BMO GAM Sustainable UMAP range divests from Microsoft

Concerns about military connections

BMO Global Asset Management’s Sustainable Universal MAP fund range has divested from Microsoft over concerns relating to the military uses for some of its newly developed hardware.

HoloLens, which is described by the technology firm as an "untethered mixed reality device", offers the wearer augmented reality, which, despite its consumer marketing, can be altered for use on the battlefield. Manager of the £150m range of funds Simon Holmes told Investment Week that "despite the fact there are some good things about [Microsoft]…we felt that because its weapons exposure had increased, it was no longer suitable for a sustainable project". "Essentially, what [HoloLens] gives is a sort of heads-up display that can be augmented with information on the battlefield about ...