Stockholm (HedgeNordic) – Copenhagen-based alternative asset manager Qblue Balanced has partnered up with London-based Heptagon Capital to launch a systematic Article 9 equity fund, Qblue Global Sustainable Leaders Fund. The fund went live in mid-January with $140.5 million under management as a sub fund within Heptagon’s Irish UCITS fund umbrella.
The Qblue Global Sustainable Leaders Fund relies on a data-driven and systematic investment process to invest in companies that have come the furthest in the field of sustainability in every industry and region worldwide. The investment team led by Qblue’s CIO, Fredrik Martinsson, uses an in-house proprietary investment framework that systematically builds a portfolio of companies located around the world that have been identified as sustainability leaders in their respective fields. The fund has been classified as an Article 9 fund in accordance with the EU’s Sustainability Financial Disclosure Regulation (SFDR).
“We are proud of our partnership with Heptagon and of the support from investors,” Bjarne Graven Larsen (pictured), Founder and CEO of Qblue Balanced, comments on the joint fund launch. “The approach behind our proprietary Sustainability CubeTM framework will help us identify companies with very strong leadership capabilities, creating a high level of societal value,” he elaborates on the investment approach. “By investing in the best of these companies – and at the same time taking valuations into account – we believe it is possible to achieve the dual objectives of a very strong sustainability profile and excess returns to investors.”
“By investing in the best of these companies – and at the same time taking valuations into account – we believe it is possible to achieve the dual objectives of a very strong sustainability profile and excess returns to investors.”
Qblue Balanced, registered with the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority – Finanstilsynet – as an alternative investment fund manager, was co-founded in 2018 by Larsen with a six-member team mostly comprised of former investment professionals from Danish pension fund ATP. Larsen is a former chief investment officer at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and ATP.
“We are delighted that Qblue has partnered with Heptagon and we are proud to celebrate the launch of a new differentiated UCITS fund.”
“We are delighted that Qblue has partnered with Heptagon and we are proud to celebrate the launch of a new differentiated UCITS fund,” Heptagon’s Managing Partners commented on the launch. “Heptagon provides its clients with a broad range of sustainable investing offerings on its UCITS platform, from funds that integrate ESG factors into the investment process, to thematic funds that seek to achieve a positive environmental or social objective alongside financial returns. The Qblue Global Sustainable Leaders Fund’s systematic investment process and strong focus on sustainability makes it an excellent addition to our platform.”
Danish investment company Chr. Augustinus Fabrikker and Swedish insurance company Dalarnas Försäkringsbolag are some of the investors involved with the launch of the Qblue Global Sustainable Leaders Fund. “We are excited about our new investment in Qblue Global Sustainable Leaders,” says Anders Saeter, the CIO of Dalarnas Försäkringsbolag. “We find the setup, process and team to be world class, and through their patented stock selection process we will invest in long-term sustainable leading companies at attractive valuations.” Claus Gregersen from Chr. Augustinus Fabrikker goes on to add that “we are impressed by Qblues quantitative approach to Sustainable Development Goals and find it very complementary to our already comprehensive commitment to SDG investing.”
