BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--State Street Global Advisors (SSGA), the asset management business of State Street Corporation (NYSE:STT), announced that the SPDR MSCI EAFE Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF (EFAX) and the SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF (EEMX) began trading on the NYSE Arca. Developed to address growing client demand for ESG strategies and help investors divest from companies owning fossil fuel reserves while maintaining the benefits of core exposures to key benchmarks, the newest additions to SSGA’s ESG line-up are the first MSCI EAFE and Emerging Markets ex Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETFs.
“SPDR ETFs continue to build on SSGA’s heritage of ESG investing,” said Nick Good, co-head of the Global SPDR business at State Street Global Advisors. “We are excited to add EFAX and EEMX to our SPDR line-up, complementing the SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF (SPYX)1 launched in 2015. Together, this suite of funds is designed to allow investors to maintain geographical diversification within the broader equity market while using their capital to create change.”
The SPDR MSCI EAFE Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF (EFAX) seeks to track the MSCI EAFE ex Fossil Fuels Index. The Index is designed to measure the performance of companies in the MSCI EAFE Index that do not own fossil fuel reserves. Fossil fuel reserves are defined as economically and technically recoverable sources of crude oil, natural gas and thermal coal but do not include metallurgical or coking coal, which are used in connection with steel production.
The SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF (EEMX) seeks to track the MSCI Emerging Markets ex Fossil Fuels Index. The Index is designed to measure the performance of companies in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index that do not own fossil fuel reserves, as defined above. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index captures large and mid-capitalization representation across 23 emerging market countries.
The gross expense ratio for EFAX is 0.30 percent and the net expense ratio is 0.20 percent. The gross and net expense ratio for EEMX is 0.30 percent.
“With governments across the world committed to addressing climate change, investors have been increasingly looking to minimize the potential negative impact that exposure to companies owning fossil fuel reserves could have on their portfolios as traditional market-cap based passive strategies that do not screen out certain industries or business practices may not account for this risk,” said Christopher McKnett, managing director and head of ESG at State Street Global Advisors. “SSGA has managed ESG portfolios for 30 years and with client demand for these strategies higher than it’s ever been, this suite of SPDR funds is designed to provide investors with passively managed tools to divest from companies owning fossil fuel reserves while maintaining exposure to core US, international and emerging markets benchmarks.”
About SPDR Exchange Traded Funds
SPDR ETFs are a comprehensive family spanning an array of international and domestic asset classes. SPDR ETFs are managed by SSGA Funds Management, Inc., a registered investment adviser and wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation. The funds provide investors with the flexibility to select investments that are precisely aligned to their investment strategy. Recognized as an industry pioneer, State Street created the first US listed ETF in 1993 (SPDR S&P 500® – Ticker SPY) and has remained on the forefront of responsible innovation, as evidenced by the introduction of many ground-breaking products, including first-to-market launches with gold, international real estate, international fixed income, and sector ETFs. For more information, visit www.spdrs.com.
About State Street Global Advisors
For nearly four decades, State Street Global Advisors has been committed to helping financial professionals and those who rely on them achieve their investment objectives. We partner with institutions and financial professionals to help them reach their goals through a rigorous, research-driven process spanning both active and index disciplines. We take pride in working closely with our clients to develop precise investment strategies, including our pioneering family of SPDR ETFs. With trillions* in assets under management, our scale and global footprint provide unrivaled access to markets and asset classes, and allow us to deliver expert insights and investment solutions.
State Street Global Advisors is the investment management arm of State Street Corporation.
*Assets under management were $2.3 trillion as of June 30, 2016. AUM reflects approx. $40 billion (as of 6/30/2016) with respect to which State Street Global Markets, LLC (SSGM) serves as marketing agent; SSGM and State Street Global Advisors are affiliated.
Important Risk Information
The information provided does not constitute investment advice and it should not be relied on as such. It should not be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell a security. It does not take into account any investor's particular investment objectives, strategies, tax status or investment horizon. You should consult your tax and financial advisor. All material has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. There is no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information and State Street shall have no liability for decisions based on such information.
The funds or securities referred to herein are not sponsored, endorsed, or promoted by MSCI, and MSCI bears no liability with respect to any such funds or securities or any index on which such funds or securities are based. The Prospectus contains a more detailed description of the limited relationship MSCI has with SSGA Funds Management, Inc. and any related funds.
Concentrated investments in a particular industry or sector may be more vulnerable to adverse changes in that industry or sector.
Currency exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies may have significant volatility and may cause the value of the fund’s investments to decline.
ETFs trade like stocks, are subject to investment risk, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below the ETFs net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.
Equity securities may fluctuate in value in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions.
Foreign (non-U.S.) Securities may be subject to greater political, economic, environmental, credit and information risks. Foreign securities may be subject to higher volatility than U.S. securities, due to varying degrees of regulation and limited liquidity. These risks are magnified in emerging markets.
Mid-sized companies may involve greater risks than in those of larger, better known companies, including increased volatility and periods of illiquidity.
No fossil fuel reserve ownership may have an adverse effect on a company’s profitability and, in turn, the returns of the fund.
Passively managed funds hold a range of securities that, in the aggregate, approximates the full Index in terms of key risk factors and other characteristics. This may cause the fund to experience tracking errors relative to performance of the index.
Standard & Poor’s, S&P and SPDR are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (S&P); Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (Dow Jones); and these trademarks have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (SPDJI) and sublicensed for certain purposes by State Street Corporation. State Street Corporation’s financial products are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, their respective affiliates and third party licensors and none of such parties make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product(s) nor do they have any liability in relation thereto, including for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of any index.
Distributor: State Street Global Markets, LLC, member FINRA, SIPC, a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation. References to State Street may include State Street Corporation and its affiliates. Certain State Street affiliates provide services and receive fees from the SPDR ETFs.
Before investing, consider the funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. To obtain a prospectus or summary prospectus which contains this and other information, call 866.994.1384 or visit spdrs.com. Read it carefully.
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State Street Global Advisors, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111
Not FDIC Insured –No Bank Guarantee – May Lose Value
CORP-2313
Exp. Date: 10/31/17
1 Prior to August 31, 2016, the SPDR® S&P® 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF was known as the SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Free ETF. There were no changes to the investment objective, strategy or policies of the fund in connection with the fund’s name change
