Products February 29, 2008

Firm Introduces Professionally Managed Social Investing Portfolios

Blue Marble Investments (BMI) has unveiled online, professionally managed portfolios that invest solely in socially responsible mutual funds.
Reported by

According to a press release, EarthFolio screens and selects socially responsible funds using rigorous social screening processes, and provides them in professionally managed, pre-packaged portfolios that can be accessed online.

EarthFolio’s underlying mutual funds have been evaluated in 12 key areas, including the environment, human rights, animal testing, employment equality, labor relations, weapons, tobacco, alcohol, gambling, products and services, corporate governance, and community investment. EarthFolio also selects funds that strongly support shareholder advocacy, the announcement said.

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BMI is a California registered investment adviser serving individual and institutional clients throughout the United States and also offers independent investment services through its broker/dealer affiliation with Partnervest Securities, Inc.

More information is at www.bluemarble.com.

Deals & People February 28, 2008

MassMutual Acquiring First Mercantile Trust Company

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) has agreed to buy Memphis-based First Mercantile Trust Company from SunTrust Banks, Inc.
Reported by

First Mercantile provides plan recordkeeping and investment management services to more than 3,100 plans with a total of approximately 140,000 participants. First Mercantile focuses on the market for plans with $1 million to $20 million in assets and, in general, 50 to 250 employees. The company, which has nearly $5 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2007, also serves as trustee and fiduciary to more than 180 collective investment trusts, MassMutual said.

First Mercantile will stay at its headquarters location and keep its current management team, including President Alan Dunaway and Chief Operating Officer James Pratt, the companies announced.

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“With an extensive distribution network that includes a strong base of registered investment advisers, broad and complementary product offerings, and tradition of working closely with clients to offer premier retirement services programs, First Mercantile makes an excellent strategic fit for MassMutual’s Retirement Services business,” said Elaine A. Sarsynski, Executive Vice President of MassMutual’s Retirement Services Division, in a MassMutual announcement.

The planned purchase is expected to close early in the second quarter of 2008. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

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