First-of-its-kind mutual fund in Canada - promoting the advancement of women globally

TORONTO, May 2, 2013 /CNW/ - Global Women Equity Corporation (the "GWEC") is pleased to announce that after conducting in-depth and extensive due diligence, the company has selected one of Canada's leading investment managers to actively manage a first-of-its-kind mutual fund in Canada.

"Unitholders will have direct access to one of Canada's premier institutional investment teams. Our firm is very excited at the prospect of launching a first-to-market and first-of-its-kind SRI fund nationally," said Paula Popo, Executive Vice President at GWEC.

The Global Women's Equity Fund (the "GWEF") is categorized as an SRI fund. It will appeal to socially responsible investors, mainly women, who are looking to promote concepts and ideals that they feel strongly about. GWEF will invest globally in publicly traded companies that have demonstrated their support for women's causes and are leaders in promoting gender equality in the workplace.

GWEF's strict investment mandate dictates that the investment manager will invest only in companies that have actively promoted the advancement of women.  Inclusion in the portfolio would require companies to meet some or all of the following:

-Companies that have signed and adhere to the Women's Empowerment Principles-Equality Means Business disseminated by the United Nations and/or;

-Companies that employ at least 25% or more women directors or executive officers and/or;

-Companies that have provided financial support and are members of CATALYST, the leading non-profit membership organization expanding opportunities for women and/or;

-Companies that have signed and adhere to the Women on the Board Pledge for Europe produced and disseminated by the European Commission.

"We have approached over 4,500 financial advisors in Canada to gauge their interest in selling this highly innovative fund. The response was overwhelming.  In Canada, 21 per cent of the people in the top 1 per cent of income earners were women in 2010 and that number is growing. Financial advisors are becoming aware that women investors have accumulated significant wealth and tend to outlive men. The times are definitely changing."

GWEC will be holding discussions with one of Canada's leading banks to leverage their retail distribution platform and make this fund available to all retail investors across Canada.

"We are very confident in our ability to forge a strong partnership with a Canadian bank. This particular banking entity strongly supports socially responsible investments and will, I believe, embrace the GWEF concept," said Alexis Klein, Chief Marketing Officer at GWEC.

SOURCE: Global Women Equity Corporation

Alexis Klein
Chief Marketing Officer
Global Women Equity Corporation
Cell: 647-223-1001
[email protected]