LGT Wealth Management - Sustainable Model Portfolio Service

SRI Style:

Sustainability Tilt

SDR Labelling:

Not eligible to use label

Product:

DFM/Portfolio

Fund Region:

Global

Fund Asset Type:

Mixed Asset

Launch Date:

01/11/2018

Last Amended:

Feb 2021

Dialshifter ():

Fund Size:

£400.00m

(as at: 30/11/2020)

Total Screened Themed SRI Assets:

£500.00m

Total Responsible Ownership Assets:

£16900.00m

Total Assets Under Management:

£16900.00m

Sustainable, Responsible
&/or ESG Overview:

Requested update from manager - Fund last updated February 2021

 

The ultimate goal of our Sustainable Model Portfolio Service is to support both socio-economic development and sustainable business practices, whilst generating strong and consistent returns for clients.

 

We offer five risk rated portfolios, which each have three financial targets, volatility, return and maximum loss. This allows clients to understand the risk/return that can be expected from investment in each portfolio.

 

The SMPS portfolios invest in both 'positive impact' and 'sustainable' funds, in this way investing in companies that are looking to solve the major challenges we face, and in companies that are looking to operate in a sustainable way. This allows us to invest in a range of businesses across geographies, sectors, styles and across the market cap spectrum, in companies that score well when assessed using ESG methodology and to be able in invest in businesses that are generating measurable positive impact.

Primary fund last amended:

Feb 2021

Information directly from fund manager.

Fund Filters

Sustainability - General
Sustainability policy

Funds that have policies that consider (environmental and social) sustainability issues. Strategies vary but are likely to consider environmental issues like climate change, carbon emissions, biodiversity loss, resource management, environmental impacts; and social issues like equal opportunities, human rights, labour standards, diversity and adherence to internationally recognised codes. See fund information.

Sustainability focus

Find funds which substantially focus on sustainability issues

Sustainability theme or focus

Find funds where there is a significant emphasis on (environmental and social) sustainability. Funds with a 'sustainability theme' typically place more emphasis on the area than funds with a 'sustainability policy' - meaning that it is more likely to drive investment selection. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Sustainable transport policy or theme

Find funds that have documented policies or thematic investment approaches relating to investment in more sustainable, greener transport methods. These will typically set out a preference for companies that run, enable or support more sustainable methods of transport. See fund information for further detail.

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) focus

Find funds that specifically aim to invest (and manage assets) in ways that help to address all or some of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). See https://sdgs.un.org/goals).

Environmental - General
Environmental policy

Funds that have policies which relate to environmental issues. These will typically set out the fund's stance on issues such as pollution, climate change, resource management, biodiversity loss, carbon emissions, plastics and/or additional environmental impacts. Strategies vary. See fund information for further information.

Limits exposure to carbon intensive industries

Funds that limit or 'reduce' their exposure to carbon intensive industries (ie sectors which are major contributors to climate change. Funds vary - some funds may be 'underweight' in this area which means they may have some investment in highly carbon intensive areas. Funds of this kind may choose companies they consider to be 'best in sector' and encourage ever higher standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further details.

Resource efficiency policy or theme

Find funds that have a policy or theme that relates to managing natural resources more efficiently. Funds with this policy will be likely to favour companies that make (or enable the) more efficient use of resources - and either avoid or encourage change amongst companies with lower standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Favours cleaner, greener companies

Funds that aim to invest in companies with strong or market leading environmental policies and practices. Strategies vary - in particular the balance between 'financial' aspects and environmental benefits. Some may invest substantially in solutions or 'positive impact' companies - others may invest in more conventional companies providing certain environmental criteria are met. See fund information for further detail.

Plastics policy

Funds that are reviewing or encouraging companies to manage down the overuse of plastics (particularly single use, non-recyclable plastics). These funds will typically aim to encourage the use of alternative materials, but are unlikely to exclude companies purely on the basis of their use of plastics. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Climate Change & Energy
Climate change / greenhouse gas emissions policy

Funds that have policies (documented strategies that explain their position on) climate change related issues such as greenhouse gas/carbon emissions, net zero, transitioning to lower carbon. Strategies vary. Read fund details for further information.

Coal, oil & / or gas majors excluded

Funds that avoid investing in major coal, oil and/or gas (extraction) companies. Funds vary: some may exclude all companies that extract oil. Others may have exposure to oil extraction via more diversified energy companies. See fund literature to confirm details.

Fracking and tar sands excluded

Funds that avoid companies involved in fracking and tar sands - which are widely regarded as controversial methods of oil and gas extraction. Strategies vary. See fund information for further information.

Clean / renewable energy theme or focus

Find funds where investment in clean / renewable energy companies an other assets is central to their investment selection strategy. The proportion of the fund that is directly or indirectly invested in renewable energy varies between funds and over time. See fund information for further details.

Invests in clean energy / renewables

Funds that hold companies in the clean energy and renewable energy sectors (at the time research was supplied). Fund strategies vary, in particular the proportion of investment in these areas may vary significantly. Check fund literature for details.

Social / Employment
Social policy

Find funds that have policies which set out their approach to social issues (e.g. human rights, labour standards, equal opportunities, child labour and adherence to internationally recognised codes such as the UN Global Compact). Funds with social policies typically avoid companies with low standards or work to encourage higher standards. See fund information for detail.

