Three well-known fund managers chatted candidly at the IR-2020. Dr. Christoph Bruns (Loys), Frank Fischer (Shareholder Value AG) and Thomas Meyer-zu-Drewer (Lyxor) examined the future of the investment industry. The bottom line: “Professional IR work is becoming increasingly important”. Everyone agreed on that. And Meyer-zu-Drewer added: “ESG will not disappear.”  

Moderated by Henryk Deter (member of the management board at cometis AG), the three fund managers Dr. Christoph Bruns, Thomas Meyer-zu-Drewer and Frank Fischer discussed the future of their industry. Fischer started with good news for many investors: “There is pressure to reduce fees.” In addition to the growing importance of index funds, the low interest rate phase is also increasing the pressure on margins. Meyer-zu-Drewer identifies the growing importance of ESG issues as a further trend. Zu-Drewer: “ESG will not disappear.” Dr. Bruns took up this idea and said “Experience shows that those who have more money do more for environmental protection. Bruns sees no contradiction between economy and ecology. Only when people are doing well, he says, are they willing to address ecological issues. Bruns continues: “If Germans invested more in shares and equity funds, they would have more money available to invest in environmental protection.

IR managers and board members should prepare for two trends. First, index-oriented investment funds will continue to gain in importance. Second, ESG is becoming a permanent fixture. Thomas Meyer-zu-Drewer “ESG will not disappear”. Sustainability must be systematically anchored in both corporate strategy and communication. Bruns: “IR is becoming increasingly important. You have a crisis-proof job!”