Standard Life Threadneedle UK Social Bond Pension Fund
SRI Style:
Social Style
SDR Labelling:
-
Product:
Pension
Fund Region:
UK
Fund Asset Type:
Fixed Interest
Launch Date:
01/11/2014
Last Amended:
Dialshifter (
):
Fund Size:
£1.80m
(as at: 30/09/2023)
ISIN:
GB00BFCNLK82
Sustainable, Responsible
&/or ESG Overview:
This Pension product is linked to the "CT UK Social Bond" fund. The following information refers to the primary (OIEC) fund.
Awaiting update from fund manager (Nov 2024) - Fund last updated April 2021
Launched in December 2013, in partnership with Big Issue Invest, the UK Social Bond Fund was the first mainstream investment Fund that set out to achieve both an investment return and a positive social outcome by investing in bonds issued by organisations that support social and economic development in the UK.
The Fund has generated strong performance for investors and has also fulfilled its promise of delivering positive social outcomes, bringing investment to some of the UK's most deprived sectors and regions. The Fund's investments have supported the likes of Charities Aid Foundation in enhancing their work with donors and charities, Cardiff University in helping fund an innovation campus and Manchester University in supporting the development of a new Cancer Research Centre.
As outlined above, our approach is positive inclusion rather than negative exclusion; as described in further detail below, in practice this means the avoidance of certain sectors (e.g. tobacco), and we also operate a hard exclusion on controversial weapons, applying across all our funds.
.
Please note: BMO GAM (EMEA) became part of Columbia Threadneedle Investments, the global asset management business of Ameriprise, on 8th November 2021. From 4th July 2022 the ‘Threadneedle’-named fund ranges of Columbia Threadneedle will transition to the CT prefix, providing consistency with the rebranding of BMO funds.
Primary fund last amended:
Information directly from fund manager.
Fund Filters
Sustainability - General
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Climate Change & Energy
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.
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.
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.
Funds that avoid companies that are involved in extracting oil from the Arctic regions. See fund literature for further details.
Funds that avoid investing in companies with coal, oil and gas reserves. See fund information for further details.
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.
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.
Find funds that have policies which say they avoid or limit their investment in the nuclear industry. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Social / Employment
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.
Find funds that invest in line with positive strategies that relate to 'people' issues - such as having strong human rights, labour standards and equal opportunities practices. Such funds are likely to invest in companies that have market leading standards with regard to employee and supplier practices. Read fund literature for further information.
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
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.
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.
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.
Find funds that avoid companies with significant involvement in the gambling industry. Some funds may allow a small proportion of profits to come from this area. See fund policy for further details.
Find funds that avoid companies that derive significant income from pornography and related areas. Strategies vary. See fund details for further information.
Human Rights
Find funds that have policies relating to human rights issues. Funds of this kind typically require companies to demonstrate higher standards, although some fund managers work to encourage improvements. Investee companies are often judged against internationally agreed norms or standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Find funds that have policies in place to ensure they do not invest in companies that employ children.
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
Find funds that have significant investment in social housing or similar assets.
Find funds that invest in ‘social bonds’ which raise funds for the purpose of financing projects with positive social (people related) outcomes.
Gilts & Sovereigns
Find funds that avoid investing in 'some' gilts or government bonds. Strategies vary, but this may relate to avoiding specific countries or particular reasons for bond issuance. 'Green gilts' for example would be likely to be acceptable. See fund literature for further information.
Governance & Management
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.
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.
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.
Fund Governance
Find funds that have an external committee that helps steer or advise fund managers on SRI policy or strategy related issues. These people may be paid for their time but are not employees of the fund manager.
Asset Size
Find funds where more than half of the funds' assets are invested in smaller or medium sized companies (i.e. below around £5 -10 billion).
Find a fund that invests in a combination of small, medium and larger (potentially multinational)companies.
Targeted Positive Investments
Find funds that invest in green bonds (also known as climate bonds) which encourage sustainability and support climate related or special environmental projects. Please check fund literature for specific % of assets invested in this area.
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.
Find funds that invest >50% of their capital in companies where a major part of their business is focused on helping to address environmental or social challenges.
Impact Methodologies
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.
