The organisation responsible for managing £3bn of assets for Oxford University has increased its stake in sustainable fund firm Osmosis Investment Management.
Osmosis, a British boutique manager with £1.5bn in assets under management, confirmed that the Oxford Endowment Fund had upped its investment, but declined to specify the exact sum when contacted by ESG Clarity.
The boutique firm said it would use the new money to fund staff recruitment and pursue its “ambitious” growth plans.
“Oxford University Endowment Management has supported Osmosis since inception,” chief executive of Osmosis, Ben Dear, said in a statement. “They are patient long-term investors which aligns with both our investment approach and corporate values.
“This latest equity investment is tangible support for the role of an asset manager adding value though identifying new sources of investment returns with objectively measurable sustainable benefits.”
Osmosis runs nine quantitative sustainable investment strategies, including a hedge fund it launched in August 2018 – a global equity, sustainable market neutral strategy. The launch continued the firm’s growth in assets, which previously stood at £1.1m back in November, when Dear was last interviewed by ESG Clarity (see here).
The company has attributed its growth to growing interest from wealth management clients and institutional investors in funds that offer good risk adjusted returns while simultaneously targeting a a sustainable benefit.
“With climate risks rising up the agenda on a policy and corporate level it’s imperative that asset managers are able to offer their clients pragmatic investment solutions built on a more sustainable future,” Dear explained.
