Alt data’s ESG gold rush – Mastercard dives into esports – Leaked Iconiq fund data

Good morning and welcome to Insider Finance. I'm Dan DeFrancesco, and here's what's on the agenda today:

• Alt data is helping investors looking for ESG-focused datasets.
• A prominent investment consultant has put Pimco "on watch" after repeated discrimination claims at the firm.
• We've got data on all the startups secretive wealth manager Iconiq has invested in across its five VC funds.

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$2 trillion money manager Pimco has been put on watch by a key gatekeeper to pension funds due to employee discrimination allegations. It's a pattern that's been repeating for years.

NEPC, a prominent investment consultant, has placed Pimco "on watch" after repeated discrimination claims at the $2 trillion asset manager. NEPC took similar action in 2018 when an exec sued Pimco over alleged discrimination.

We mapped out NEPC's view on Pimco in recent years.

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Alt data providers are set for a huge boom as big investors scramble to find ESG benchmarks

With limited government-mandated disclosures for companies, investors are desperate for ESG insight. Alternative data has filled this gap by providing datasets on how and where oil and gas companies dispose of waste, among other things. Here's how alt-data providers are helping clients make investments they can be proud of.

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Mastercard is looking to grab market share in the fast-growing world of esports by partnering with League of Legends, processing in-game payments, and issuing co-branded cards for gamers

League of Legends has become wildly popular since its inception in 2009. Now, payments and card giant Mastercard is using it as an opportunity to become the go-to payments brand for the game's huge audience. See more here.

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Leaked Iconiq fund data reveals how the ultra-secretive wealth-management firm invested $5.4 billion in dozens of startups - and how its bets have quadrupled in value

We've got data on where secretive wealth manager Iconiq is making investments across its five VC funds. Check out the startups Iconiq has backed, and the values of the investments. Get the full rundown here.

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Credit Suisse's incoming US summer interns will start virtually, but the bank is holding out hope for some in-person work starting in July

Credit Suisse has told all incoming summer interns in the US to expect to start their program virtually. But that doesn't mean in-person work is out of the question. Read more here.

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