Vanguard ActiveLife Climate Aware 60-70% Equity Fund

SRI Style:

Sustainability Tilt

SDR Labelling:

Unlabelled with sustainable characteristics

Product:

OEIC

Fund Region:

Global

Fund Asset Type:

Multi Asset

Launch Date:

08/12/2021

Last Amended:

Jul 2025

Dialshifter ():

Fund Size:

£1000.00m

(as at: 31/03/2025)

Total Screened Themed SRI Assets:

£48300.00m

(as at: 31/03/2025)

Total Assets Under Management:

£8023800.00m

(as at: 31/03/2025)

ISIN:

GB00BZ830054, GB00BZ82ZZ20

Objectives:

The Vanguard ActiveLife 60-70% Equity Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to provide an increase in the value of investments over the long-term (more than 5 years) together with some money paid out from those investments as income.

The Funds are actively managed and seek to achieve their investment objective by investing in a combination of shares and bonds (issued by companies and entities which are not companies, such as government-related entities).

The Fund can invest worldwide and the majority of the Fund’s investments will be in developed countries. The Fund can invest in all countries, sectors and industries, subject to (i) Climate Considerations and (ii) Exclusions as described below.

Sustainable, Responsible
&/or ESG Overview:

Climate considerations: At least 70% of the Fund’s assets will meet at least one of the Climate Considerations for company shares, corporate bonds and sovereign bonds: - Corporate climate considerations: When purchasing shares and corporate bonds for the Fund, the Manager will consider whether the company displays at least one of the following qualities, which would enable the Manager to be aware of what the company is doing which might support its journey towards net zero: (i) displays current Scope 1+2 carbon intensity that is at least 25% below the industry average; and/or (ii) has published an active emissions reduction target. Scope 3 emissions are not included. - Sovereign climate considerations: When purchasing sovereign bonds for the Fund, the Manager will consider whether the relevant country’s sovereign carbon intensity is at least 25% lower than the average carbon intensity of the sovereign constituents within the Composite Index. The Fund can hold investments that do not meet the Climate Considerations and certain investments are not subject to any Climate Considerations. The Fund will not invest more than 30% of its value in assets that do not demonstrate any of the Climate Considerations.

Exclusions: The Manager seeks to avoid investing in companies involved in and/or deriving revenue (above a threshold specified by the Manager and set out in the exclusions policy at https://funddocs.vanguard.com/Vanguard_ActiveLife_Climate_Aware_Range_Exclusions_Policy.pdf. The Manager will not invest in sovereign bonds issued by countries where the fuel exports for the relevant country exceed 50% of total exports.

Primary fund last amended:

Jul 2025

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.

Encourage more sustainable practices through stewardship

A core element of these funds aim to encourage higher sustainability standards across business practices through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement / voting activity

Environmental - General
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.

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.

TCFD reporting requirement (Becoming IFRS)

Will only invest in companies that report greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategies in line with the framework set out the by the Taskforce for Climate Related Financial Disclosure, which is increasingly becoming mandatory. See https://www.fsb-tcfd.org/ https ://www.ifrs.org/sustainability/tcfd/

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.

Tobacco and related products - avoid where revenue > 5%

Companies are excluded if they make more than 5% of their revenue from the manufacture, sale or distribution of tobacco products including cigarettes, vaping, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco and cigars.

Controversial weapons exclusion

Find funds that exclude companies which make controversial weapons such as landmines, cluster munitions and chemical weapons. See fund literature for further information.

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.

Civilian firearms production exclusion

Find funds with 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.

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.

Gilts & Sovereigns
Does not invest in sovereigns

Find funds that do not invest in / exclude 'sovereigns' - debt issued by governments. See eg https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sovereign-debt.asp

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 TCFD alignment for banks & insurance companies

Find fund managers that encourage the banks and insurance companies they invest in to publish climate change related financial information - as set out by the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (with the aim of helping investors measure and respond to climate risk).

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.

ESG factors included in Assessment of Value (AoV) report

Environmental, social and governance issues are part of this fund’s reporting of their ‘value’ to clients. AoV reporting is a statutory requirement. Including ESG factors in its calculation is not.

