Mirova, an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers, is launching a new thematic equity fund, focused on firms that are committed to promoting gender equality and increasing women’s representation in top-level management.

Managed by Soliane Varlet, who has been with the group for 13 years, the Mirova Women Leaders Equity Fund will invest in a global universe comprised of high-performance companies that are committed to increasing gender diversity.

The security selection was developed by the firm and is based on qualitative and quantitative indicators to assess the strength of each company’s approach.

It also adheres to Mirova’s sustainability requirements, and will adopt a sustainable investment approach and will seek to obtain the SRI label.

Its portfolio will also have a ‘2°C trajectory’, which fulfils the goals set out in the Paris Climate Agreement.

“We believe that investors–both institutional and individual—are looking for clear investment solutions with a proven impact which are based on a strong economic rationale. Strategies addressing diversity and gender equality fit into this category perfectly. These issues are a social and an economic priority," said Philippe Zaouati, chief executive.

Mirova has also established a partnership with UN Women, with some of the management fees from the Mirova Women Leaders Equity Fund going to the UN Women National Committee in France to finance projects promoting women’s empowerment.  

This new fund follows its first social impact investment fund, Insertion Emplois Dynamique, which was designed to encourage job creation in France.