Health & wellbeing policies or theme

Find funds with policies or themes that set out their approach to health and wellbeing issues. Funds of this kind typically aim to invest in companies with high standards - or encourage high standards. Themed funds are likely to have more of an emphasis on this area. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Ethical Values Led Exclusions
Tobacco and related product manufacturers excluded

Companies are excluded if they are involved in any aspect of the production chain for tobacco products, including cigarettes, vaping, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco and cigars.

Armaments manufacturers avoided

Find funds that avoid companies that manufacture products intended specifically for military use. Fund strategies vary - particularly with regard to non-strategic military products. See fund literature for fund specific details.

Alcohol production excluded

Find funds that avoid investment in companies involved in the production of alcohol. Strategies vary; some funds allow a small proportion of profits to come from this area. See fund literature for further information.

Human Rights
Child labour exclusion

Find funds that have policies in place to ensure they do not invest in companies that employ children.

Oppressive regimes (not free or democratic) exclusion policy

Find funds with policies that exclude companies or other assets where regimes are not democratic, or where people may be oppressed. May use eg. Freedom House research. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.

Responsible supply chain policy or theme

Find funds that have policies or a theme that relates to the responsible management of supply chains. These may relate to employment issues, notably people employed by their suppliers, as well as the sourcing of materials and products. See fund literature for further information.

Meeting Peoples' Basic Needs
Water / sanitation policy or theme

Find funds that have policies or themes that set out their position on investment in the water sector and/or sanitation. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Invests in social property (freehold)

Find funds that invest in social housing property freeholds. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.

Governance & Management
Governance policy

Find fund options that have policies that relate to corporate governance issues such as board structure, executive remuneration, bribery and/or corporate corruption. These funds will typically avoid companies with poor practices. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.

Avoids companies with poor governance

Find funds that aim to avoid investing in companies with poor governance practices.(e.g. board structure, management practices etc.) Views may however vary on what counts as 'poor' practices - and funds may not immediately divest as they may prefer to work to encourage higher standards. See fund literature for further information.

Anti-bribery and corruption policy

Find funds that have policies explaining how managers will respond to assets / companies that do not comply with relevant anti-bribery and anti-corruption standards or laws. Strategies vary; options include stewardship/ engagement and divestment - or a combination. See fund literature for further information.

Encourage board diversity e.g. gender

Fund managers encourage the companies they invest in to have more diverse board structures (e.g. more women on boards)

Encourage higher ESG standards through stewardship activity

A core element of these funds will aim to encourage higher ESG standards through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement /voting activity

Fund Governance
ESG integration strategy

Find funds that factor in 'environmental, social and governance' issues as part of their investment decision making process. A focus on 'ESG' typically means a fund is carrying out additional research to help reduce ESG related risks. It does not necessarily mean a focus on sustainability. Strategies vary. See fund literature.

Asset Size
Over 50% large cap companies

Find funds that invests more than half of their money into what are commonly regarded as 'large companies'. This will typically mean that the market capitalisation (or value) of the companies they hold is in excess of £5 to £10 billion.

Invests mostly in large cap companies / assets

Find funds that have SRI strategies and focus their investment stock selection on larger companies. (e.g. over circa £5-£10bn)

Targeted Positive Investments
Invests >25% of fund in environmental/social solutions companies

Find funds that invest >25% of their capital towards companies where a major part of their business is focused on helping to address environmental or social challenges.

Impact Methodologies
Aims to generate positive impacts (or 'outcomes')

Funds that aim to help or support the delivery of positive social or environmental impacts (or societal/real world outcomes) by investing in companies they regard as beneficial to people and / or the planet. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.

Positive environmental impact theme

Find funds that specifically set out to help deliver positive environmental impacts, benefits or 'real world' outcomes.

Positive social impact theme

Find funds that specifically state that they aim to deliver positive social (i.e. people related) impacts and/or outcomes.

Invests in environmental solutions companies

Find funds that direct investment towards companies where a major part of their business is about solving environmental challenges. e.g. companies helping to address climate change.

Invests in social solutions companies

Find funds that invest in companies where a major part of their business is specifically aimed at helping to address social challenges. e.g. companies helping to address poverty.

Invests in sustainability / ESG disruptors

Find funds that specifically set out to invest in companies that are regarded as 'disrupting' existing business practices - typically through the development of innovative (sustainability aware) products and/or practices.

How The Fund Works
Positive selection bias

Find funds that focus on finding and investing in companies with positive / beneficial attributes. This strategy can be applied in addition to exclusion criteria and engagement/stewardship activity.

Assets mapped to SDGs

Find funds that have 'mapped' (reviewed) their investment selection and management strategies to identify which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the fund is helping to address.

Combines ESG strategy with other SRI criteria

Find funds that have an ESG strategy (which is typically focused on avoiding companies that pose environmental, social or governance related risks) with additional criteria such as positive and/or negative screens, themes and stewardship strategies.

Balances company 'pros and cons' / best in sector

Find funds that consider both the 'positive' and 'negative' aspects of company behaviour and make balanced, considered decisions as part of their investment approach. May apply to a range of different issues and policy areas.