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 in small, mid and large cap companies / assets

Find a fund that invests in a combination of small, medium and larger (potentially multinational)companies.

Impact Methodologies
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.

Aim to deliver positive impacts through engagement

Fund aims to deliver positive environmental and or social impacts (real world benefits) through its engagement with investee assets

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.

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.

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.

Focus on ESG risk mitigation

A major focus of these funds is the careful management of environmental, social and governance (ESG) related risks - typically by avoiding or being underweight in companies seen as posing major risks in these areas (i.e. not necessarily by using themes, exclusions etc).

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).

Fund uses unscreened ‘diversifiers’ to help manage risk

Fund invests in assets that have not passed its usual sustainability criteria or screening standards in order to help manage investment risk. This may be limited or significant. See literature.

Use stock / securities lending

This fund uses, or can use, specialist strategies to aid performance which involve ‘lending’ fund assets to others at specific points in time.

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.

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.)

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.

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).

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)

Invests in newly listed companies (AFM company wide)

This asset management company invests in companies which have recently listed on a stock exchange (which is important as it can help grow new businesses).

Invests in new sustainability linked bond issuances (AFM company wide)

Asset management company has investments in bonds designed to meet sustainability requirements - however these assets may not be 'ringfenced' for this purpose. See fund manager website for details.

Collaborations & Affiliations
PRI signatory

Find fund management companies that have signed up to the UN backed 'Principles of Responsible Investment'.

Investment Association (IA) member

Fund management entity is a member of the Investment Association https://www.theia.org/

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
PRI A+ rated (AFM company wide)

Finds organisations / fund managers that have an A+ PRI rating - meaning they are highly rated according to the 'Principles of Responsible Investment'

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.

Engaging on climate change issues

Fund manager has stewardship /responsible ownership strategy that is focused on addressing climate change with investee assets.

Engaging with fossil fuel companies on climate change

Asset manager has a stewardship /responsible ownership strategy that involves working with fossil fuel companies on climate change related issues. See fund manager website for details.

Engaging to reduce plastics pollution / waste

Asset manager has stewardship /responsible ownership strategy with involves encouraging investee asset to reduce plastic waste and pollution.

Engaging to encourage responsible mining practices

Asset manager has a stewardship / responsible ownership policy that means they are working to encourage more responsible mining practices - where environmental and social issues are properly dealt with by the companies they invest in.

Engaging on biodiversity / nature issues

The asset manager has a responsible ownership / stewardship strategy that focuses on biodiversity and nature issues relating to the assets they invest the aim of which will be to reduce harm and or deliver improvement. Strategies vary. https://tnfd.global

Engaging to encourage a Just Transition

Asset manager has a responsible ownership / stewardship strategy which means they are working to encourage the shift to more sustainable business practices in ways that respect and are sensitive to social issues and the impact change has on people effected by the changes that are taking place. https://www.transitionpathwayinitiative.org/ https://transitiontaskforce.net/

Engaging on human rights issues

Asset manager has responsible ownership / stewardship strategy in place which aims to address human rights issues in investee companies (and potentially their suppliers) with the aim of raising standards

Engaging on labour / employment issues

Asset manager has responsible ownership / stewardship strategy in place that aims to improve labour standards for the benefit of employees in investee companies (and potentially their suppliers)

Engaging on diversity, equality and / or inclusion issues

Asset management company has a stewardship strategy in place which involves working to raise diversity, equality and inclusion standards across investee assets

Engaging to stop modern slavery

working with the assets they hold to help stamp out modern slavery - where direct or indirect company employees are exploited for business benefits.

Engaging on governance issues

Fund managers have stewardship strategies in place that focus on improving governance standards across investee assets

Engaging on mental health issues

Asset manager has stewardship strategy in place which involves discussing mental health issues with investee companies - with the aim of raising standards

Engaging on responsible supply chain issues

Has a stewardship / responsible ownership strategy that encourages responsible supply chain - ie the managers will discuss environmental, social and governance issues with investee companies with the aim of raising standards

Engaging to encourage more sustainable ‘diversifiers’ (e.g. derivatives)

Funds may use assets that are not directly aligned with sustainability objectives in order to help manage investment risk. Engaging for more sustainable options will aid alignment with fund objectives.

