Shorting for Change: Nordis Capital's Unique Strategy to Influence ESG Policies in Public Equities w/ François Bourdon (#029)

SRI360 | Socially Responsible Investing, ESG, Impact Investing, Sustainable Investing

In the world of hedge funds, where the focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors is often considered secondary, Nordis Capital stands out as a pioneer.
Born in a small farming town near Montreal, François Bourdon's journey into sustainable investment is as unique as the hedge fund he co-founded. From working in agriculture to earning the moniker "Mr. Risk Manager" on the trading floor, Francois's diverse experiences shaped his path.
After pursuing actuarial mathematics at Concordia University, François joined MetLife and later transitioned to risk management. Subsequently, he held diverse roles at Fiera Capital, ultimately becoming Chief Investment Officer.
He later joined Sustainable Market Strategies (SMS) with the goal of creating Nordis, a hedge fund built from the ground up around responsible investing.
Nordis Capital's mission is to contribute to the fight against climate change and social inequality through sustainable market strategies. What sets them apart is their commitment to long positions aligned with ESG megatrends and their unique approach of taking short positions against companies that fall short on sustainability metrics.
Nordis Capital identifies five ESG megatrends that will transform economies and societies, forming the basis of their investment approach.
Tune in to this episode to learn more about François Bourdon's journey and how Nordis Capital is pioneering responsible investing in the hedge fund landscape.
Show notes: https://sri360.com/podcast/francois-bourdon/
About the SRI 360° Podcast: The SRI 360° Podcast is focused exclusively on sustainable & responsible investing. In each episode, I interview a world-class investor who is an accomplished practitioner from all asset classes.
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Key Takeaways
Intro (00:00)
Bourdon's journey into SRI (02:30)
Nordis Capital's mission and strategies (18:31)
Who are the investors of Nordis (21:29)
5 ESG megatrends (26:14)
Nordis investment process (36:27)
Double materiality analysis (47:08)
Why are other players not pricing ESG (50:30)
How sustainable investing impacts corporate behavior (53:40)
The future of sustainable investing (01:00:27)

Additional Resources
François Bourdon’s Facebook
François Bourdon’s LinkedIn
François Bourdon’s Email: [e-mail]
Nordis Capital's Website
Other Links mentioned in this episode:
Fiera Capital
MetLife
Sustainable Market Strategies
Atlantis Capital Group
François Boutin-Dufresne
Felix-A.Boudreault
The Fourth Turning by Neil Howe
VIX futures