FS Sustainability

Brookfield Asset Management has secured an initial US$1 billion mandate from the UK's Nuclear Liabilities Fund to manage a multi-asset portfolio. The mandate will be managed by Brookfield's Investment Solutions Group (ISG) and will invest globally across infrastructure, energy, private equity, real estate and private credit strategies. The portfolio is expected to combine fund commitments, direct investments and co-investments.

First Sentier Group named a new responsible investment manager, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) welcomed a new secretary, while Rabobank made a new hire to its research team. The IPCC has named Annett Möhner as the upcoming secretary of the IPCC, effective November 1.

Future Group has joined a global investor push urging the European Commission to maintain the agreed implementation timetable for the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), arguing that regulatory certainty will be critical for investors managing long-term environmental and financial risks.

The Labor government is proposing to increase transparency around charitable activities, allowing the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) to share more information about how it regulates charities. Under the new rules, the ACNC will need to explain why it decides to cancel a charity's registration. "If the ACNC takes enforcement action against a charity, it must give the reasons for the action," Treasury said. "Some ACNC investigations do not lead to enforcement action.

The Atlassian Foundation has committed US$1 million ($1.5m) to a new impact investing partnership with the Paul Ramsay Foundation (PRF) that will help catalyse more capital for Australian communities facing a changing climate. The foundation will match capital invested through PRF's $60 million Impact First Fund. The partnership will target charities and community organisations delivering social and environmental outcomes for Australian communities facing challenges arising from climate change.

Australian Ethical has launched the Australian Ethical Balanced Income Fund, in collaboration with Australian Impact Investments (Aii), for wholesale investors, including foundations and not-for-profits. The underlying Australian Ethical strategy has a 36-year track record and applies the fund's ethical charter across a multi-asset balanced portfolio. The fund targets a return of CPI+4% real returns over the long-term.

hy investors may be overlooking one of the biggest risks in their portfolios ❓ Question: If the ocean underpins climate stability, food security, global trade and biodiversity, why has it remained largely absent from investment frameworks, and how can investors better account for ocean-related risks and opportunities in their portfolios?

A recent survey by the Responsible Investment Association Australia (RIAA) found that 94% of advisers have concerns about greenwashing or misleading sustainability claims made by investment products. RIAA's survey spoke with Australian-based individual financial adviser members and advisory groups to capture practical, client-facing insights into the sustainable investment product labelling regime.

Perennial Partners will shutter three responsible investment funds that manage $140 million in combined assets, as they fall short of reaching scale and achieving their investment objectives. The Perennial Better Future Trust, Perennial Better Future Active ETF (IMPQ) and Melior Australian Impact Fund will undergo an orderly wind-up, with assets to be divested and capital returned to investors.

MSC Group will provide administration capability and trusteeship for a natural resources strategy focusing on the energy sector and select commodities. MSC Trustees will provide trusteeship, while MSC Abacus will provide fund administration and registry services for the Gold, Energy and Resources Alpha Fund (GERAF), a wholesale strategy managed by Natural Resources Capital.