UBS & $14 Billion Rockefeller Asset Management Launch UBS Rockefeller Ocean Engagement Fund to Invest in 50 Small & Mid-Cap Public Equities & Equity-Type Securities Focusing on Ocean Health, $200 Million Credit Suisse Rockefeller Engagement Fund Launched in 2020 to Merge into New Fund
29th May 2024 | Hong Kong
UBS & Rockefeller Asset Management with $14 billion AUM have announced the launch of UBS Rockefeller Ocean Engagement Fund, with the fund investing in 50 small & mid-cap public equities & equity-type securities focusing on ocean health. The existing $200 million Credit Suisse Rockefeller Engagement Fund launched in 2020, is merged into the new UBS Rockefeller Ocean Engagement Fund. UBS (29/5/24): “The new UBS Rockefeller Ocean Engagement Fund is an actively managed equity fund aligned with the UBS Chief Investment Office (CIO) The blue economy long term investment theme, which identifies investable markets worth more than USD 1.1 trillion in areas such as wastewater treatment, waste management and plastic recycling, and sustainable aquaculture. The ocean is critical to the effective functioning of economies, society, and the environment, but only 5% of the ocean is protected and development is underfunded. Transitioning to a blue economy will drive shifts in profit pools, creating investment opportunities as business models adapt to this new world. The OECD expects the blue economy to reach USD 3 trillion in value by 2030, which is double the size from 2010. The UBS Rockefeller Ocean Engagement Fund encompasses a portfolio with around 50 high conviction stocks reflecting a small and mid-cap focus and value tilt. Its objective is to seek long-term real returns by pursuing a thematic strategy, primarily investing in public equities and equity-type securities, whilst creating positive change for ocean health via a consistent investment and shareholder engagement process. The fund builds on UBS GWM’s award winning CIO research and harnesses the ocean expertise of Rockefeller, who, as portfolio manager, is also undertaking the active investor engagement, leveraging its multiple decades of experience constructively engaging with companies to create long-term value and aiming to foster conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources. Rockefeller collaborates with its science and policy advisor, The Ocean Foundation, a leading non-profit dedicated to conserving ocean environments around the globe, offering its long-standing expertise in identifying trends related to the ocean-climate nexus … … This addition to the UBS GWM thematic fund offering also marks a further stepping stone in the integration of UBS and Credit Suisse, as the Credit Suisse Rockefeller Engagement Fund, launched in 2020, is merged into the new UBS fund, bringing in over USD 200 million in invested assets. The UBS Rockefeller Ocean Engagement Fund is available in various jurisdictions across Europe.” In April 2024, UBS Optimus Foundation & Hong Kong social enterprise Project Melo (Next Generation & leading CEOs) have launched an environmental & climate seed funding challenge (UBS x Melo Social Challenge), with the concepts to be presented in a 2-day impact summit (Melofest) on 21st & 22nd June 2024.
“ UBS & $14 Billion Rockefeller Asset Management Launch UBS Rockefeller Ocean Engagement Fund to Invest in 50 Small & Mid-Cap Public Equities & Equity-Type Securities Focusing on Ocean Health, $200 Million Credit Suisse Rockefeller Engagement Fund Launched in 2020 to Merge into New Fund “
Bruno Marxer, Head of Global Investment Management at UBS Global Wealth Management: “We are pleased that through our close collaboration with Rockefeller Asset Management we can offer our clients access to this major structural growth theme, using our innovative engagement framework. Not only does it enable portfolio diversification in times of market uncertainty, but it offers exposure to multiyear growth prospects as the world seeks to transition toward more nature-aligned and equitable economic systems.”
Casey Clark, President & Chief Investment Officer at Rockefeller Asset Management: “Leveraging Rockefeller’s 30-plus years of investment experience and distinctive network to bridge the gap between science and investing, we believe the UBS Rockefeller Ocean Engagement Fund is a compelling opportunity for investors seeking uncorrelated returns and ocean health impact via shareholder engagement. We look forward to working with UBS to provide their clients with innovative, impact strategies featuring broad access to our deep intellectual capital and award-winning research.”
Andrew Lee, Head Sustainable & Impact Investing at UBS Global Wealth Management: “We continue to be strong supporters of shareholder engagement, and think it has the potential to both – deliver positive change and improve profitability of companies. The new strategy allows us to have deeper impact on one of the key resources of our planet, and bring a stronger investment focus on the ocean, which remains relatively underfunded by investors.”
