SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Engine No. 1, an impact investment group purpose-built to create long-term value by driving positive impact, today announced the upcoming launch of its inaugural ETF, Engine No. 1 Transform 500 ETF (ticker: VOTE) (“VOTE” or the “Fund”), with an initial commitment of $100 million. Engine No. 1 is also announcing that Betterment, the largest independent digital investment advisor, will be integrating VOTE into all of its socially responsible investing (“SRI”) strategies.
VOTE will invest in a market-cap weighted index of the 500 largest U.S. stocks and will seek to track the Morningstar U.S. Large Cap Select Index. Rather than excluding or re-weighting stocks, VOTE will seek to improve companies’ environmental and social impacts through:
- Votes we cast: Strategically hold companies and leadership teams accountable while focusing on environmental, social, and governance issues that create value.
- Campaigns we run: Actively work with companies to strengthen the investments they make in stakeholders to drive company performance.
- Investors we bring with us: Build platform to better serve investors’ long-term interests, enabling them to be part of our mission.
The Fund’s annual expense ratio will be 0.05%.
“The problem isn’t passive investing, it’s passive ownership,” said Engine No. 1 Managing Director Michael O’Leary. “Too many sustainable investing strategies shift an investor’s exposure away from companies that need to change rather than working to change them. We see an opportunity to harness the power of investors in a new way.”
Yasmin Dahya Bilger, Head of ETFs at Engine No. 1, added, “There shouldn’t be a trade-off between positive impact and financial performance. VOTE will be a unique solution to this long-time concern, enabling index investors the ability to generate long-term value while bringing action to the most critical environmental, social, and governance issues facing these companies.”
Boris Khentov, SVP of Operations at Betterment, concluded, “VOTE can disrupt the idea of what it means to be an index fund, while retaining its most appealing feature—low cost. We believe it will resonate with our retail investors, 401(k) plan participants, and advisory firms alike. We share Engine No. 1’s vision that index funds should serve as collective action vehicles for sustainability-minded investors and are excited to integrate this groundbreaking ETF into our SRI strategies.”
The launch of VOTE and Engine No. 1’s ETF strategy follows the launch of the firm’s active ownership strategy in December 2020. The ETF strategy was established under the direction of CEO Jennifer Grancio, a former founder and senior executive of BlackRock’s iShares business, and is led by Yasmin Dahya Bilger, former Head of Americas Beta Specialists at J.P. Morgan. Other senior members of Engine No. 1’s ETF team include Jason LaMacchia, former Principal and Director for BlackRock’s iShares business, who serves as Director, and Molly Landes, former International Index Equity Portfolio Manager and Vice President for BlackRock’s iShares business, who serves as Portfolio Manager.
TAKE YOUR SEAT AT THE TABLE. VOTE FROM ENGINE NO. 1
JOIN US AND HELP WORK TO TRANSFORM THE 500 LARGEST COMPANIES IN THE U.S.
Additional information regarding Engine No. 1 Transform 500 ETF may be found by calling 1-866-364-1383 / 1-866-ENG1-ETF. The fund is effective but not yet operational.
About Engine No. 1
Engine No. 1 is an impact investment group purpose-built to create long-term value by driving positive impact through active ownership. The firm was founded on the shared belief that a company’s ability to create long-term shareholder value depends on the investments it makes in employees, customers, communities, and the environment. For more information, please visit: www.Engine1.com.
Carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risk factors, charges and expenses before investing. This and additional information can be found in the Fund’s prospectus, which may be obtained on our website, www.etf.engine1.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.
Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. 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.
Key Risks: The Fund is not actively managed, and the Adviser generally does not attempt to take defensive positions under any market conditions, including declining markets. The Fund may be subject to tracking error, which is defined as the divergence of the Fund’s performance from that of the Underlying Index.
Large-capitalization companies may be less able than smaller capitalization companies to adapt to changing market conditions. At any given time, the Fund can have exposure to derivative instruments. Please see the prospectus for a full list of Fund risks.
It’s not possible to invest in an index.
Opinions expressed are subject to change and should not be considered investment advice.
In the event the Fund were to engage in activism, such activities may not be successful, or even if successful, the Fund’s investment may lose value. Additionally, engaging in activism may cause the Fund to incur additional expenses that another similar index fund may not experience.
Distributed by Foreside Financial Services, LLC
