VT AJ Bell Responsible Screened Growth fund
SRI Style:
Limited Exclusions
SDR Labelling:
Unlabelled with sustainable characteristics
Product:
OEIC
Fund Region:
Global
Fund Asset Type:
Multi Asset
Launch Date:
23/11/2020
Last Amended:
Jul 2025
Dialshifter (
):
Fund/Portfolio Size:
£142.10m
(as at: 30/04/2025)
Total Screened Themed SRI Assets:
£209.40m
(as at: 31/07/2025)
Total Responsible Ownership Assets:
£209.40m
(as at: 31/07/2025)
Total Assets Under Management:
£8432.60m
(as at: 31/07/2025)
ISIN:
GB00BN0S2W00, GB00BN0S2V92, GB00BQGG3J37
Objectives:
The Fund aims to make a positive return over 5 years by investing with a preference towards riskier assets such as company shares, and a smaller holding in defensive assets such as cash and bonds. The Fund will have a bias towards assets that are screened for consistency with a responsible strategy that will exhibit environmental, social and governance (ESG) characteristics.
Sustainable, Responsible
&/or ESG Overview:
The AJ Bell Responsible Screened Growth Fund is a well-diversified, multi-asset portfolio and is intended for clients who are seeking long-term capital growth, but who also wish to invest in line with a set of values and exclusions. The Fund adopts an approach that invests in companies that meet a minimum standard against a set of ESG criteria, as defined by MSCI. These are referred to as ‘best-in-class’ companies. In addition, the Fund will only invest in products that exclude companies involved in controversial industries, such as firearms and tobacco production, as defined by MSCI’s Socially Responsible Investing (“SRI”) methodology.
Primary fund last amended:
Jul 2025
Information directly from fund manager.
Fund Filters
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.
Excludes companies which make controversial weapons such as landmines, cluster munitions and chemical weapons.
Does Not exclude manufacturers of products intended for use in armaments and weapons. So may invest in them
Does Not exclude companies with military contracts - this may include medical supplies, food, safety equipment, housing, technology etc.
Has a written civilian firearms exclusion policy - meaning that they will not invest in companies that make (or perhaps also sell) handguns made for non-military users.
Gilts & Sovereigns
Invest in loans issued the government, commonly known as gilts or government bonds. These may or may not be ringfenced for specific projects (see additional options).
Invest in financial instruments issued by governments, but will only hold those that meet certain environmental and or social criteria. This may, for example mean certain assets are excluded in line with eg Freedom House research. Strategies vary.
Banking & Financials
Invests in financial instruments (cash, derivatives and / or foreign exchange) issued by banks. Strategies vary.
How The Fund/Portfolio Works
Focuses on finding and investing in companies with positive / beneficial attributes. This strategy can be applied in addition to exclusion criteria and engagement/stewardship activity.
Has principle 'ethical approach' to avoid companies by using negative screening criteria. Strategies vary.
Only uses an investment index to direct where they can invest. Fund strategies and indices vary.
Investment selection process uses internationally agreed 'norms' (e.g. United Nations Global Compact - UNGC - or the UN Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs) alongside additional SRI criteria such as positive or negative stock selection policies and/or stewardship strategies.
Uses internationally agreed standards, conventions and 'norms' to help direct investment decisions (e.g. the UN Global Compact, UN Sustainable Development Goals).
Does not use stock lending for performance or risk purposes.
Intended Clients & Product Options
Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Finds those that offer an SRI / ESG portfolio option
Fund Management Company Information
About The Business
Asset manager has information on their website that explains how they treat 'vulnerable clients' (as set out in FCA regulation)
Collaborations & Affiliations
Fund management entity is a member of the Investment Association https://www.theia.org/
Climate & Net Zero Transition
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'.
Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Policy:
The Responsible Growth Fund adopts an approach that invests in companies that meet a minimum standard against a set of ESG criteria as defined by MSCI. These are referred to as ‘best-in-class’ companies. In addition, the Fund will only invest in products that exclude companies involved in controversial industries, such as firearms and tobacco production, as defined by MSCI’s Socially Responsible Investing (“SRI”) methodology.
Process:
For the Responsible Growth Fund, we carry a mandate to invest responsibly, the underlying funds used will be rules-based products which, wherever possible, integrate ESG as part of their process. In equities, for instance, we look to utilise products that are benchmarked to the MSCI SRI indices. The MSCI SRI methodology gives a consistent and robust approach to ESG, by excluding industries and companies with high controversy scores, then positively weighting the remaining universe according to the highest ESG rated businesses.
For fixed income investments, we use various ETFs taking ESG into account where appropriate. The multi-layered approach ensures that principles are consistently being taken into account within the investment process.
Firstly, a series of exclusions removes companies from controversial industries. Then, a ‘best-in-class’ ranking system means that, of the remaining companies, only those that score more highly on ESG credentials are included.
SDR Labelling:
Unlabelled with sustainable characteristics
Key Performance Indicators:
Currently reviewing KPIs
- Consumer Facing Disclosure
SDR Literature:
Fund Holdings
Disclaimer
Where practical the Responsible portfolios invest in products tracking MSCI Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) indexes for equity exposure. These indexes exclude companies with certain controversial business involvements and also utilise MSCI's Environmental Social Governance (ESG) ratings and ESG Controversy assessments.