Norms focus

Find funds that use internationally agreed standards, conventions and 'norms' to help direct where the fund can and cannot invest (e.g. the UN Global Compact, UN Sustainable Development Goals). Read fund literature for further information.

SRI / ESG / Ethical policies explained on website

Find funds that have published explanations of their ethical, social and/or environmental policies online (i.e. fund decision making strategies/ buy/sell &/or asset management strategies).

Intended Clients & Product Options
Intended for investors interested in sustainability

Finds funds designed to meet the needs of individual investors with an interest in sustainability issues.

Available via an ISA (OEIC only)

Find funds that are available via a tax efficient ISA product wrapper.

Portfolio SRI / ESG options available (DFMs)

Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Finds those that offer an SRI / ESG portfolio option

Multiple SRI / ESG portfolio options available (DFMs)

Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Find service providers who offer multiple SRI / ESG portfolio options

Bespoke SRI / ESG portfolios available (DFMs)

Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Find service providers who offer bespoke ('personalised') SRI / ESG portfolio options

Fund Management Company Information

About The Business
Responsible ownership / stewardship policy or strategy (AFM company wide)

Finds fund management companies that have a published company wide stewardship, engagement and / or responsible ownership policy or strategy that covers all investments. Stewardship typically involves encouraging higher ESG standards through voting and dialogue.

ESG / SRI engagement (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that actively encourage higher 'environmental, social and governance' and/or 'sustainable and responsible investment' practices across investee companies - typically where the aim is to encourage positive change that is aligned with the best interests of investors. Strategies vary. See additional information and options.

Vote all* shares at AGMs / EGMs (AFM company wide)

Find fund managers that vote all* the shares they own at Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings. A commitment to voting shares is a key indicator of 'responsible share ownership' demonstrating their support for or disagreement with management policy. (*situations can legitimately, occasionally occur where voting proves impossible, but in principle all shares should be voted.)

Integrates ESG factors into all / most (AFM) fund research

Find fund management companies that consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues when deciding whether or not to invest in a company for all / almost all of their funds and other assets. This is increasingly seen as part of sound risk management.

In-house diversity improvement programme (AFM company wide)

Finds organisations / fund managers that have an in-house (company wide) diversity improvement programme - meaning that they are working to ensure that within their own businesses they employ people from diverse backgrounds - often typically focused on ethnicity and/or sex.

Diversity, equality & inclusion engagement policy (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that encourage the companies they invest in to have strong diversity, race, gender and other equality policies across all assets held, not simply screened or themed SRI/ESG funds. (ie Asset Management company wide).

Resources
Employ specialist ESG / SRI / sustainability researchers

Find a fund management company that directly employs specialist ESG/SRI/sustainability researchers or analysts. This allows asset managers to discuss environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities directly with companies.

Use specialist ESG / SRI / sustainability research companies

Find fund management companies that makes use of expert external research companies. This can help deliver specialist expertise and means resources are pooled with other investors.

Accreditations
UK Stewardship Code signatory (AFM company wide)

Find fund managers that are signatories to the FRC UK Stewardship Code, which sets out a framework for constructive investor / investee relations where fund managers are encouraged to behave like responsible, typically longer term 'company owners'.

Engagement Approach
Encourage responsible corporate taxation (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that are working with the companies they invest in to encourage more responsible corporate taxation.

Company Wide Exclusions
Controversial weapons avoidance policy (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies (not funds) that avoid investment in 'controversial weapons' across all of their funds and other investment vehicles.

Climate & Net Zero Transition
Carbon transition plan published (AFM company wide)

Finds organisations / fund managers that have a company wide carbon transition plan - meaning that they have plotted a path to how they will move away from activities that produce or use carbon based energy sources (that emit greenhouse gases) towards clean, alternative, renewable energy sources.

Working towards a ‘Net Zero’ commitment (AFM company wide)

Finds organisations / fund management companies that are in the process of working out how to make a ‘net zero commitment’ - meaning that when that is finalised they will have started the process of reducing their total greenhouse gas emissions to'zero'.

Transparency
Full SRI / responsible ownership policy information on company website

Find companies that publish information about their sustainable and responsible investment strategies on their company website.

Publish full voting record (AFM company wide)

Fund management companies that publish a full record of how they vote their shares at AGMs (annual general meetings) and EGMs (extraordinary general meetings). Voting strategies have an important role to play encouraging higher environmental, social and governance standards.

Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Policy:

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a framework which defines the major challenges we face as a global community. The 17 goals are wide ranging and ambitious and are defined further in the 169 sub-goals. Whilst the portfolios do not aim to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, many of the funds do align the companies they invest in with the SDGs. We have mapped a number of the goals across our Sustainable Investment Pillars which outline a number of sustainable investment opportunities and trends seen in the portfolios. All funds held in the Sustainable Portfolios align to one or more of our Sustainable Investment Pillars. Two of the pillars are environmental and two are social. The mapping to these pillars help our clients understand the thematic exposure in the portfolios, and to better understand the companies and the impact those companies are having.

