The leading ETF issuer has joined forces with the mass media firm, Thomson Reuters, to launch iShares Thomson Reuters Inclusion & Diversity UCITS ETF (OPEN). The purpose of OPEN is to allow investors the opportunity to invest in companies that promote diversity and inclusion practices. It carries a TER of 0.25 per cent.
OPEN tracks the index related to the Thomson Reuters' diversity & inclusion index which ranks the top 100 companies from a population of 2,000 by measuring against four categories: diversity, inclusion, people development and news & controversies.
Debra Walton, managing director of finance & risk at Thomson Reuters, explains that the index was established back in 2015 in response to "the growing demand for data in support of ESG investment mandates".
The latest release by BlackRock is complementing its 15-strong ESG group of ETFs and the recently issued, digital security ETF - part of the expansion of BlackRock's thematic ETF range.
Rachel Lord, head of EMEA at BlackRock said: "We know that diverse teams make better decisions, and this is ultimately good for investors. We are launching this Fund at a time when a spotlight is firmly on companies to show what they are doing to improve diversity of their workforce". Lord continues to say: "It is a significant step forward in the evolution of products that harness the power of social change to deliver long-term investment outcomes."