Funds that aim to measure the positive real world environmental and / or social benefits that are associated with their investment strategy. Funds that aim to deliver positive impacts and measure those impacts may be referred to as 'impact funds' - although impact measurement is not restricted to impact funds. Strategies vary. See fund information.
Funds that are specifically marketed as ‘Impact investments funds' will work to deliver both financial performance and specific, measurable positive, real world social and/or environmental benefits. Strategies vary.
Find funds that specifically set out to help deliver positive environmental impacts, benefits or 'real world' outcomes.
Find funds that specifically state that they aim to deliver positive social (i.e. people related) impacts and/or outcomes.
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.
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.
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
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.
Find funds where their main 'ethical approach' is to avoid companies by using negative screening criteria. Read fund literature for further information.
Find funds where their main approach is to apply positive or negative ethical, social and / or environmental screens. Strictly screened funds are likely to exclude more companies than other related fund options. See fund literature for further information.
Find funds with few exclusions - typically for example exclude tobacco or companies that breach commonly adopted standards or norms such as the UN Global Compact.
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.
Find funds that make significant use of internationally agreed 'norms' (e.g. United Nations Global Compact - UNGC - or the UN Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs) as part of their investment selection process alongside additional SRI criteria such as positive or negative stock selection policies and/or stewardship strategies.
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.
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.
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.
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
Find funds that have attributes that commonly suit the aims of investors of faith - although they may not be specifically marketed as being only for religious investors. Strategies vary (as do investor aims). Read fund literature for further information.
Find funds that are available via a tax efficient ISA product wrapper.
Fund Management Company Information
About The Business
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.
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.
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.)
Find fund managers that consider responsible ownership and ESG to be a key differentiator for their business.
Find fund management companies that aim to align all their investments (across all funds) to help meet the aims of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Find funds run by fund managers that apply Responsible ownership or 'Stewardship' policies to all or most of their investment assets. This means active involvement (e.g. voting, dialogue) with the companies they invest in across funds (not normally limited to ethical or SRI options.) Read fund literature for further information.
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.
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).
Collaborations & Affiliations
Find fund management companies that have signed up to the UN backed 'Principles of Responsible Investment'.
Find fund management companies that are members of UKSIF - the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance association
Resources
Find fund management companies that employ people to steer and support fund managers in voting shares at company AGM's and EGMs in ways that are consistent with encouraging higher ESG/sustainability standards.
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.
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
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
Find fund management companies that regularly initiate or run industry wide (collaborative) investor projects aimed at raising environmental, social and governance standards amongst investee companies.
Find fund management companies that are working with the companies they invest in to encourage more responsible corporate taxation.
Company Wide Exclusions
Find fund management companies (not funds) that avoid investment in 'controversial weapons' across all of their funds and other investment vehicles.
Find funds / fund managers that are reviewing, or have reviewed, their exposure to carbon intensive industries including (but not only) mining, oil and gas companies. (Typically with reference to climate change.)
Climate & Net Zero Transition
Find fund management companies that are working with the companies they invest in to encourage reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.
Find fund management companies that are working to reduce their own (fund management company) carbon/greenhouse gas emissions.
Transparency
Find fund management companies that publish a report detailing their responsible investment ownership - also known as 'Stewardship' - activity.
Find companies that publish information about their sustainable and responsible investment strategies on their company website.
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:
We manage the Fund in partnership with Big Issue Invest, our external social advisory partner. The Fund aims to deliver both financial and social performance and as such we have a thematic focus on social issues. These issues are defined by our social assessment methodology; produced by Big Issue Invest in collaboration with our firm, this includes seven specific social themes and one theme which encompasses environmental elements.
The eight outcome areas comprise:
- Housing and Property
- Transport and Communication Infrastructure
- Financial Inclusion
- Health and Social Care
- Education Learning and Skills
- Community Services
- Employment and Training
- Utilities and the Environment
The Fund takes a positive inclusion, rather than a negative exclusion, approach. For an investment to qualify for the Fund, we need to find a clear link between the issuer and one of the eight social outcome areas (including a ‘utilities and the environment’ outcome, which can have a specific environmental element, in recognition of the importance of sustainable infrastructure and energy in creating the right conditions for societal development). The social case needs to be made in the initial research phase, and further confirmed by the Social Advisory Committee (see further under resources and affiliations below).
