NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SerenityShares Investments has launched the SerenityShares IMPACT ETF (NYSE: ICAN), an Exchange-Traded Fund to provide institutional and individual investors with a simple solution to investing in U.S.-listed companies whose business activities operate in areas that benefit or seek to improve societal, social, and environmental concerns.
The next evolution beyond Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) funds, the concept of Impact aims to identify firms whose activities benefit society and the planet while excluding investments in traditional areas of ESG concern such as tobacco, offensive weapons, and fossil fuel (oil, gas, and coal) exploration.
Traditional impact investments are difficult to find and most have to rely on private, smaller, or debt investments so they can be easily measured. ESG funds typically are based on a rating system that can have bias depending on the ranking methodology employed.
The key to the SerenityShares Impact ETF is the innovative methodology it developed. Based on 20 core themes identified and defined by the firm, it focuses on activities that seek to benefit society or our planet—environmental stewardship, access to local healthcare, renewable energy, clean water, eldercare, education, community building, and access to libraries of information. The use of an ETF structure enables SerenityShares to offer Impact Investing in a liquid, transparent, tax efficient and easily accessible manner.
“The underlying philosophy of SerenityShares is to develop products that provide investors with a simple solution that meets their core investment needs,” said Kathleen Neumann, President of SerenityShares. “A growing class of investors wants to have an Impact fund among their suite of investment options. With the launch of our Impact ETF, a single fund can enable institutions and retail clients the ability to not only invest, but invest with a purpose in a diversified basket of U.S.-listed companies.”
According to UBS, “the rising influence of the millennial generation – those born between the early 1980s and early 2000s – and their sustainability and impact-motivated beliefs are helping to drive a shift in societal expectations, and in the way capital is directed.” This belief is being backed by actions. In their 2016 survey, the Global Impact Investing Network reported 158 organizations raised $77 Billion for impact investments vs. $10.3 billion in 2013.
“SerenityShares was launched because we believe that the next evolution of exchange traded fund products will provide solutions. Our ticker 'ICAN' symbolizes the belief that when it comes to investing, we can do more than just invest—our investments can make an impact,” said Scott Sacknoff, CEO.
ICAN has an expense ratio of 0.50 percent.
About SerenityShares
Founded in 2016, SerenityShares Investments LLC is a registered investment advisor developing innovative core investment solutions to meet the needs of investors and simplify investing. For more information, please visit SerenityShares.com.
Important Disclosures
Carefully consider the Funds investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. This and additional information can be found in the statutory and summary prospectus, which may be obtained by calling 202-349-3917 or visiting www.serenityshares.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.
Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. The fund is new, with limited operating history. Shares of any ETF are bought and sold at market price (not NAV), may trade at a discount or premium to NAV and are not individually redeemed from the Fund.
Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. Because the methodology of the Index selects securities of issuers for non-financial reasons, the Fund may underperform the broader equity market or other funds that do not utilize impact criteria when selecting investments. The Fund may invest in foreign securities which involve political, economic and currency risks, greater volatility and differences in accounting methods. The Fund may invest in smaller companies, which involve additional risks such as limited liquidity and greater volatility than large cap companies. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors of the economy, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors, including investments in Industrials and Technology sectors.
The SerenityShares Impact ETF is distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC.
