PRESS RELEASES

National Bank Investments Launches Three Actively Managed Sustainable ETFs

Montreal, March 4, 2020

National Bank Investments Inc. (NBI) announced today the launch of five exchange-traded funds (ETF), including three new sustainable ETFs. Each NBI ETF listed in the table below has closed the initial offering of units, and those units will start trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) today.

“Launching these sustainable ETFs is a concrete application of the commitment we made to the United Nations as a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment and the Principles for Responsible Banking,” said Annamaria Testani, Vice-President, National Sales at National Bank Investments. “It also aligns with NBI’s ongoing efforts regarding responsible investing, notably our portfolio management methodology that applies environmental, social and governance criteria.”

National Bank Trust Inc. (“NBT”) will be the portfolio manager to the ETFs and will delegate investment decisions to the sub-advisors listed in the table below, where applicable. NBT will ensure that their decisions remain compliant within this given mandate.

Here is a list of the five NBI ETFs that will commence trading on the TSX today, as well as their corresponding ticker symbol, sub-advisor or portfolio manager, and management fee:

Exchange-Traded Fund

Ticker Symbol (TSX)

Sub-advised or managed by

Management Fee1

NBI Sustainable Canadian Bond ETF

NSCB

AlphaFixe Capital Inc.

0.55%

NBI Sustainable Canadian Equity ETF

NSCE

Fiera Capital Corporation

0.60%

NBI Sustainable Global Equity ETF

NSGE

AllianceBernstein Canada, Inc.

0.65%

NBI High Yield Bond ETF

NHYB

J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.

0.60%

NBI Global Private Equity ETF

NGPE

National Bank Trust Inc.

0.55%

1 The annual management fees are based on the average daily net asset value of the applicable NBI ETF. The management fee, plus applicable taxes, will be accrued daily and paid monthly.

NBI Sustainable Canadian Bond ETF (TSX: NSCB) The NBI Sustainable Canadian Bond ETF’s investment objective is to provide a high level of current income and sustained capital growth while focusing on debt instruments designed to raise funds for projects or businesses that have a positive environmental or social impact. It invests, directly or through investments in securities of other mutual funds, in a portfolio comprised primarily of bonds issued by Canadian federal or provincial governments or by Canadian corporations.

NBI Sustainable Canadian Equity ETF (TSX: NSCE) The NBI Sustainable Canadian Equity ETF’s investment objective is to provide long-term capital growth while following a sustainable approach to investing. It invests, directly or through investments in securities of other mutual funds, in a portfolio comprised primarily of equity securities of Canadian companies.

NBI Sustainable Global Equity ETF (TSX: NSGE) The NBI Sustainable Global Equity ETF’s investment objective is to provide long-term capital growth while following a sustainable approach to investing. It invests, directly or through investments in securities of other mutual funds, in a portfolio comprised primarily of equity securities of companies located around the world.

NBI High Yield Bond ETF (TSX: NHYB) The NBI High Yield Bond ETF’s investment objective is to provide a high level of long-term income. It invests, directly or through investments in securities of other mutual funds, in a portfolio comprised primarily of high-yield debt securities of developed market issuers.

NBI Global Private Equity ETF (TSX: NGPE) The NBI Global Private Equity ETF’s investment objective is to generate long-term capital growth by replicating, to the extent possible and before fees and expenses, the performance of a global private equity index that measures the investment returns of publicly-listed private equity issuers. Currently, the NBI Global Private Equity ETF tracks the performance of the Morningstar® PitchBook Developed Markets Listed Private Equity Select IndexSM (or any successor thereto). To do this, the NBI Global Private Equity ETF invests directly, or indirectly through investments in securities of other mutual funds, in a portfolio comprised primarily of securities of globally listed private equity companies and investment vehicles.

About NBI ETFs
NBI ETFs are offered by National Bank Investments Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of National Bank of Canada. Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investments in exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Please read the prospectus or ETF Fund Facts document(s) before investing. ETFs are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. ETF units are bought and sold at market price on a stock exchange and brokerage commissions will reduce returns.

Morningstar® PitchBook Developed Markets Listed Private Equity Select IndexSM are service marks of Morningstar, Inc. and have been licensed for use for certain purposes by National Bank of Canada Inc. The NBI Global Private Equity ETF is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Morningstar, and Morningstar makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in NBI Global Private Equity ETF.

About National Bank Investments Inc.
National Bank Investments  Inc. (NBI) is an investment funds management firm committed to manufacturing and offering mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, investment solutions and services designed to help Canadian investors pursue their financial goals. As at December 31, 2019, assets under management in NBI products were valued at over $59 billion.

Guided by a 100% open architecture strategy, NBI is dedicated to providing diverse solutions to meet the evolving needs of its clients. NBI consistently strives to be recognized as a key partner by combining innovation and excellence. NBI’s role is not limited to administrative aspects of management; NBI Advisory Services and its registered representatives form a team of specialists who provide information and advice to help advisors build portfolios adapted to their clients’ financial needs. Follow NBI’s activities at  nbinvestments.ca  or via social media such as  YouTube  and  LinkedIn .

National Bank Investments is a member of Canada’s Responsible Investment Association and a signatory of the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment.

About National Bank of Canada
With $289 billion in assets as at January 31, 2020, National Bank of Canada, together with its subsidiaries, forms one of Canada’s leading integrated financial groups. It has close to 26,000 employees in knowledge-intensive positions and has been recognized numerous times as a top employer and for its commitment to diversity.  Its securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA). Follow the Bank’s activities at nbc.ca or via social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.


Information:

Stéphanie Rousseau
Senior Advisor – Public Affairs and Corporate Social Responsibility
National Bank of Canada