Water funds outperform as institutional interest grows

摘要

Strong inflows and a market-beating performance over the course of last year ensured that the thematic water funds tracked by Global Water Intelligence ended 2019 with a record $25 billion of assets under management. One of the most encouraging stories was the rapid rise of Fidelity International's water and waste fund - which went from seed capital of $20 million in November 2018 to close out 2019 at $1.23 billion (see story P37). The success of this vehicle - and of the new Natixis-backed Thematics Water Fund launched last year - clearly demonstrates that investors are increasingly buying into the concept that water and waste are inextricably linked as an investment theme.