One consequence of this is that investment in issuers with a negative social impact is out of scope. A clear example of this is with the tobacco industry which not only does not align with one of our outcome areas but also clashes with the health and social care outcome. Other areas which we do not see as aligning with positive social outcomes, along similar lines, are companies whose primary business relates to alcohol production, weapons manufactures, gambling or pornography. Hence, although there is no specific exclusionary screen for these types of companies, the Fund has never had any exposure to them, nor do we expect this to be the case.
One area of hard exclusion, however, relates to controversial weapons. This has been in place for all our strategies since 2011 and recognises our support for widely ratified treaties prohibiting their production (see page 3 of our RI policy attached, or via the link https://www.columbiathreadneedle.co.uk/investment-capabilities/governance-and-responsible-investment).
ESG performance is assessed for each issuer as part of our social review. This is not the core driver of the review, but can contribute to a social rating change (e.g. from Medium to Low), or even suggest that an investment may not qualify for the Fund if it undermines our confidence that an issuer is aligned with a social outcome, is overly exposed to social risk, or might materially compromise the reputation of the Fund. As such our ESG analysis is risk focused, and centres on governance and social issues.
Engagement is core to the Fund’s philosophy. Part of Big Issue Invest’s mandate to Columbia Threadneedle Investments was for the Fund to help establish a market for charities and non-profit organisations to raise finance themselves through issuing bonds. In addition, they were keen to promote the reestablishment of the local authority sector of the market. In some cases, this required an educational process about issuing their own bonds, which can potentially reduce cost of funding and diversify the investor base.
As part of this mission, there has been a lot of work undertaken behind the scenes in order to try to establish a leadership role in developing the market. Some tangible successes of this policy have been the establishment of the Retail Charity Bonds Platform and the subsequent issues of charity bonds. Additionally, committee work has taken place to extend the Green Bond Principles from environmental to social outcomes, as well as the publication of the Guidance for Issuers of Social Bonds in June 2016, together with the first issue to conform to these policies, from BNG, a Dutch agency bank for social housing.
Resources, Affiliations & Corporate Strategies:
External partner
“A hand up, not a hand out,” was the ethos which inspired the launch of the Big Issue Foundation in 1991, a trailblazing organisation which kick-started the philosophy of offering business-led solutions to social problems.
More than two decades on, Columbia Threadneedle Investments partnered with Big Issue Invest, the social investment arm of The Big Issue magazine, in 2013 to bring this concept to life with the Threadneedle UK Social Bond Fund. We brought together the simple but powerful principles of achieving positive social outcomes while generating a financial return for investors.
Big Issue Invest (BII) developed a unique Social Assessment Methodology for the Fund, with input from Columbia Threadneedle Investments’ Responsible Investment team. The Methodology provides ‘filters’ for portfolio investment decisions that identify the “social performance” of investments and channels the Fund’s capital to organisations whose activities produce clearly identifiable social outcomes and help create a more balanced and inclusive UK economy.
Big Issue Invest also acts as Social Advisor to the Fund, via the Fund’s independent Social Advisory Committee. All reviews are circulated to our Social Advisory Committee, comprised of an independent Chair as well as BII members, and two of our representatives. The role of the SAC is to advise, review and challenge individual bond social assessments (and therefore the overall social performance of the Fund) and to support further development of the methodology.
Research resources
Research is undertaken in-house by our Responsible Investment team, regarding the social assessment, whilst financial analysis is undertaken by our Investment Grade team.
We draw on a number of sources in making our assessment: Prospectus and roadshow material, ESG research (MSCI ESG Research being a main data provider, broker research, and engagement in some cases. Other inputs specific to the nature of the Fund include UK-based indices of deprivation (e.g. the Multiple Deprivation Index), and theme specific sources: such as Ofsted reports and HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency) data for the education theme.
Fund manager
Simon Bond manages the Threadneedle UK Social Bond Fund, as well as a newly launched European Social Bond Fund (May 2017). Previously Simon managed a wide range of retail, institutional and wholesale credit bond funds at Columbia Threadneedle, but undertook a specific Responsible Investment Portfolio Management position in 2016. Simon has taken a keen interest in the social investment space, having analysed and invested in this space for many years.
Process and Roles
In applying the methodology, first, the fund manager, Simon Bond, proactively identifies bonds that deliver positive outcomes across eight fields of social development, alongside liquidity and yield characteristics.