 

We aim to invest in companies that have a clear intention to have a positive effect on some or all of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and to measure and report on the performance and progress of the underlying investments against our sustainable pillars:

  • Healthcare and societal well-being
  • Education and training
  • Resources and the circular economy
  • Climate and environmental action

Process:

For us, sustainability has to be more than just a label. We demonstrate this in the approach we take to running our own business, and through the Sustainable Model Portfolios we run at LGT Vestra, where we strive to identify similar businesses. In order to do this, we implement a best-in-class approach to sustainable investing, to allocate capital to businesses that are driving real change. It is important to point out that we recognise that no business is perfect and neither is any portfolio. Just as we are, all companies are on a journey.

 

In order to identify these companies and investment opportunities, we have designed a robust and holistic framework for sustainability analysis. Our sustainable investing framework assesses the sustainability of an investment from three key perspectives: intentionality, integration and impact.

Our sustainable investing framework assesses the sustainability of an investment from three key perspectives: intentionality, integration and impact.

 

Intentionality: this is assessed through deep-dive analysis of a fund manager's commitment to the sustainable allocation of capital

  • Commitment to sustainability by the investment house (e.g. UN PRI signatory status, industry engagement, net-zero ambitions)
  • Qualitative assessment of the investment mandate (conducted through face-to-face meetings with the investment team), to ensure the motive behind the fund reflects the mandate
  • Quantitative analysis using ESG data is undertaken to ensure the underlying holdings align with the fund's stated mission and philosophy

Whilst the focus of our analysis is on assessing the sustainability of the investment, we also ensure that the funds avoid investing in sectors including thermal coal, tobacco, alcohol and controversial weapons.

 

Integration: this is assessed through understanding the ESG profile of the underlying companies

  • We want to understand the ESG practices of underlying businesses
  • We want to understand how this ESG information is integrated within the fund's investment process, including at asset allocation level
  • We want to ensure that the fund is deliberately allocating capital to businesses that have high levels of operation (or good ESG scores)

 

Impact: we assess this through the impact data produced by the fund, and through our own impact assessment

  • For the funds that measure the impact generated by the strategy, we assess the methodology and calculation of this impact. Metrics include water, energy, renewable energy production and access to healthcare
  • For every fund we assess the carbon intensity of the underlying holdings (scope 1 + 2, and score 3), versus the benchmark

Resources, Affiliations & Corporate Strategies:

The Sustainability Board chaired by H.S.H. Prince Max von und zu Liechtenstein, CEO LGT, defines the strategic direction and guidelines for sustainability. LGT Group’s entire senior management and other areas of the business are represented on the Sustainability Board. The Sustainability board and our think tank feed into the sustainability foundation board. We have individual sustainable committees for each of the business areas (private banking, asset management, impact/philanthropy, operations and HR). We have a dedicated team working on operation sustainability as well as dedicated sustainable investing teams. 

 

LGT's unique ownership structure is linked to a long-term and holistic approach to doing business. LGT adopted a sustainable mindset early on and long-term thinking and acting have always been a key trait.

 

LGT's Sustainability Strategy 2025

LGT has been working for many years now to further strengthen our business' commitment to sustainability. In 2018, LGT introduced the Sustainability Strategy 2025, which sets out our company's binding goals to be reached by 2025 across all business areas. The core tenets of the strategy are sustainable investing, sustainable business operations and sustainable thinking.

 

Sustainable business operations: LGT's 2025 environmental targets

In order to ensure progress is made in reducing our negative impact on the environment, the measures we have undertaken are linked to ambitious targets set out in our Sustainability Strategy 2025. To achieve these targets, we are reducing energy consumption, purchasing renewable energy and offsetting unavoidable CO2 emissions. We use advancements in technology to optimize our operations in an environmentally sustainable manner. In our London office we purchase 100 percent renewable energy, in Liechtenstein, we purchase 100 percent renewable energy and approx. 8-10 percent of total electrical energy consumption is produced through our own photovoltaic installations. In a number of LGT's offices, clients and employees can charge their electric cars in garage parking charging points.

 

LGT Venture Philanthropy Foundation

Each year, a minimum of ten percent of LGT Group dividends are allocated to philanthropic activities. The LGT Venture Philanthropy Foundation (LGT VP) was founded in 2007 with the aim of improving the quality of life of disadvantaged people, contributing to healthy ecosystems, and building resilient, inclusive, and prosperous communities. LGT VP deploys philanthropic capital to organisations with effective, innovative, and scalable solutions to social and environmental challenges. The foundation primarily supports organisations based in emerging markets, focusing on high-impact sectors, including education, health, and environment. This financial assistance really helps the organisations, but just as important are the transfer of knowledge and access to networks that the foundation facilitates.

 

Our industry engagement

LGT collaborates with other organisations globally across the following initiatives on the topic of sustainability, including:

  • Carbon Disclosure Project
  • The Montreal Carbon Pledge
  • Climate 100+
  • Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
  • UN Global Compact
  • UN PRI
  • World Economic Forum

 

The Group is also a member of the World Economic Forum Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders. In this context, our Group CEO signed the open letter from 50 CEOs who preside companies with a total of USD 1.3 trillion in revenues in 2017. This letter was released ahead of the 24th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in November 2018.

LGT has been a participant of the UN Global Compact (UN GC) since December 2012, through which we have signed up to the UN GC Ten Principles with respect to human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.