About Rockefeller Asset Management
Rockefeller Asset Management serves institutions, financial professionals, and other institutionally-minded investors through equity, fixed income, and alternative solutions that seek outperformance driven by a disciplined investment process. As part of the Rockefeller ecosystem, Rockefeller Asset Management convenes global networks to generate insights and outcomes not commonly found in the investment community. With over 30 years of intellectual capital from pioneering global investing and ESG leadership, and decades of constructive shareholder engagement, Rockefeller Asset Management is committed to continually building partnerships and expanding its platform that seeks to put clients and their performance first. As of March 31, 2024, Rockefeller Asset Management has over USD 14 billion assets under supervision.
About The Ocean Foundation
As the only community foundation for the ocean, The Ocean Foundation’s 501(c) (3) mission is to improve global ocean health, climate resilience, and the blue economy. We create partnerships to connect all peoples in the communities in which we work to the informational, technical, and financial resources they need to achieve their ocean stewardship goals. The Ocean Foundation executes core programmatic initiatives to make ocean science more equitable, advance blue resilience, address global marine plastic pollution, and develop ocean literacy for marine education leaders. It also fiscally hosts more than 55 projects across 25 countries.
About UBS
UBS is a leading and truly global wealth manager and the leading universal bank in Switzerland. It also provides diversified asset management solutions and focused investment banking capabilities. With the acquisition of Credit Suisse, UBS manages 5.7 trillion dollars of invested assets as per fourth quarter 2023. UBS helps clients achieve their financial goals through personalized advice, solutions and products. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the firm is operating in more than 50 markets around the globe. UBS Group shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
UBS Optimus Foundation & Hong Kong Social Enterprise Project Melo for Next Generation & Leading CEOs Launch Environmental & Climate Seed Funding Challenge UBS x Melo Social Challenge, Concepts to be Presented a 2-Day Impact Summit Melofest on 21st & 22nd June 2024, Winning Team to Receive Seed Funding
10th April 2024 – UBS Optimus Foundation & Hong Kong social enterprise Project Melo (Next Generation & leading CEOs) have launched an environmental & climate seed funding challenge (UBS x Melo Social Challenge), with the concepts to be presented in a 2-day impact summit (Melofest) on 21st & 22nd June 2024. The winning team will receive seed funding to develop the solutions. Announcement (10/4/24): “Project Melo has launched a joint partnership with UBS Optimus Foundation Hong Kong as its seed funder known as the UBS x Melo Social Challenge. The program is aimed at tackling the most pressing environmental topics facing Hong Kong. The Challenge will allow small teams of young people who were shortlisted for the competition based on their applications to work directly with company CEOs and climate experts to devise innovative ideas. Their concepts will be presented in front of a live audience at the two-day impact summit on 21 – 22 June 2024, the “Melofest”, with the winning team receiving seed funding to make their proposed solution come to life.”
Maggie Luk, Project Melo CEO: “The UBS x Melo Social Challenge represents a shared commitment to nurturing responsible, empathetic leaders capable of addressing the complex challenges of our time. Through this partnership, we hope to make a lasting difference in the lives of Hong Kong’s young generation and the broader society.”
Ming Geng, Head of Social Impact & Philanthropy at UBS for Greater China: “We are delighted to support Project Melo as the first social enterprise UBS Optimus Foundation is partnering with in the region. This aligns with our aim of driving systemic and catalytic impact, especially for young people, locally and globally. The program also strongly supports two of our thematic priority areas: empowering children and young people through education and secondly, combating climate change and protecting the environment.”
Melofest
Melofest is for innovative youth leadership, fostering collaboration and bridging the gap between C-level executives and young voices for meaningful impact. The event will span two days and feature a range of activities, including Joint Discovery sessions, competitions, game show, panel discussion and more. CEOs and students will actively participate in these engaging sessions, fostering meaningful interactions and exchange of ideas.
About UBS Optimus Foundation
UBS Optimus Foundation is an independent foundation that offers UBS clients a platform to use their wealth to drive positive social and environmental change. The Foundation selects programs that improve children’s health, education, and protection, ones that have the potential to be transformative, scalable, and sustainable as well as programs tackling environmental and climate issues.
About Project Melo
Project Melo is a non-profit social enterprise that has reached over 700+ university students and 40+ CEOs, aiming to establish a two-way mentorship network and foster collaborative impact projects. Through Melo, by having the new generation engage directly with leading CEOs, they wish to co-create positive, lasting impact for specific issues of our society and empower youth for the long term. To date, the Melo community has completed close to 1000 volunteer hours for approved Hong Kong charities and workedon over 17 social projects co-created with CEOs.
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