Standard Life Investments has announced the launch of its Global Equity Impact Fund, which will be co-managed by Sarah Norris and Dominic Byrne and will invest in companies which have the intention of “generating measurable positive social and environmental impact”.
According to the company, the fund would employ:
- A bottom-up, company-specific investment approach;
- Rigorous peer review of investment ideas at every stage in the environment process;
- A forward-looking, long-term approach; and
- Active company engagement.
The fund’s high-conviction portfolio would include 35-60 stocks of the companies who must intentionally direct its resources towards making a positive environmental or social contribution.
It would also use 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework to develop its own impact process and analysis.
Aberdeen Standard Investments’ global head of stewardship and ESG investment, Euan Stirling, said: “The world faces numerous challenges, from climate change and poverty, to inequality and pollution.
“As asset managers, we believe we can play a vital role in helping to address these issues.
“Through the Global Equity Impact Fund we aim to have a positive social and environmental impact, while still delivering an above-market financial return for our clients,” he said.
