Effective help for the socially disadvantaged and the sick
This year, as part of the Colin & Cie ‘Social Responsibility Initiative’, a total of CHF 328,000 will be donated to specific projects in the areas of poverty alleviation and healthcare. The initiative is based on the success of a sustainable investment fund set up for this purpose, as well as the active participation of clients and employees.
The Social Responsibility Fund
With the Social Responsibility Fund launched by Colin&Cie in spring 2019, investors can pursue sustainable wealth accumulation and help people in need with parts of the fund's proceeds. Utilizing a best-in-class investment strategy, Colin&Cie carefully selects top global investments based on rigorous environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, categorically excluding unsustainable sectors. Focusing on dividend yield, the Social Responsibility Fund has delivered a performance in euros of 7.6 % p.a. (6.50 % in CHF) since inception, excluding annual distributions. In the current year, the return as of 30 September 2024 is 14.6 % (in euros) and 12.6 % (in CHF), outperforming comparable stock indices such as the STOXX Europe 600 (11.9 %) and the Swiss Performance Index (11.2 %).
The distribution amount of CHF 328,000 for the investment year 2023 will be used in autumn 2024 for social and sustainable projects of aid organisations in Switzerland (Red Cross), Germany (Red Cross) and Luxembourg (Nestwärme). To date, a total of around CHF 1.2 million has been invested in specific measures to achieve equal opportunities and reduce poverty. The overall result from the performance of the value of the shares and the dividends paid shows that an attractive financial return can be very well combined with a significant social return.
Active client participation
A special feature of the Social Responsibility Initiative is that investors can vote in an annual survey to prioritize project areas. This year, two-thirds of the votes cast were in favour of ‘supporting socially disadvantaged children and young adults’ while one-third favoured ‘supporting sick people and seniors with limited mobility’. In line with this weighting, Colin&Cie is supporting nine projects this year, including the organisation of holiday camps for children aged 6 to 12 from low-income families, the support of socially disadvantaged young people during their vocational training, and the optimisation of hospital care for cancer patients.
Active employees’ participation
Colin & Cie employees at the various locations are involved in the selection of suitable projects at an early stage. Some of them also act as project sponsors regularly exchanging information with project managers from aid organizations and monitoring the progress of initiatives. This local focus and strong connection to project managers ensure that assistance effectively reaches those in need.
Thank you for your trust and commitment
We would like to thank our valued investors for their trust and participation in this year's survey. We would also like to thank our employees who are accompanying the selection process and/or acting as project patrons as part of the initiative for their commitment. We look forward to support many more meaningful projects that indirectly promote the preservation of peace and prosperity.
Find out what Colin & Cie and its clients have achieved with the proceeds of the ‘Social Responsibility Fund’ during the 2023/24 project period at www.colin-cie.com/en/engagement
Disclaimer - legal notice
The information contained in this publication is marketing material distributed for advertising purposes. This information and opinions do not constitute an solicitation, offer or recommendation to buy or sell investment instruments or to engage in any other transactions. We recommend that interested investors consult their personal advisor before making any decisions based on this document so that their personal investment objectives, financial situation, individual needs and risk profile as well as other information can be duly taken into account in the context of comprehensive advice.
The fund company of the "Social Responsibility Funds" is: ETHENEA Independent Investors S.A., Munsbach, Luxembourg. The prospectus and the key information documents (PRIIPs-KID), articles of association or management regulations as well as the annual and semi-annual reports can be obtained free of charge from the fund company (https://www.ethenea.com/en-ch/_third-party-funds/social-responsibility-funds-global-engagement/) or its representative in Switzerland: IPConcept (Schweiz) AG, Münsterhof 12, CH-8022 Zurich.
