Ostrum Asset Management bolsters its responsible investment strategy and attains the French state SRI accreditation for all money-market funds

The Ostrum SRI Money Plus⁴ fund, with AuM of almost €17 billion at end-March 2021, is Ostrum AM’s latest money-market fund to achieve the French state SRI label, adding to the other money-market funds that already boast this certification, including Ostrum SRI Money⁵, accredited in 2019. 

This fund accreditation program is consistent with our broader responsible investment strategy, which involves incorporating ESG materiality systematically across all fundamental analysis⁶, applying sector and exclusion policies – particularly on tobacco and coal – and reinforcing our engagement policy. At this stage, 92% of assets in our open-ended funds eligible for accreditation have achieved the French state SRI label, with the aim of attaining this certification for 99% of eligible open-ended funds’ assets by 2022. 

ESG leader in money-market expertise on the European market 

With a fund range applauded at the Quantalys Fund Awards⁷ in 2020 and 2021, Ostrum AM stands out as an ESG leader in money-market portfolio management, and was one of the leading ESG money-market fund managers worldwide in 2020 in terms of total AuM with close to €50 billion under management, according to research from Fitch Ratings⁸. 

^{1 References to a ranking, award or rating are not a reliable indicator of the funds’/asset manager’s future results. Information on the French state SRI accreditation is available at https://www.lelabelisr.fr/ (website in French).}

^{2 Funds managed by Natixis Investment Managers International, where Ostrum AM is delegated financial manager. A money-market fund is not a guaranteed investment; an investment in a money-market fund differs from an investment in deposits; there is a risk that capital invested in a money-market fund may fluctuate; a money-market fund does not rely on external support to guarantee liquidity or stabilize its NAV per unit or per share; the investor bears the risk of capital loss. In the event of very low interest rates on the money market, yields generated by the fund may be insufficient to cover its management fees. The fund’s net asset value may decline structurally. Funds promote environmental or social and governance criteria (ESG), but they do not have a sustainable investment aim. They may partly invest in assets with a sustainable goal, for example as defined by the European Union classification. The KIID and the prospectus are available on request from Ostrum AM.
3 Ostrum Asset Management figures as at March 31, 2021.
4 Ostrum SRI Money Plus formerly named Ostrum Trésorerie Plus. Standard money-market variable net asset value fund (VNAV).
5 Ostrum SRI Money formerly named Ostrum Sustainable Trésorerie. Standard money-market variable net asset value fund (VNAV).
6 Excluding ABS.
7 https://www.quantalys.com/Article/Consultation/13294 (website in French). References to a ranking, award or rating are not a reliable indicator of the funds’/asset manager’s future results.
8 Fitch Ratings, Global ESG Money Market Fund Dashboard: 2020, March 10, 2021.} 

Ostrum AM’s money-market portfolio management team boasts an average of 22 years’ experience each, with Head of Money-Market Portfolio Management Alain Richier, and portfolio managers Fairouz Yahiaoui, Didier Lacombe and Thibault Michelangeli first and foremost pursuing investment security, liquidity and performance. They are supported by an extensive credit research team comprising 23 credit analysts, including two sustainable bond specialists³.

ESG analysis is an integral component in the money-market portfolio management process. All of Ostrum AM’s SRI-accredited funds are assigned a non-financial score in addition to our standard approach for all our funds, which involves systematic incorporation of ESG dimensions at each stage in our fundamental analysis with a view to assessing the potential impact of these aspects on the sector, company and financial profile. 

2021 marks a milestone for Ostrum AM’s money-market expertise: in addition to accreditations for this entire range, it will also harmonize the names of the series of our six money-market funds six funds during the year in a move geared to providing greater clarity for investors. Short-term money-market funds will be rebranded with names starting with Ostrum SRI Cash, while all standard money-market fund names will include Ostrum SRI Money.

