Fund Product Update
/Octopus Investments launches renewables investment platform
Octopus Investments Australia has created a renewable energy platform targeting institutional and wholesale investors to cater to Australia’s energy transition. The platform finances the renewable energy life cycle from development through to long-term operations, including construction.
The platform will also support and fund projects from its partnership with renewable energy company Desert Springs Octopus, a majority Indigenous-owned renewable energy company. Desert Springs Octopus is a partnership between Octopus and the Northern Territory Indigenous Business Network (NTIBN) to bring renewable energy and infrastructure opportunities to Indigenous Australians.
ETF Securities launches two ETFs
Two new fixed-income exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have been launched by ETF Securities: the ETFS US Treasury Bond ETF and ETFS USD High Yield Bond, both of which are currency hedged. ETFS says the US Treasury Bond ETF is one of a kind for Australian investors, tracking the iBoxx $ Treasuries Total Return Index, hedged into Australian dollars. The ETFS USD High Yield Bond ETF tracks the Solactive USD High Yield Corporates Total Market Index, also hedged into Australian dollars.
HMC IM launches new fund
The HMC Capital Partners Fund I has launched, investing in public and private companies in Australia and New Zealand that have ‘trapped’ value. The fund seeks strategic investments in public companies where it can exert influence to make change, with full or partial stakes in private companies that require extra capital or access to the expertise of the HMC board and network.
Australia’s first social loan by CBA and APM
The Commonwealth Bank (CBA) and APM Human Services have set up Australia’s first social loan. Social loans are a Use-of-Proceeds sustainable finance product that is used to support projects and activities that address a social issue or achieve positive social outcomes for certain subsets of the population. Marginalised and vulnerable groups are most often served.
The net proceeds from the loan are used to finance or refinance funds for delivering social services by APM. CBA is a key lender to the syndicated $840 million Social Loan facility.
