offer the Mirova Global Green Bond Fund to investors who recognize the opportunities that renewable energy and ecological transition may present and would like a vehicle to invest in these projects as a complement to a core fixed-income allocation and as a component of a durable portfolio.”

The Mirova Global Green Bond Fund aims to provide total return, through a combination of capital appreciation and current income, by investing in green bonds. The fund is dedicated to financing environmental transition projects while potentially benefitting investors with global diversification and sustainable value. Mirova conducts full ESG analysis of the green bond issuer as well as analysis of financed projects, which aims to measure the environmental and social impact of each bond. Eligible green bond investments are then evaluated using traditional fundamental and credit analysis as well as security-specific analysis in seeking attractive relative value. It must invest at least 40% of assets in securities domiciled outside of the U.S. The fund is co-managed by Christopher Wigley and Marc Briand.

“At Mirova, we have nearly three decades of sustainable investing experience, familiarity with the Green Bond Principles* and an in-house ESG research team which performs analysis on each issuer,” said Jens Peers, CFA, Chief Investment Officer at Mirova.** “The Mirova Global Green Bond Fund utilizes these assets, as well as traditional and fundamental credit evaluation, to populate the portfolio, resulting in a comprehensive, high-conviction, global green bond strategy.”

The Mirova Global Green Bond Fund is one of the underlying funds in the new Natixis Sustainable Future target date fund offering. Visit http://ngam.natixis.com/us/natixis-sustainable-future-funds for more information.

*Green Bond Principles

1. Use of Proceeds: based on documentation that specifies proceeds will be used to finance projects with positive environmental impact, such as projects related to climate change, preservation of resources, or pollution prevention.

2. Impact on Sustainable Opportunity: bond quality is tied to the environmental impact of a project. Assesses bonds as High, Significant, Little to None, or Negative impact.

3. Risk Evaluation: ESG-related practices of the issuer and the management of environmental and social risks during the life of the projects are analyzed and rated Risk, Neutral, or Positive.

4. Reporting: issuers should provide regular, transparent reports on use of proceeds. This reporting is also used to reevaluate all other aspects of the team’s analysis.

**Mirova, an asset management company wholly-owned by Natixis Asset Management (Natixis AM) since 2014 and previously a division of Natixis AM, benefits from around 30 years of experience in Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) investing through Natixis AM.

Mirova is operated in the U.S. through Natixis Asset Management U.S., LLC.

RISKS:

Fixed-income securities may carry one or more of the following risks: credit, interest rate (as interest rates rise bond prices usually fall), inflation and liquidity.

Below investment-grade fixed-income securities may be subject to greater risks (including the risk of default) than other fixed-income securities.

Foreign and emerging market securities may be subject to greater political, economic, environmental, credit, currency and information risks. Foreign securities may be subject to higher volatility than U.S. securities, due to varying degrees of regulation and limited liquidity. These risks are magnified in emerging markets.

Sustainable investing focuses on investments in companies that relate to certain sustainable development themes and demonstrate adherence to environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices; therefore the Fund’s universe of investments may be reduced. It may sell a security when it could be disadvantageous to do so or forgo opportunities in certain companies, industries, sectors or countries. This could have a negative impact on performance depending on whether such investments are in or out of favor.

Non-diversified funds invest a greater portion of assets in fewer securities and therefore may be more vulnerable to adverse changes in the market.

Derivatives involve risk of loss and may entail additional risks. Because derivatives depend on the performance of an underlying asset, they can be highly volatile and are subject to market and credit risks.

Before investing, consider the fund's investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Visit ngam.natixis.com or call 800-225-5478 for a prospectus or a summary prospectus containing this and other information. Read it carefully.

NGAM Distribution, L.P. is a limited purpose broker-dealer and the distributor of various registered investment companies for which advisory services are provided by affiliates of Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. NGAM Distribution, L.P. is located at 399 Boylston Street, MA 02116. 800-862-4863. ngam.natixis.com

About Mirova

Mirova, a subsidiary of Natixis Asset Management, offers a global responsible investing approach involving Equities, Fixed-Income, General and Renewable Energy Infrastructure, Impact Investing, and Voting and Engagement. It has $6.8 billion in assets under management (as of 12/31/16) and $44 billion in Voting and Engagement (as of 12/31/15). Its team of circa 60 multidisciplinary experts includes specialists in thematic investment management, engineers, financial and environmental, social and governance analysts, project financing specialists and experts in solidarity finance.

About Natixis Asset Management U.S., LLC and Mirova

Natixis AM U.S. provides access to investment solutions that benefit from the extensive resources of a leading European asset management group. Natixis AM U.S. launched in 2014, is a U.S.-based investment adviser, majority-owned by Natixis Asset Management and minority-owned by Mirova with $423 million in assets under management (as of 12/31/16). Natixis AM U.S. utilizes the expertise of Mirova, which is operated in the U.S. through Natixis AM U.S.

About Natixis Global Asset Management

Natixis Global Asset Management serves thoughtful investment professionals worldwide with more insightful ways to invest. Through our Durable Portfolio Construction® approach, we focus on risk to help them construct more strategic portfolios that seek to endure today’s unpredictable markets. We draw from deep investor and industry insights and partner closely with our clients to put objective data behind the discussion.

Natixis Global Asset Management is ranked among the world’s largest asset management firms.1 Uniting over 20 specialized investment managers globally ($877 billion AUM2), we bring a diverse range of solutions to every strategic opportunity. From insight to action, Natixis Global Asset Management helps our clients better serve their own with more durable portfolios.

Headquartered in Paris and Boston, Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. is part of Natixis. Listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, Natixis is a subsidiary of BPCE, the second-largest banking group in France. Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A.’s affiliated investment management firms and distribution and service groups include Active Index Advisors®;3 AEW Capital Management; AEW Europe; AlphaSimplex Group; Axeltis; Darius Capital Partners; DNCA Investments;4 Dorval Finance;5 Emerise;6 Gateway Investment Advisers; H2O Asset Management;5 Harris Associates; IDFC Asset Management Company; Loomis, Sayles & Company; Managed Portfolio Advisors®;3 McDonnell Investment Management; Mirova;5 Natixis Asset Management; Ossiam; Seeyond;7 Vaughan Nelson Investment Management; Vega Investment Managers; and Natixis Global Asset Management Private Equity, which includes Seventure Partners, Naxicap Partners, Alliance Entreprendre, Euro Private Equity, Caspian Private Equity and Eagle Asia Partners. Visit ngam.natixis.com for more information.

1 Cerulli Quantitative Update: Global Markets 2016 ranked Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. as the 16th largest asset manager in the world based on assets under management ($870.3 billion) as of December 31, 2015.

2 Net asset value as of December 31, 2016. Assets under management (AUM) may include assets for which non-regulatory AUM services are provided. Non-regulatory AUM includes assets which do not fall within the SEC’s definition of ‘regulatory AUM’ in Form ADV, Part 1.

3 A division of NGAM Advisors, L.P.

4 A brand of DNCA Finance.

5 A subsidiary of Natixis Asset Management.

6 A brand of Natixis Asset Management and Natixis Asset Management Asia Limited, based in Singapore and Paris.

7 A brand of Natixis Asset Management.

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