Second, individual bonds are reviewed by the Responsible Investment (RI) team across five dimensions to assess their overall “social intensity”. These are: the degree to which the bond will deliver positive primary and secondary social outcomes; the geographical focus on deprived areas (with an aim to have 80% of outcomes domestically focused); the level of social development; the nature of financing; and an ESG assessment of the issuer.
All reviews are circulated to our Social Advisory Committee, who review and challenge individual bond social assessments. Further discussion of key issues takes place at the Committee’s quarterly meetings.
Each year the Social Advisory Committee, which meets each quarter, hold a forward looking meeting. The aim is to identify any new social developments, or potential enhancements to our review process. In so doing, rather than seeking to forecast out on a 3-5 year basis, we aim to be alive to the most relevant, current and emerging issues.
General corporate affiliations
We were a founding member of the UN PRI and remain actively involved in the organisation. In our last assessment from the PRI we received an A+ (the highest rating) for our overall approach to responsible investment, a score that has been maintained for the last four years.
Other key memberships are those of: the United Kingdom Sustainable Investments and Finance Association (UKSIF), the European Sustainable Investment Forum (EUROSIF), the UK’s Investment Association, the UK’s Investor Forum, the UK Taskforce on Growing a Culture of Social Impact Investing and the Global Impact Investing Network. These memberships reflect our commitment to RI and impact investing across a range of markets, reflecting the geographic diversity of our investments.
Our Chief Investment Officer sits on the board of the Investor Forum, which seeks to contribute to long-term investment performance by promoting cultural change and enhancing shareholder stewardship in the UK. Similarly, we are also an active member of the UK Corporate Governance Forum, an investor network made up of asset managers and owners to discuss individual companies, industry and ESG developments, UKSIF, the Investment Association and the Investor Forum, and are signatories to the UK Stewardship Code.
We are also signatories to the CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project), including their forestry and water programmes.
We are in the process of reviewing carbon / fossil fuel exposure for all funds and have SDG aligned aims/objectives for certain funds.
Voting Record
Fund Name | SRI Style | SDR Labelling | Product | Region | Asset Type | Launch Date | Last Amended |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Standard Life Threadneedle UK Social Bond Pension Fund |
Social Style | - | Pension | UK | Fixed Interest | 01/11/2014 | ||
Fund Size: £1.80m (as at: 30/09/2023) ISIN: GB00BFCNLK82 |
||||||||
Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG OverviewThis Pension product is linked to the "CT UK Social Bond" fund. The following information refers to the primary (OIEC) fund. Awaiting update from fund manager (Nov 2024) - Fund last updated April 2021 Launched in December 2013, in partnership with Big Issue Invest, the UK Social Bond Fund was the first mainstream investment Fund that set out to achieve both an investment return and a positive social outcome by investing in bonds issued by organisations that support social and economic development in the UK.
The Fund has generated strong performance for investors and has also fulfilled its promise of delivering positive social outcomes, bringing investment to some of the UK's most deprived sectors and regions. The Fund's investments have supported the likes of Charities Aid Foundation in enhancing their work with donors and charities, Cardiff University in helping fund an innovation campus and Manchester University in supporting the development of a new Cancer Research Centre.
As outlined above, our approach is positive inclusion rather than negative exclusion; as described in further detail below, in practice this means the avoidance of certain sectors (e.g. tobacco), and we also operate a hard exclusion on controversial weapons, applying across all our funds. . Please note: BMO GAM (EMEA) became part of Columbia Threadneedle Investments, the global asset management business of Ameriprise, on 8th November 2021. From 4th July 2022 the ‘Threadneedle’-named fund ranges of Columbia Threadneedle will transition to the CT prefix, providing consistency with the rebranding of BMO funds. |
||||||||
Information received directly from Fund Manager |
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Fund FiltersSustainability - 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 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.
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. 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.
Arctic drilling exclusion
Funds that avoid companies that are involved in extracting oil from the Arctic regions. See fund literature for further details.
Fossil fuel reserves exclusion
Funds that avoid investing in companies with coal, oil and gas reserves. See fund information for further details.
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.
Nuclear exclusion policy
Find funds that have policies which say they avoid or limit their investment in the nuclear industry. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail. 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.
