Neuberger Berman and UBS launch UN SDG fund

In collaboration with UBS Global Wealth Management, Neuberger Berman has refocused its $35 million global high yield fund on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

The Ucits fund will invest in global high yield bonds in an effort to connect with UN SDG-related objectives while also generating competitive yield and total returns.

The fund has been renamed the Neuberger Berman Global High Yield Sustainable Development Goals Engagement Fund. It will be offered only to UBS customers in Switzerland and other chosen foreign markets for six months, after which it will be made available to all qualified global investors outside the United States.

The fund's management will seek to engage with issuers on UN SDG-aligned objectives. In addition, they have committed to providing frequent updates on engagement efforts by publishing case studies and key performance metrics pertaining to issuers' goods, services, operations, or procedures. The senior portfolio managers of the fund are Chris Kocinski, Joseph Lind, Jennifer Gorgoll, and Simon Matthews.

They will be assisted by 37 non-investment grade analysts, the firm's global fixed income platform, and the ESG investing team. This group will integrate ESG evaluations utilising the Neuberger Berman ESG Quotient, which compiles data from proprietary ESG ratings, released data, analyst judgement, and data science insights.

Jose Cosio, head of global intermediary (ex US) at Neuberger Berman, said: “Neuberger Berman and UBS have co-innovated the strategy over the past few months and we are confident it will be attractive to investors.

“Investors prefer not to give up yield or total return but still want to drive forward their sustainable objectives within their portfolios.”

Prior to its rebranding as a UN SDG-focused vehicle, the fund was known as the Neuberger Berman Global High Yield Bond Fund from August 4, 2016 until April 6, 2022.

The fund's May information sheet indicates a five-year return of 2.89 percent, while the ICE BofA Global High Yield Constrained Index returned 3.19 percent.

By fLEXI tEAM