SUSTAINABLE INDICES
The combination of Rabobank's expertise
in structuringproducts with SAM's
in-depth knowledge of sustainability
is pretty compelling
in talks with Robeco, who have also
shown interest in sustainability indexes
and themed products. And SAM has also
agreed to do some specific research for
Rabobank, to build the business case for
sustainable investment products, and
identify the underlying trends that will
determine future cliënt demands.
The level of cooperation has been
fantastic, Ducros says, and the teams are
still identifying new ways to cooperate in
the future. "Once we see how successful
these products are l'm convinced we'll
discuss how we can work together even
more effectively." One very positive sign
is just how open the collaboration has
been, Marritt-Alers says. This is SAM's first
large-scale collaboration with a Rabobank
business and it's been very much a two-
way process, she says. "SAM and GFM were
exchanging ideas and making adjustments
throughout the process, so the indices
are the product of a truly collaborative
process." Ducros is confident that SAM
and GFM will collaborate in the future.
"I have no doubt we'll develop further
indices together, and new products
based on SAM's existing indices. Flaving
this expertise in-house is a real bonus.
And it also boosts the Rabobank brand,
as it shows that we are committed to
sustainability and have the knowledge
and expertise to come up with the right
products. The demand for sustainable
investment is only going to increase."
According to recent research, sustainable
investing will be mainstream by 2015,
accounting for 10 to 15 percent of total
global assets under management, or
more than USD 26 trillion. "We expect
a lot of mainstream asset managers to
have incorporated sustainability in their
investment behaviour by that point,
so it is going to be a very big market,"
Marritt-Alers says.
ISSUE 23 MAY 2UI0 RI WORLD 9