Favours companies with strong social policies
Find funds that invest in line with positive strategies that relate to 'people' issues - such as having strong human rights, labour standards and equal opportunities practices. Such funds are likely to invest in companies that have market leading standards with regard to employee and supplier practices. Read fund literature for further information.
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.
Gambling avoidance policy
Find funds that avoid companies with significant involvement in the gambling industry. Some funds may allow a small proportion of profits to come from this area. See fund policy for further details.
Pornography avoidance policy
Find funds that avoid companies that derive significant income from pornography and related areas. Strategies vary. See fund details for further information. Human Rights
Human rights policy
Find funds that have policies relating to human rights issues. Funds of this kind typically require companies to demonstrate higher standards, although some fund managers work to encourage improvements. Investee companies are often judged against internationally agreed norms or standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Child labour exclusion
Find funds that have policies in place to ensure they do not invest in companies that employ children.
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
Invests > 5% in social housing
Find funds that have significant investment in social housing or similar assets.
Invests > 5% in social bonds
Find funds that invest in ‘social bonds’ which raise funds for the purpose of financing projects with positive social (people related) outcomes. Gilts & Sovereigns
Gilts / government bonds - exclude some
Find funds that avoid investing in 'some' gilts or government bonds. Strategies vary, but this may relate to avoiding specific countries or particular reasons for bond issuance. 'Green gilts' for example would be likely to be acceptable. 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. Fund Governance
Employ external (fund) oversight or advisory committee
Find funds that have an external committee that helps steer or advise fund managers on SRI policy or strategy related issues. These people may be paid for their time but are not employees of the fund manager. Asset Size
Over 50% small / mid cap companies
Find funds where more than half of the funds' assets are invested in smaller or medium sized companies (i.e. below around £5 -10 billion).
Invests in small, mid and large cap companies / assets
Find a fund that invests in a combination of small, medium and larger (potentially multinational)companies. Targeted Positive Investments
Invests > 5% in green bonds
Find funds that invest in green bonds (also known as climate bonds) which encourage sustainability and support climate related or special environmental projects. Please check fund literature for specific % of assets invested in this area.
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.
Invests >50% of fund in environmental/social solutions companies
Find funds that invest >50% of their capital in 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.
Measures positive impacts
Funds that aim to measure the positive real world environmental and / or social benefits that are associated with their investment strategy. Funds that aim to deliver positive impacts and measure those impacts may be referred to as 'impact funds' - although impact measurement is not restricted to impact funds. Strategies vary. See fund information.
Described as an ‘impact investment fund’
Funds that are specifically marketed as ‘Impact investments funds' will work to deliver both financial performance and specific, measurable positive, real world social and/or environmental benefits. Strategies vary.
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.
Negative selection bias
Find funds where their main 'ethical approach' is to avoid companies by using negative screening criteria. Read fund literature for further information.
Strictly screened ethical fund
Find funds where their main approach is to apply positive or negative ethical, social and / or environmental screens. Strictly screened funds are likely to exclude more companies than other related fund options. See fund literature for further information.
Limited / few ethical exclusions
Find funds with few exclusions - typically for example exclude tobacco or companies that breach commonly adopted standards or norms such as the UN Global Compact.
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 norms based exclusions with other SRI criteria
Find funds that make significant use of internationally agreed 'norms' (e.g. United Nations Global Compact - UNGC - or the UN Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs) as part of their investment selection process alongside additional SRI criteria such as positive or negative stock selection policies and/or stewardship strategies.
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
Faith friendly
Find funds that have attributes that commonly suit the aims of investors of faith - although they may not be specifically marketed as being only for religious investors. Strategies vary (as do investor aims). Read fund literature for further information.
Available via an ISA (OEIC only)
Find funds that are available via a tax efficient ISA product wrapper. Fund Management Company InformationAbout 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.)
Responsible ownership / ESG a key differentiator (AFM company wide)
Find fund managers that consider responsible ownership and ESG to be a key differentiator for their business.
SDG aligned aims / objectives (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies that aim to align all their investments (across all funds) to help meet the aims of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Responsible ownership policy for non SRI funds (AFM company wide)
Find funds run by fund managers that apply Responsible ownership or 'Stewardship' policies to all or most of their investment assets. This means active involvement (e.g. voting, dialogue) with the companies they invest in across funds (not normally limited to ethical or SRI options.) Read fund literature for further information.
