Global asset manager Columbia Threadneedle has added to its responsible investment offering by launching a Global Social Bond fund that targets “positive social outcomes”. The Article 9 Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation CT (Lux) Global Social Bond fund is designed to deliver long-term investment returns while promoting positive social impact, becoming the latest addition the firm’s social bond funds suite. The fund uses Columbia Threadneedle’s existing proprietary rating methodology to determine the suitability of bonds based on their social intentionality and social intensity. According to data from the Climate Bonds initiative, social bonds have seen aligned volumes of US$95.8 billion so far this year, including US$27.4 billion in Q3. Michaela Collet Jackson, EMEA Head of Distribution at Columbia Threadneedle Investments, said: “Following increased client demand for both our UK and European social bond strategies, working with clients we believe the time is right to expand our range to include a global strategy. We are excited to offer clients this new offering, which provides access to our tried and tested model of achieving financial returns and positive social impact, now using the global universe of socially labelled bonds.”
