NBA Star Antetokounmpo to Help Launch ESG Fund

“Greek Freak” Giannis Antetokounmpo, a two-time Most Valuable Player with the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, is teaming up with Calamos Investments to join the ETF world.

The 6-foot, 11-inch Greek-Nigerian forward is working with the Illinois-based firm to launch a fund that will invest in sustainable companies, according to a filing. The Calamos Antetokounmpo Sustainable Equities will consider investments that meet the environmental, social and governance determined by Calamos.  

Criteria for investments include ecological and environmental limits, as well as social and humanitarian considerations. The fund will also avoid involvement in companies that generate more than 5% of their revenue from activities such as tobacco and weapons, alcohol, animal testing, and metals and mining.  

“The shared values between Calamos Investments and Giannis Antetokounmpo forge the foundation for a great partnership. Together, we are creating a sustainable Fund and will seek to generate investment and societal returns,” a representative of Calamos Investments said in a statement. 

The venture may be a stab at promoting financial literacy, as Antetokounmpo revealed last year that he had more than four dozen bank accounts before Bucks co-owner and Avenue Capital Group founder Marc Lasry helped him clean up his finances.  

Just last year, the six-time All-Star bought a minority stake in the Milwaukee Brewers and invested in luxury watch platform Watchbox. Neither Calamos’ statement or the filing offered reasoning behind the venture. 

The Calamos Antetokounmpo Sustainable Equities Trust will be managed by current portfolio managers of Calamos, James Madden and Anthony Tursich, the filing said.  

Contact Shubham Saharan at [email protected]