April 09, 2008
New Fund Invests in Tomorrow's Green Stars
by Anne Moore Odell
ThinkCapital launches a green growth fund that focuses on sustainable companies.
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Last week, ThinkCapital launched the
ThinkGreen mutual fund as part of a trio of new growth focused mutual funds. Looking to harness
the growth potential of "green" companies, ThinkGreen's managers will invest in companies from
anywhere in the world that meet ThinkCapital's green screens.
ThinkGrowth,
ThinkGlobal, and ThinkGreen are the first mutual funds from ThinkCapital Management headquartered
in San Francisco, CA. ThinkCapital Management is an affiliate of the investment bank ThinkEquity
Partners and a wholly-owned subsidiary of ThinkPanmure Holdings. Michael Moe, Chief Investment
Officer for ThinkCapital, and Stuart Pulvirent are the co-portfolio managers for all three funds.
Companies in the ThinkGreen portfolio will be selected for both their growth potential and
their focus on sustainability, specifically "green technology" and "green living."
"The
ThinkGreen Fund seeks companies who can contribute not only a great business model by contemporary
standards, but who can also become leaders of a budding industry with significant growth
potential," said Michael Moe.
Moe continued, "We focus on companies that develop
products or services designed around the sustainability of a clean environment, and in regards to
'green living,' these companies will also find new ways to serve the more basic consumer needs of
the current global economy. We believe this combination of novel solutions to age old problems
will be the blade's edge in the economic growth of the green movement."
The Fund will look
for companies that are developing new technologies to address the environmental impact of energy
creation and manufacturing. This includes, but isn't limited to, companies developing biofuels,
recycling technology, solar energy, water purification and wind power.
"Embracing new
technologies is a key to achieving sustainable global economic growth," said co-manager Stuart
Pulvirent. "Improving the environment and living conditions of all the planet's inhabitants is not
only a social compact - it's good business and a significant opportunity."
A survey
released from Allianz Global
Investors earlier this year found growing interest in investing in green businesses, especially
environmental technology. Nearly fifty percent of the 1000-plus people surveyed said they were
likely to invest in a company or fund that is "green."
Moe explained, "New sustainable
technologies do not suffer from the same short life expectancies as previous technology and energy
investment vehicles, partly because many can thrive indefinitely without expending natural
resources, but also because they empower a growing cause that people on all sides of the investment
can get behind."
The ThinkFunds are no-load funds. The initial minimum investment is
$5,000 for direct accounts, $1,000 for direct retirement accounts, $2,500 for automatic investment
plans, and $1,000 for a gift account for minors.
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