Philippe Berthelot, Head of credit and money-market at Ostrum AM, states: “Our money-market investment philosophy has consistently aimed to seek the best investment opportunities for our investors via high-quality liquid products that meet the most stringent market standards on ESG. Achieving the French SRI accreditation for our entire range further enhances Ostrum AM’s position as a responsible company and money-market investment pioneer, with a presence dating back 25 years.”

About Ostrum Asset Management 

Ostrum Asset Management draws on its investment expertise to enhance the impact of its clients’ commitments as they act together to support European citizens’ life plans, health and retirement. 
A European institutional investment management leader¹, Ostrum Asset Management supports its clients in their liability-driven investments, offering both asset management solutions on the back of its long-standing fixed-income and insurance-related management expertise (equity and fixed income), and investment services via its innovative technological platform. 
Ostrum Asset Management is a well-established responsible investment advocate² and manages €440 billion³ in assets for large institutional clients – insurers, pension funds, health insurers, corporations – as well as €575 billion³ in assets under administration for professional investors worldwide across all asset classes. 
Ostrum Asset Management is an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers.

^{1.    IPE Top 500 Asset Managers 2020 ranked Ostrum AM as the 77th largest asset manager, as at 12/31/2019. Any reference to a ranking, a rating or an award provides no guarantee for future performance. 
2.    Ostrum AM was one of the first French asset manager signatories to the PRI in 2008. More details; www.unpri.org 
3.    Source: Ostrum Asset Management, consolidated data at end-March 2021. Administered assets include Ostrum AM's assets. The services provided for a given client may concern certain services only.} 

About Natixis Investment Managers

Natixis Investment Managers serves financial professionals with more insightful ways to construct portfolios. Powered by the expertise of more than 20 specialized investment managers globally, we apply Active Thinking® to deliver proactive solutions that help clients pursue better outcomes in all markets. Natixis Investment Managers ranks among the world’s largest asset management firms¹ with nearly €1.153 trillion assets under management².
Headquartered in Paris and Boston, Natixis Investment Managers is a subsidiary of Natixis. Listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, Natixis is a subsidiary of BPCE, the second-largest banking group in France. Natixis Investment Managers’ affiliated investment management firms include AEW; Alliance Entreprendre; AlphaSimplex Group; DNCA Investments;³ Dorval Asset Management; Flexstone Partners; Gateway Investment Advisers; H2O Asset Management; Harris Associates; Investors Mutual Limited; Loomis, Sayles & Company; Mirova; MV Credit; Naxicap Partners; Ossiam; Ostrum Asset Management; Seeyond; Seventure Partners; Thematics Asset Management; Vauban Infrastructure Partners; Vaughan Nelson Investment Management; Vega Investment Managers;⁴ and WCM Investment Management. Additionally, investment solutions are offered through Natixis Investment Managers Solutions, and Natixis Advisors offers other investment services through its AIA and MPA division. Not all offerings available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit Natixis Investment Managers’ website at im.natixis.com | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/natixis-investment-managers.
Natixis Investment Managers’ distribution and service groups include Natixis Distribution, L.P., a limited purpose broker-dealer and the distributor of various U.S. registered investment companies for which advisory services are provided by affiliated firms of Natixis Investment Managers, Natixis Investment Managers S.A. (Luxembourg), Natixis Investment Managers International (France), and their affiliated distribution and service entities in Europe and Asia. 

^{1 Cerulli Quantitative Update: Global Markets 2020 ranked Natixis Investment Managers as the 17th largest asset manager in the world based on assets under management as of December 31, 2019. 
2 Assets under management (“AUM”) as of March 31st €1,153 trillion. AUM, as reported, may include notional assets, assets serviced, gross assets, assets of minority-owned affiliated entities and other types of non-regulatory AUM managed or serviced by firms affiliated with Natixis Investment Managers. 
3 A brand of DNCA Finance. 
4 A wholly-owned subsidiary of Natixis Wealth Management.}