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.
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). Collaborations & Affiliations
PRI signatory
Find fund management companies that have signed up to the UN backed 'Principles of Responsible Investment'.
UKSIF member
Find fund management companies that are members of UKSIF - the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance association Resources
In-house responsible ownership / voting expertise
Find fund management companies that employ people to steer and support fund managers in voting shares at company AGM's and EGMs in ways that are consistent with encouraging higher ESG/sustainability standards.
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
Regularly lead collaborative ESG initiatives (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies that regularly initiate or run industry wide (collaborative) investor projects aimed at raising environmental, social and governance standards amongst investee companies.
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.
Review(ing) carbon / fossil fuel exposure for all funds (AFM company wide)
Find funds / fund managers that are reviewing, or have reviewed, their exposure to carbon intensive industries including (but not only) mining, oil and gas companies. (Typically with reference to climate change.) Climate & Net Zero Transition
Encourage carbon / greenhouse gas reduction (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies that are working with the companies they invest in to encourage reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.
In-house carbon / GHG reduction policy (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies that are working to reduce their own (fund management company) carbon/greenhouse gas emissions. Transparency
Publish responsible ownership / stewardship report (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies that publish a report detailing their responsible investment ownership - also known as 'Stewardship' - activity.
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:We manage the Fund in partnership with Big Issue Invest, our external social advisory partner. The Fund aims to deliver both financial and social performance and as such we have a thematic focus on social issues. These issues are defined by our social assessment methodology; produced by Big Issue Invest in collaboration with our firm, this includes seven specific social themes and one theme which encompasses environmental elements. The eight outcome areas comprise:
The Fund takes a positive inclusion, rather than a negative exclusion, approach. For an investment to qualify for the Fund, we need to find a clear link between the issuer and one of the eight social outcome areas (including a ‘utilities and the environment’ outcome, which can have a specific environmental element, in recognition of the importance of sustainable infrastructure and energy in creating the right conditions for societal development). The social case needs to be made in the initial research phase, and further confirmed by the Social Advisory Committee (see further under resources and affiliations below).
One consequence of this is that investment in issuers with a negative social impact is out of scope. A clear example of this is with the tobacco industry which not only does not align with one of our outcome areas but also clashes with the health and social care outcome. Other areas which we do not see as aligning with positive social outcomes, along similar lines, are companies whose primary business relates to alcohol production, weapons manufactures, gambling or pornography. Hence, although there is no specific exclusionary screen for these types of companies, the Fund has never had any exposure to them, nor do we expect this to be the case.
One area of hard exclusion, however, relates to controversial weapons. This has been in place for all our strategies since 2011 and recognises our support for widely ratified treaties prohibiting their production (see page 3 of our RI policy attached, or via the link https://www.columbiathreadneedle.co.uk/investment-capabilities/governance-and-responsible-investment).
ESG performance is assessed for each issuer as part of our social review. This is not the core driver of the review, but can contribute to a social rating change (e.g. from Medium to Low), or even suggest that an investment may not qualify for the Fund if it undermines our confidence that an issuer is aligned with a social outcome, is overly exposed to social risk, or might materially compromise the reputation of the Fund. As such our ESG analysis is risk focused, and centres on governance and social issues.
Engagement is core to the Fund’s philosophy. Part of Big Issue Invest’s mandate to Columbia Threadneedle Investments was for the Fund to help establish a market for charities and non-profit organisations to raise finance themselves through issuing bonds. In addition, they were keen to promote the reestablishment of the local authority sector of the market. In some cases, this required an educational process about issuing their own bonds, which can potentially reduce cost of funding and diversify the investor base.
As part of this mission, there has been a lot of work undertaken behind the scenes in order to try to establish a leadership role in developing the market. Some tangible successes of this policy have been the establishment of the Retail Charity Bonds Platform and the subsequent issues of charity bonds. Additionally, committee work has taken place to extend the Green Bond Principles from environmental to social outcomes, as well as the publication of the Guidance for Issuers of Social Bonds in June 2016, together with the first issue to conform to these policies, from BNG, a Dutch agency bank for social housing. Resources, Affiliations & Corporate Strategies:External partner “A hand up, not a hand out,” was the ethos which inspired the launch of the Big Issue Foundation in 1991, a trailblazing organisation which kick-started the philosophy of offering business-led solutions to social problems.
