The asset management firm Schroders on Thursday 10 January launched a socially responsible European equity fund, entitled Schroder ISF European Sustainable Equity Fund, which provides investors with a way to exploit the long-term outperformance potential related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors. The fund is managed with the“blend” style strategy of the European equity team, which is based on deep fundamental research, and currently has a total of EUR15bn in assets under management. The socially responsible approach of the fund is based on a proprietary methodology, developed by the team and the sustainable investment unit at Schroders. The methodology, entitled “CONTEXT,” aims to identify companies which have the best responsible profiles in each sector, and the shares which are classified as “improving,” while excluding companies which derive 10% of their revenues from tobacco, weapons, fossil fuels, alcohol or gambling. The fund is managed by Nicholette MacDonald-Brown, co-head of research and pan-European equity management at Schroders, and Scott MacLennan as co-manager. It is also based on the expertise of the sustainable investment team at Schroders, led by Jessica Ground. As of 30 June 2018, Schroders had USD63bn in assets under management in ethical mandates, equivalent to 10.7% of total assets under management at the firm.
