EFAMA appreciates the European Commission's efforts to bolster the Capital Markets Union and increase the appeal and competitiveness of public capital markets. However, the investment industry wishes to highlight some concerns concerning this Directive. Against this backdrop, it is important to note that the European Union has recently enhanced its corporate governance and shareholders’ engagement practices to fortify financial market stability, uphold capital market integrity and safeguard investors’ interests.
Stewardship
On behalf of their clients, asset managers act as stewards for the companies in which they invest, to encourage better governance and improve their financial, environmental and social performance. Investors do so by exercising their shareholders’ rights, and engage with investee companies on issues relevant to the sustainability and long-term performance of the firm. Such issues typically include firm governance, due diligence, executive remuneration and the overall business strategy.
EFAMA adopted a Stewardship Code with principles for asset managers’ engagement with investee companies. We support the development of pragmatic, evidence-based regulation and promote consistency across different pieces of legislation. We contribute to developing the EU sustainable corporate governance agenda and support members with the implementation of the revised Shareholders Rights Directive.
EFAMA response to EC consultation on Sustainable Corporate Governance
Investors would benefit from an EU legal framework with due diligence guidelines and reporting requirements for companies in the real economy. This framework should be consistent with the reporting requirements in the revised NFRD and the disclosures in the Sustainability-Related Disclosures regulation (SFDR). At the same time, any framework for supply chain due diligence should not impose a competitive disadvantage for EU companies.
EFAMA Annual Review 2020-2021
It gives me great pleasure to provide you with an overview of our activities since our Ordinary General Meeting of last year.
ESG investing in the UCITS market: a powerful and inexorable trend
The European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA) has published its latest Market Insights report titled “ESG Investing in the UCITS Market – A powerful and inexorable trend”. The report looks at the major trends in the ESG UCITS market, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and the behaviour of ESG and non-ESG funds.
Monthly Statistics December 2020 | UCITS and AIF ended 2020 with record net sales in December
The European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA) has published its Investment Fund Industry Fact Sheet for December together with an overview of the net sales data for UCITS and AIFs in 2020.
Thomas Tilley, Senior Economist, commented on the December figures: “Net sales of UCITS and AIFs surged to an absolute record in December 2020, as investor confidence in a successful exit from the Covid-19 crisis continued to strengthen.”
The main developments in December are as follows: