In collaboration with C8 Technologies, Cirdan Capital Management has launched a “certificate” based on the Solactive European Photonics Industry Consortium (EPIC) Core Photonics Index. The certificate will be listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange for retail and institutional investors with the ISIN code XS2412871902 and an initial value of €1000 (~$1130) per certificate. Additionally, the index will be available on the C8 Technologies platform for direct indexing. Pierre-Antoine Llinas from Solactive and Carlos Lee from EPIC celebrate the launch of the Solactive EPIC Core Photonics Index. Courtesy of EPIC. “While the investment returns on individual photonics companies are potentially very large, it is difficult for investors to differentiate between winners and losers over time,” said Markus Barth, CEO of Anatase Ltd., who designed the index in collaboration with EPIC and Solactive. “EPIC’s in-depth company analysis provides a diversified global basket of companies that are all key enablers of a greener future.” The Solactive EPIC Core Photonics Index is the first of its kind to represent a global cross-section of the world’s largest and most liquid public photonics manufacturing companies and includes all companies with at least 50% of their revenues sourced from photonics manufacturing activities. For the first time, investors will be able to specifically target their investments to the photonics industry. Over the next five years, the photonics industry is expected to grow by more than 13% annually with a total market value in excess of $1 trillion by 2026. Over the last six years, the back-tested Solactive EPIC Core Photonics Index outperformed MSCI World by 15% per year with a similar level of risk. Following the launch, EPIC will look at how pension funds can avail themselves of this new, greener investment. Half of the certificate revenues will be reinvested into promoting photonics globally.