SDR Labelling: Not eligible to use label

Fund Name SRI Style SDR Labelling Product Region Asset Type Launch Date Last Amended

LGT Wealth Management - Sustainable Model Portfolio Service

Sustainability Tilt Not eligible to use label DFM/Portfolio Global Mixed Asset 01/11/2018 Feb 2021

Fund Size: £400.00m

(as at: 30/11/2020)

Total Screened Themed SRI Assets: £500.00m

(as at: 30/11/2020)

Total Responsible Ownership Assets: £16900.00m

(as at: 30/11/2020)

Total Assets Under Management: £16900.00m

(as at: 30/11/2020)

Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Overview

Requested update from manager - Fund last updated February 2021

 

The ultimate goal of our Sustainable Model Portfolio Service is to support both socio-economic development and sustainable business practices, whilst generating strong and consistent returns for clients.

 

We offer five risk rated portfolios, which each have three financial targets, volatility, return and maximum loss. This allows clients to understand the risk/return that can be expected from investment in each portfolio.

 

The SMPS portfolios invest in both 'positive impact' and 'sustainable' funds, in this way investing in companies that are looking to solve the major challenges we face, and in companies that are looking to operate in a sustainable way. This allows us to invest in a range of businesses across geographies, sectors, styles and across the market cap spectrum, in companies that score well when assessed using ESG methodology and to be able in invest in businesses that are generating measurable positive impact.

Primary fund last amended: Feb 2021

Information received directly from Fund Manager

Please select what you would like to read:

Fund Filters

Sustainability - General
Sustainability policy

Funds that have policies that consider (environmental and social) sustainability issues. Strategies vary but are likely to consider environmental issues like climate change, carbon emissions, biodiversity loss, resource management, environmental impacts; and social issues like equal opportunities, human rights, labour standards, diversity and adherence to internationally recognised codes. See fund information.

Sustainability focus

Find funds which substantially focus on sustainability issues

Sustainability theme or focus

Find funds where there is a significant emphasis on (environmental and social) sustainability. Funds with a 'sustainability theme' typically place more emphasis on the area than funds with a 'sustainability policy' - meaning that it is more likely to drive investment selection. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Sustainable transport policy or theme

Find funds that have documented policies or thematic investment approaches relating to investment in more sustainable, greener transport methods. These will typically set out a preference for companies that run, enable or support more sustainable methods of transport. See fund information for further detail.

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) focus

Find funds that specifically aim to invest (and manage assets) in ways that help to address all or some of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). See https://sdgs.un.org/goals).

Environmental - General
Environmental policy

Funds that have policies which relate to environmental issues. These will typically set out the fund's stance on issues such as pollution, climate change, resource management, biodiversity loss, carbon emissions, plastics and/or additional environmental impacts. Strategies vary. See fund information for further information.

Limits exposure to carbon intensive industries

Funds that limit or 'reduce' their exposure to carbon intensive industries (ie sectors which are major contributors to climate change. Funds vary - some funds may be 'underweight' in this area which means they may have some investment in highly carbon intensive areas. Funds of this kind may choose companies they consider to be 'best in sector' and encourage ever higher standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further details.

Resource efficiency policy or theme

Find funds that have a policy or theme that relates to managing natural resources more efficiently. Funds with this policy will be likely to favour companies that make (or enable the) more efficient use of resources - and either avoid or encourage change amongst companies with lower standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Favours cleaner, greener companies

Funds that aim to invest in companies with strong or market leading environmental policies and practices. Strategies vary - in particular the balance between 'financial' aspects and environmental benefits. Some may invest substantially in solutions or 'positive impact' companies - others may invest in more conventional companies providing certain environmental criteria are met. See fund information for further detail.

Plastics policy

Funds that are reviewing or encouraging companies to manage down the overuse of plastics (particularly single use, non-recyclable plastics). These funds will typically aim to encourage the use of alternative materials, but are unlikely to exclude companies purely on the basis of their use of plastics. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Climate Change & Energy
Climate change / greenhouse gas emissions policy

Funds that have policies (documented strategies that explain their position on) climate change related issues such as greenhouse gas/carbon emissions, net zero, transitioning to lower carbon. Strategies vary. Read fund details for further information.

Coal, oil & / or gas majors excluded

Funds that avoid investing in major coal, oil and/or gas (extraction) companies. Funds vary: some may exclude all companies that extract oil. Others may have exposure to oil extraction via more diversified energy companies. See fund literature to confirm details.

Fracking and tar sands excluded

Funds that avoid companies involved in fracking and tar sands - which are widely regarded as controversial methods of oil and gas extraction. Strategies vary. See fund information for further information.

Clean / renewable energy theme or focus

Find funds where investment in clean / renewable energy companies an other assets is central to their investment selection strategy. The proportion of the fund that is directly or indirectly invested in renewable energy varies between funds and over time. See fund information for further details.

Invests in clean energy / renewables

Funds that hold companies in the clean energy and renewable energy sectors (at the time research was supplied). Fund strategies vary, in particular the proportion of investment in these areas may vary significantly. Check fund literature for details.

Social / Employment
Social policy

Find funds that have policies which set out their approach to social issues (e.g. human rights, labour standards, equal opportunities, child labour and adherence to internationally recognised codes such as the UN Global Compact). Funds with social policies typically avoid companies with low standards or work to encourage higher standards. See fund information for detail.

