Spring 2020 Issue
> ACADIAN ASSET MANAGEMENT: MOST INNOVATIVE INVESTMENT SOLUTIONS NORTH AMERICA 2020 Acadian Asset Management has a global presence, with headquarters in Boston and wholly owned affiliates in Britain, Singapore, Japan, and Australia. As one of the first quantitative equity managers on the scene, Acadian Asset Management has worked steadily to remove all behavioural biases from the investment decision-making process. The company makes informed investment decisions backed by solid tech. Three times daily, it feeds 200m data points from a network of 70-plus data vendors into a quantitative analytical model to determine which asset classes to buy, and which to avoid. Acadian was an early signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment, and it takes that commitment to heart. It incorporates ESG considerations into the business model by tracking
companies’ carbon footprint — and penalising shoddy progress with lower rankings in the model. ESG quantitative analysts manage diversified portfolios of 400 to 600 names, making direct engagement a challenge. Despite this, the team achieved direct ESG engagement with 300 companies last year, and its strong relationship with data vendors has put pressure on companies to be transparent in providing carbon disclosures. Acadian collaborates with the PRI, a founding member of the United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative, and the Church of England to combine bulk assets. The CFI.co judging panel announces Acadian Asset Management as winner of the 2020 award for Most Innovative Investment Solutions (North America).
Capital Finance International award selection criteria: Each year, CFI.co
The judging panel reviewed three companies for the selection of the
seeks out individuals and organisations that contribute significantly to
award. CFI.co (Capital Finance International), is a print journal and
the convergence of economies and truly add value for all stakeholders.
online resource reporting on business, economics and finance.
> ARCA FONDI SGR: BEST PENSION FUND SCHEME ITALY 2020 Italian fund manager Arca Fondi SGR was one of the first in the country to offer open pension funds. With diversification and digitalisation strategies to protect clients’ assets from market volatility, it aims to deliver on their long-term objectives. Arca Fondi SGR registered a strong financial performance in 2019, and timely tech and communication investments have enabled it to weather the current crisis as well. Arca has prudently diversified across a spectrum of funds, including equity, balanced multi-asset, bond, retirement and sustainability. It added to a long list of firsts this April with the launch of the Arca Multi Strategy Prudente fund, which offers new clients a “welcome bonus” equal to 1.5 percent of the subscription amount. The minimum buy-in is €10,000, and
the subscription period expires at the end of June. The flexible fund features a five-year investment horizon across a mix of government and corporate bonds, with an equity exposure potential up to half the asset ratio. The CFI.co judging panel has tracked Arca’s progress over the years and feels that while financial performance is crucial, Arca goes one step further by fully leveraging its experience with both corporates and individual clients to ensure an unbeatable level of services and deep understanding of the needs of the Italian investment community. In recognition of Arca Previdenza, the largest open-ended Italian pension fund, the judges are delighted to present Arca Fondi SGR with the 2020 award for Best Pension Fund Scheme (Italy).
> GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC: BEST CONSUMER GOODS CORPORATE CITIZEN AFRICA 2020 Guinness Nigeria became the iconic drinks brand’s first overseas operation 70 years ago. Nigeria now reigns as the world's second-largest market for Guinness (after the UK; Ireland comes in third). The first dark stout was brewed just three years after Nigeria gained its independence. The company aims to elevate the national business standard through exemplary corporate citizenship. It has a record of transparency, accountability, and community engagement, employing 1,000 full-time employees and 3,000 contract workers. The country advances in tandem with the company, and about 30,000 local farmers are part of the supply chain. Guinness Nigeria holds its partners to exacting standards, helping to raise the production sector’s
international reputation. It has 68,000 shareholders and aligns business with three SDG pillars: positive change, thriving communities, and the reduction of environmental impacts. It has improved local water access, healthcare and sanitation systems, and funds university scholarships. Its environmental standards focus on “reduce, re-use, recover and recycle” and water use is carefully monitored. Responsible alcohol consumption is encouraged via anti-drinkdrive campaigns and the donation of breathalyser kits to law enforcement. The CFI.co judging panel raises a glass to the company’s community contributions and declares Guinness Nigeria PLC the 2020 winner of the award for Best Consumer Goods Corporate Citizen (Africa). CFI.co | Capital Finance International
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