Global asset manager Columbia Threadneedle Investments has launched the CT Global Social Bond Fund for UK-based investors as part of the firm’s intention to drive global social impact through its investments. Drawing on Columbia Threadneedle’s existing proprietary methodology to determine the suitability of bonds based on their social impact, the fund will use an outcomes-based approach to deliver both social and financial returns. These outcomes are mapped against the underlying 169 targets of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The bond will further benefit from counsel provided by its Social Advisory Panel, which consists of representatives from Columbia Threadneedle and social partner organisation The Good Economy. They will regularly review, assess and monitor the fund’s overall social impact. Tammie Tang, Portfolio Manager of the CT Global Social Bond Fund, said: “The launch is an important step in Columbia Threadneedle’s ongoing commitment to, and belief in, the power of impact investing. We are confident in the potency of bond investing to tackle globally systemic problems without sacrificing financial returns in line with the benchmark. By actively selecting specific bonds with positive social outcomes, rather than excluding bonds through conventional negative screens, we aim to generate positive social and financial results.”