Health & wellbeing policies or theme

Find funds with policies or themes that set out their approach to health and wellbeing issues. Funds of this kind typically aim to invest in companies with high standards - or encourage high standards. Themed funds are likely to have more of an emphasis on this area. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Ethical Values Led Exclusions
Tobacco and related product manufacturers excluded

Companies are excluded if they are involved in any aspect of the production chain for tobacco products, including cigarettes, vaping, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco and cigars.

Armaments manufacturers avoided

Find funds that avoid companies that manufacture products intended specifically for military use. Fund strategies vary - particularly with regard to non-strategic military products. See fund literature for fund specific details.

Alcohol production excluded

Find funds that avoid investment in companies involved in the production of alcohol. Strategies vary; some funds allow a small proportion of profits to come from this area. See fund literature for further information.

Human Rights
Child labour exclusion

Find funds that have policies in place to ensure they do not invest in companies that employ children.

Oppressive regimes (not free or democratic) exclusion policy

Find funds with policies that exclude companies or other assets where regimes are not democratic, or where people may be oppressed. May use eg. Freedom House research. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.

Responsible supply chain policy or theme

Find funds that have policies or a theme that relates to the responsible management of supply chains. These may relate to employment issues, notably people employed by their suppliers, as well as the sourcing of materials and products. See fund literature for further information.

Meeting Peoples' Basic Needs
Water / sanitation policy or theme

Find funds that have policies or themes that set out their position on investment in the water sector and/or sanitation. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Invests in social property (freehold)

Find funds that invest in social housing property freeholds. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.

Governance & Management
Governance policy

Find fund options that have policies that relate to corporate governance issues such as board structure, executive remuneration, bribery and/or corporate corruption. These funds will typically avoid companies with poor practices. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.

Avoids companies with poor governance

Find funds that aim to avoid investing in companies with poor governance practices.(e.g. board structure, management practices etc.) Views may however vary on what counts as 'poor' practices - and funds may not immediately divest as they may prefer to work to encourage higher standards. See fund literature for further information.

Anti-bribery and corruption policy

Find funds that have policies explaining how managers will respond to assets / companies that do not comply with relevant anti-bribery and anti-corruption standards or laws. Strategies vary; options include stewardship/ engagement and divestment - or a combination. See fund literature for further information.

Encourage board diversity e.g. gender

Fund managers encourage the companies they invest in to have more diverse board structures (e.g. more women on boards)

Encourage higher ESG standards through stewardship activity

A core element of these funds will aim to encourage higher ESG standards through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement /voting activity

Fund Governance
ESG integration strategy

Find funds that factor in 'environmental, social and governance' issues as part of their investment decision making process. A focus on 'ESG' typically means a fund is carrying out additional research to help reduce ESG related risks. It does not necessarily mean a focus on sustainability. Strategies vary. See fund literature.

Asset Size
Over 50% large cap companies

Find funds that invests more than half of their money into what are commonly regarded as 'large companies'. This will typically mean that the market capitalisation (or value) of the companies they hold is in excess of £5 to £10 billion.

Invests mostly in large cap companies / assets

Find funds that have SRI strategies and focus their investment stock selection on larger companies. (e.g. over circa £5-£10bn)

Targeted Positive Investments
Invests >25% of fund in environmental/social solutions companies

Find funds that invest >25% of their capital towards companies where a major part of their business is focused on helping to address environmental or social challenges.

Impact Methodologies
Aims to generate positive impacts (or 'outcomes')

Funds that aim to help or support the delivery of positive social or environmental impacts (or societal/real world outcomes) by investing in companies they regard as beneficial to people and / or the planet. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.

Positive environmental impact theme

Find funds that specifically set out to help deliver positive environmental impacts, benefits or 'real world' outcomes.

Positive social impact theme

Find funds that specifically state that they aim to deliver positive social (i.e. people related) impacts and/or outcomes.

Invests in environmental solutions companies

Find funds that direct investment towards companies where a major part of their business is about solving environmental challenges. e.g. companies helping to address climate change.

Invests in social solutions companies

Find funds that invest in companies where a major part of their business is specifically aimed at helping to address social challenges. e.g. companies helping to address poverty.

Invests in sustainability / ESG disruptors

Find funds that specifically set out to invest in companies that are regarded as 'disrupting' existing business practices - typically through the development of innovative (sustainability aware) products and/or practices.

How The Fund Works
Positive selection bias

Find funds that focus on finding and investing in companies with positive / beneficial attributes. This strategy can be applied in addition to exclusion criteria and engagement/stewardship activity.

Assets mapped to SDGs

Find funds that have 'mapped' (reviewed) their investment selection and management strategies to identify which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the fund is helping to address.

Combines ESG strategy with other SRI criteria

Find funds that have an ESG strategy (which is typically focused on avoiding companies that pose environmental, social or governance related risks) with additional criteria such as positive and/or negative screens, themes and stewardship strategies.

Balances company 'pros and cons' / best in sector

Find funds that consider both the 'positive' and 'negative' aspects of company behaviour and make balanced, considered decisions as part of their investment approach. May apply to a range of different issues and policy areas.