More than two decades on, Columbia Threadneedle Investments partnered with Big Issue Invest, the social investment arm of The Big Issue magazine, in 2013 to bring this concept to life with the Threadneedle UK Social Bond Fund. We brought together the simple but powerful principles of achieving positive social outcomes while generating a financial return for investors.
Big Issue Invest (BII) developed a unique Social Assessment Methodology for the Fund, with input from Columbia Threadneedle Investments’ Responsible Investment team. The Methodology provides ‘filters’ for portfolio investment decisions that identify the “social performance” of investments and channels the Fund’s capital to organisations whose activities produce clearly identifiable social outcomes and help create a more balanced and inclusive UK economy.
Big Issue Invest also acts as Social Advisor to the Fund, via the Fund’s independent Social Advisory Committee. All reviews are circulated to our Social Advisory Committee, comprised of an independent Chair as well as BII members, and two of our representatives. The role of the SAC is to advise, review and challenge individual bond social assessments (and therefore the overall social performance of the Fund) and to support further development of the methodology.
Research resources Research is undertaken in-house by our Responsible Investment team, regarding the social assessment, whilst financial analysis is undertaken by our Investment Grade team.
We draw on a number of sources in making our assessment: Prospectus and roadshow material, ESG research (MSCI ESG Research being a main data provider, broker research, and engagement in some cases. Other inputs specific to the nature of the Fund include UK-based indices of deprivation (e.g. the Multiple Deprivation Index), and theme specific sources: such as Ofsted reports and HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency) data for the education theme.
Fund manager Simon Bond manages the Threadneedle UK Social Bond Fund, as well as a newly launched European Social Bond Fund (May 2017). Previously Simon managed a wide range of retail, institutional and wholesale credit bond funds at Columbia Threadneedle, but undertook a specific Responsible Investment Portfolio Management position in 2016. Simon has taken a keen interest in the social investment space, having analysed and invested in this space for many years.
Process and Roles In applying the methodology, first, the fund manager, Simon Bond, proactively identifies bonds that deliver positive outcomes across eight fields of social development, alongside liquidity and yield characteristics.
Second, individual bonds are reviewed by the Responsible Investment (RI) team across five dimensions to assess their overall “social intensity”. These are: the degree to which the bond will deliver positive primary and secondary social outcomes; the geographical focus on deprived areas (with an aim to have 80% of outcomes domestically focused); the level of social development; the nature of financing; and an ESG assessment of the issuer.
All reviews are circulated to our Social Advisory Committee, who review and challenge individual bond social assessments. Further discussion of key issues takes place at the Committee’s quarterly meetings.
Each year the Social Advisory Committee, which meets each quarter, hold a forward looking meeting. The aim is to identify any new social developments, or potential enhancements to our review process. In so doing, rather than seeking to forecast out on a 3-5 year basis, we aim to be alive to the most relevant, current and emerging issues.
General corporate affiliations We were a founding member of the UN PRI and remain actively involved in the organisation. In our last assessment from the PRI we received an A+ (the highest rating) for our overall approach to responsible investment, a score that has been maintained for the last four years.
Other key memberships are those of: the United Kingdom Sustainable Investments and Finance Association (UKSIF), the European Sustainable Investment Forum (EUROSIF), the UK’s Investment Association, the UK’s Investor Forum, the UK Taskforce on Growing a Culture of Social Impact Investing and the Global Impact Investing Network. These memberships reflect our commitment to RI and impact investing across a range of markets, reflecting the geographic diversity of our investments.
Our Chief Investment Officer sits on the board of the Investor Forum, which seeks to contribute to long-term investment performance by promoting cultural change and enhancing shareholder stewardship in the UK. Similarly, we are also an active member of the UK Corporate Governance Forum, an investor network made up of asset managers and owners to discuss individual companies, industry and ESG developments, UKSIF, the Investment Association and the Investor Forum, and are signatories to the UK Stewardship Code.
We are also signatories to the CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project), including their forestry and water programmes.
We are in the process of reviewing carbon / fossil fuel exposure for all funds and have SDG aligned aims/objectives for certain funds. Voting Record |