For further details please see MSCI's latest SRI Indexes Methodology document.
| Fund Name | SRI Style | SDR Labelling | Product | Region | Asset Type | Launch Date | Last Amended |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VT AJ Bell Responsible Screened Growth fund |
Limited Exclusions | Unlabelled with sustainable characteristics | OEIC | Global | Multi Asset | 23/11/2020 | Jul 2025 | |
ObjectivesThe Fund aims to make a positive return over 5 years by investing with a preference towards riskier assets such as company shares, and a smaller holding in defensive assets such as cash and bonds. The Fund will have a bias towards assets that are screened for consistency with a responsible strategy that will exhibit environmental, social and governance (ESG) characteristics.
|
Fund/Portfolio Size: £142.10m (as at: 30/04/2025) Total Screened Themed SRI Assets: £209.40m (as at: 31/07/2025) Total Responsible Ownership Assets: £209.40m (as at: 31/07/2025) Total Assets Under Management: £8432.60m (as at: 31/07/2025) ISIN: GB00BN0S2W00, GB00BN0S2V92, GB00BQGG3J37 |
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Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG OverviewThe AJ Bell Responsible Screened Growth Fund is a well-diversified, multi-asset portfolio and is intended for clients who are seeking long-term capital growth, but who also wish to invest in line with a set of values and exclusions. The Fund adopts an approach that invests in companies that meet a minimum standard against a set of ESG criteria, as defined by MSCI. These are referred to as ‘best-in-class’ companies. In addition, the Fund will only invest in products that exclude companies involved in controversial industries, such as firearms and tobacco production, as defined by MSCI’s Socially Responsible Investing (“SRI”) methodology. |
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Primary fund last amended: Jul 2025 |
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Information received directly from Fund Manager |
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Please select what you would like to read:
Fund FiltersEthical 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.
Controversial weapons exclusion
Excludes companies which make controversial weapons such as landmines, cluster munitions and chemical weapons.
Armaments manufacturers not excluded
Does Not exclude manufacturers of products intended for use in armaments and weapons. So may invest in them
Military involvement not excluded
Does Not exclude companies with military contracts - this may include medical supplies, food, safety equipment, housing, technology etc.
Civilian firearms production exclusion
Has a written civilian firearms exclusion policy - meaning that they will not invest in companies that make (or perhaps also sell) handguns made for non-military users. Gilts & Sovereigns
Invests in gilts / government bonds
Invest in loans issued the government, commonly known as gilts or government bonds. These may or may not be ringfenced for specific projects (see additional options).
Invests in sovereigns subject to screening criteria
Invest in financial instruments issued by governments, but will only hold those that meet certain environmental and or social criteria. This may, for example mean certain assets are excluded in line with eg Freedom House research. Strategies vary. Banking & Financials
Invests in financial instruments issued by banks
Invests in financial instruments (cash, derivatives and / or foreign exchange) issued by banks. Strategies vary. How The Fund/Portfolio Works
Positive selection bias
Focuses 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
Has principle 'ethical approach' to avoid companies by using negative screening criteria. Strategies vary.
Passive / index driven strategy
Only uses an investment index to direct where they can invest. Fund strategies and indices vary.
Combines norms based exclusions with other SRI criteria
Investment selection process uses internationally agreed 'norms' (e.g. United Nations Global Compact - UNGC - or the UN Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs) alongside additional SRI criteria such as positive or negative stock selection policies and/or stewardship strategies.
Norms focus
Uses internationally agreed standards, conventions and 'norms' to help direct investment decisions (e.g. the UN Global Compact, UN Sustainable Development Goals).
Do not use stock / securities lending
Does not use stock lending for performance or risk purposes. Intended Clients & Product Options
Portfolio SRI / ESG options available
Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Finds those that offer an SRI / ESG portfolio option Fund Management Company InformationAbout The Business
Vulnerable client policy on website (AFM company wide)
Asset manager has information on their website that explains how they treat 'vulnerable clients' (as set out in FCA regulation) Collaborations & Affiliations
Investment Association (IA) member
Fund management entity is a member of the Investment Association https://www.theia.org/ Climate & Net Zero Transition
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'. Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Policy:The Responsible Growth Fund adopts an approach that invests in companies that meet a minimum standard against a set of ESG criteria as defined by MSCI. These are referred to as ‘best-in-class’ companies. In addition, the Fund will only invest in products that exclude companies involved in controversial industries, such as firearms and tobacco production, as defined by MSCI’s Socially Responsible Investing (“SRI”) methodology. Process:For the Responsible Growth Fund, we carry a mandate to invest responsibly, the underlying funds used will be rules-based products which, wherever possible, integrate ESG as part of their process. In equities, for instance, we look to utilise products that are benchmarked to the MSCI SRI indices. The MSCI SRI methodology gives a consistent and robust approach to ESG, by excluding industries and companies with high controversy scores, then positively weighting the remaining universe according to the highest ESG rated businesses. For fixed income investments, we use various ETFs taking ESG into account where appropriate. The multi-layered approach ensures that principles are consistently being taken into account within the investment process. Firstly, a series of exclusions removes companies from controversial industries. Then, a ‘best-in-class’ ranking system means that, of the remaining companies, only those that score more highly on ESG credentials are included. SDR Labelling:Unlabelled with sustainable characteristics Key Performance Indicators:
Currently reviewing KPIs
SDR Literature:Fund HoldingsDisclaimerWhere practical the Responsible portfolios invest in products tracking MSCI Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) indexes for equity exposure. These indexes exclude companies with certain controversial business involvements and also utilise MSCI's Environmental Social Governance (ESG) ratings and ESG Controversy assessments. For further details please see MSCI's latest SRI Indexes Methodology document. |
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