Norms focus

Find funds that use internationally agreed standards, conventions and 'norms' to help direct where the fund can and cannot invest (e.g. the UN Global Compact, UN Sustainable Development Goals). Read fund literature for further information.

SRI / ESG / Ethical policies explained on website

Find funds that have published explanations of their ethical, social and/or environmental policies online (i.e. fund decision making strategies/ buy/sell &/or asset management strategies).

Intended Clients & Product Options
Intended for investors interested in sustainability

Finds funds designed to meet the needs of individual investors with an interest in sustainability issues.

Available via an ISA (OEIC only)

Find funds that are available via a tax efficient ISA product wrapper.

Portfolio SRI / ESG options available (DFMs)

Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Finds those that offer an SRI / ESG portfolio option

Multiple SRI / ESG portfolio options available (DFMs)

Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Find service providers who offer multiple SRI / ESG portfolio options

Bespoke SRI / ESG portfolios available (DFMs)

Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Find service providers who offer bespoke ('personalised') SRI / ESG portfolio options

Fund Management Company Information

About The Business
Responsible ownership / stewardship policy or strategy (AFM company wide)

Finds fund management companies that have a published company wide stewardship, engagement and / or responsible ownership policy or strategy that covers all investments. Stewardship typically involves encouraging higher ESG standards through voting and dialogue.

ESG / SRI engagement (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that actively encourage higher 'environmental, social and governance' and/or 'sustainable and responsible investment' practices across investee companies - typically where the aim is to encourage positive change that is aligned with the best interests of investors. Strategies vary. See additional information and options.

Vote all* shares at AGMs / EGMs (AFM company wide)

Find fund managers that vote all* the shares they own at Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings. A commitment to voting shares is a key indicator of 'responsible share ownership' demonstrating their support for or disagreement with management policy. (*situations can legitimately, occasionally occur where voting proves impossible, but in principle all shares should be voted.)

Integrates ESG factors into all / most (AFM) fund research

Find fund management companies that consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues when deciding whether or not to invest in a company for all / almost all of their funds and other assets. This is increasingly seen as part of sound risk management.

In-house diversity improvement programme (AFM company wide)

Finds organisations / fund managers that have an in-house (company wide) diversity improvement programme - meaning that they are working to ensure that within their own businesses they employ people from diverse backgrounds - often typically focused on ethnicity and/or sex.

Diversity, equality & inclusion engagement policy (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that encourage the companies they invest in to have strong diversity, race, gender and other equality policies across all assets held, not simply screened or themed SRI/ESG funds. (ie Asset Management company wide).

Resources
Employ specialist ESG / SRI / sustainability researchers

Find a fund management company that directly employs specialist ESG/SRI/sustainability researchers or analysts. This allows asset managers to discuss environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities directly with companies.

Use specialist ESG / SRI / sustainability research companies

Find fund management companies that makes use of expert external research companies. This can help deliver specialist expertise and means resources are pooled with other investors.

Accreditations
UK Stewardship Code signatory (AFM company wide)

Find fund managers that are signatories to the FRC UK Stewardship Code, which sets out a framework for constructive investor / investee relations where fund managers are encouraged to behave like responsible, typically longer term 'company owners'.

Engagement Approach
Encourage responsible corporate taxation (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that are working with the companies they invest in to encourage more responsible corporate taxation.

Company Wide Exclusions
Controversial weapons avoidance policy (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies (not funds) that avoid investment in 'controversial weapons' across all of their funds and other investment vehicles.

Climate & Net Zero Transition
Carbon transition plan published (AFM company wide)

Finds organisations / fund managers that have a company wide carbon transition plan - meaning that they have plotted a path to how they will move away from activities that produce or use carbon based energy sources (that emit greenhouse gases) towards clean, alternative, renewable energy sources.

Working towards a ‘Net Zero’ commitment (AFM company wide)

Finds organisations / fund management companies that are in the process of working out how to make a ‘net zero commitment’ - meaning that when that is finalised they will have started the process of reducing their total greenhouse gas emissions to'zero'.

Transparency
Full SRI / responsible ownership policy information on company website

Find companies that publish information about their sustainable and responsible investment strategies on their company website.

Publish full voting record (AFM company wide)

Fund management companies that publish a full record of how they vote their shares at AGMs (annual general meetings) and EGMs (extraordinary general meetings). Voting strategies have an important role to play encouraging higher environmental, social and governance standards.

Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Policy:

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a framework which defines the major challenges we face as a global community. The 17 goals are wide ranging and ambitious and are defined further in the 169 sub-goals. Whilst the portfolios do not aim to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, many of the funds do align the companies they invest in with the SDGs. We have mapped a number of the goals across our Sustainable Investment Pillars which outline a number of sustainable investment opportunities and trends seen in the portfolios. All funds held in the Sustainable Portfolios align to one or more of our Sustainable Investment Pillars. Two of the pillars are environmental and two are social. The mapping to these pillars help our clients understand the thematic exposure in the portfolios, and to better understand the companies and the impact those companies are having.

 

We aim to invest in companies that have a clear intention to have a positive effect on some or all of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and to measure and report on the performance and progress of the underlying investments against our sustainable pillars:

  • Healthcare and societal well-being
  • Education and training
  • Resources and the circular economy
  • Climate and environmental action

Process:

For us, sustainability has to be more than just a label. We demonstrate this in the approach we take to running our own business, and through the Sustainable Model Portfolios we run at LGT Vestra, where we strive to identify similar businesses. In order to do this, we implement a best-in-class approach to sustainable investing, to allocate capital to businesses that are driving real change. It is important to point out that we recognise that no business is perfect and neither is any portfolio. Just as we are, all companies are on a journey.

 

In order to identify these companies and investment opportunities, we have designed a robust and holistic framework for sustainability analysis. Our sustainable investing framework assesses the sustainability of an investment from three key perspectives: intentionality, integration and impact.

Our sustainable investing framework assesses the sustainability of an investment from three key perspectives: intentionality, integration and impact.

 

Intentionality: this is assessed through deep-dive analysis of a fund manager's commitment to the sustainable allocation of capital

  • Commitment to sustainability by the investment house (e.g. UN PRI signatory status, industry engagement, net-zero ambitions)
  • Qualitative assessment of the investment mandate (conducted through face-to-face meetings with the investment team), to ensure the motive behind the fund reflects the mandate
  • Quantitative analysis using ESG data is undertaken to ensure the underlying holdings align with the fund's stated mission and philosophy

Whilst the focus of our analysis is on assessing the sustainability of the investment, we also ensure that the funds avoid investing in sectors including thermal coal, tobacco, alcohol and controversial weapons.

 

Integration: this is assessed through understanding the ESG profile of the underlying companies

  • We want to understand the ESG practices of underlying businesses
  • We want to understand how this ESG information is integrated within the fund's investment process, including at asset allocation level
  • We want to ensure that the fund is deliberately allocating capital to businesses that have high levels of operation (or good ESG scores)

 

Impact: we assess this through the impact data produced by the fund, and through our own impact assessment

  • For the funds that measure the impact generated by the strategy, we assess the methodology and calculation of this impact. Metrics include water, energy, renewable energy production and access to healthcare
  • For every fund we assess the carbon intensity of the underlying holdings (scope 1 + 2, and score 3), versus the benchmark

Resources, Affiliations & Corporate Strategies:

The Sustainability Board chaired by H.S.H. Prince Max von und zu Liechtenstein, CEO LGT, defines the strategic direction and guidelines for sustainability. LGT Group’s entire senior management and other areas of the business are represented on the Sustainability Board. The Sustainability board and our think tank feed into the sustainability foundation board. We have individual sustainable committees for each of the business areas (private banking, asset management, impact/philanthropy, operations and HR). We have a dedicated team working on operation sustainability as well as dedicated sustainable investing teams. 

 

LGT's unique ownership structure is linked to a long-term and holistic approach to doing business. LGT adopted a sustainable mindset early on and long-term thinking and acting have always been a key trait.

 

LGT's Sustainability Strategy 2025

LGT has been working for many years now to further strengthen our business' commitment to sustainability. In 2018, LGT introduced the Sustainability Strategy 2025, which sets out our company's binding goals to be reached by 2025 across all business areas. The core tenets of the strategy are sustainable investing, sustainable business operations and sustainable thinking.

 

Sustainable business operations: LGT's 2025 environmental targets

In order to ensure progress is made in reducing our negative impact on the environment, the measures we have undertaken are linked to ambitious targets set out in our Sustainability Strategy 2025. To achieve these targets, we are reducing energy consumption, purchasing renewable energy and offsetting unavoidable CO2 emissions. We use advancements in technology to optimize our operations in an environmentally sustainable manner. In our London office we purchase 100 percent renewable energy, in Liechtenstein, we purchase 100 percent renewable energy and approx. 8-10 percent of total electrical energy consumption is produced through our own photovoltaic installations. In a number of LGT's offices, clients and employees can charge their electric cars in garage parking charging points.

 

LGT Venture Philanthropy Foundation

Each year, a minimum of ten percent of LGT Group dividends are allocated to philanthropic activities. The LGT Venture Philanthropy Foundation (LGT VP) was founded in 2007 with the aim of improving the quality of life of disadvantaged people, contributing to healthy ecosystems, and building resilient, inclusive, and prosperous communities. LGT VP deploys philanthropic capital to organisations with effective, innovative, and scalable solutions to social and environmental challenges. The foundation primarily supports organisations based in emerging markets, focusing on high-impact sectors, including education, health, and environment. This financial assistance really helps the organisations, but just as important are the transfer of knowledge and access to networks that the foundation facilitates.

 

Our industry engagement

LGT collaborates with other organisations globally across the following initiatives on the topic of sustainability, including:

  • Carbon Disclosure Project
  • The Montreal Carbon Pledge
  • Climate 100+
  • Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
  • UN Global Compact
  • UN PRI
  • World Economic Forum

 

The Group is also a member of the World Economic Forum Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders. In this context, our Group CEO signed the open letter from 50 CEOs who preside companies with a total of USD 1.3 trillion in revenues in 2017. This letter was released ahead of the 24th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in November 2018.

LGT has been a participant of the UN Global Compact (UN GC) since December 2012, through which we have signed up to the UN GC Ten Principles with respect to human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.

SDR Labelling: Not eligible to use label