Engaging on the responsible use of AI

Working to address sustainability, ESG and related concerns around artificial intelligence.

Split voting policy

This fund manager may vote differently for different clients or regions. See fund manager stewardship policy for further information.

Stewardship escalation policy

Escalation policies describe how a manager will proceed if stewardship / engagement activity is not successful in the short term.

Climate & Net Zero Transition
Publish 'CEO owned' Climate Risk policy (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that have published a Climate Risk policy or statement that is signed / owned by their Chief Executive.

Net Zero - have set a Net Zero target date (AFM company wide)

This asset management company has set a date by which they plan to achieve net zero greenhouse gas / CO2e emissions.

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.

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.

Carbon offsetting – do NOT offset carbon as part of net zero plan (AFM company wide)

This asset management company plans to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (CO2e) emissions by reducing their emissions. Calculations and scope vary.

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.

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
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.

Full SRI / responsible ownership policy information available on request

Find fund management companies that will supply information about their sustainable and responsible investment activity on request.

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.

Comments

Please note:

  • Net Zero - have set a Net Zero target date (AFM company wide) - for business operations
  • Stewardship Escalation Policy - Vanguard’s Investment Stewardship program is responsible for proxy voting and engagement on behalf of the quantitative and index equity portfolios advised by Vanguard (together, “Vanguard-advised funds”). Vanguard’s externally managed portfolios are managed by unaffiliated third-party investment advisors, and proxy voting and engagement for those portfolios are conducted by their respective advisors
  • Split voting policy  - From an evidentiary standpoint: on behalf of each Vanguard-advised fund, the Investment Stewardship team evaluates ballot items on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the principles articulated in the funds’ proxy voting policies approved by the board and each fund’s investment objective (which could vote differently). This includes Vanguard’s externally managed portfolios that are managed by unaffiliated third-party investment advisors, and proxy voting and engagement for those portfolios are conducted by their respective advisors.

For Vanguard U.S. equity index funds where Investor Choice is an option, an investor's proportionate ownership of a fund may be voted different based on the investor's chosen voting policy. The voting policy selected determines how an investor's proportionate fund ownership is voted at shareholder meetings.  Client-selected policies may reach different voting decisions on the same matter.

Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Policy:

Among other sustainability criteria, each Vanguard SustainableLife fund has a commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 or earlier. The funds aim to invest 60% of their shares and corporate bonds in companies with net-zero science-based targets by 2030, rising to 90% by 2040 and 100% by 2050, in alignment with the Paris Agreement. The funds also screen out certain types of companies, including those involved in the production, distribution, retail sale or supply of tobacco-related products, those involved with thermal coal extraction or power generation, or those involved with controversial weapons. The fund managers engage with portfolio companies too, to ensure their continued alignment with the funds’ objectives, and expect these companies to follow good governance practices before investing in them.

Process:

Among other sustainability criteria, each Vanguard SustainableLife fund has a commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 or earlier. The funds aim to invest 60% of their shares and corporate bonds in companies with net-zero science-based targets by 2030, rising to 90% by 2040 and 100% by 2050, in alignment with the Paris Agreement. The funds also screen out certain types of companies, including those involved in the production, distribution, retail sale or supply of tobacco-related products, those involved with thermal coal extraction or power generation, or those involved with controversial weapons. And the fund managers engage with portfolio companies too, to ensure their continued alignment with the funds’ objectives, and expect these companies to follow good governance practices before investing in them.

 

Resources, Affiliations & Corporate Strategies:

ESG resources, roles and responsibilities: Vanguard does not have one central ESG team. Instead, we have various teams and groups tackling the different aspects of ESG. Please see details below on some teams responsible for various ESG considerations at Vanguard:

ESG Team, Portfolio Review Department

Regional ESG teams act as centers of excellence that deploy subject matter expertise and partner across the Portfolio Review Department (PRD) and cross-functionally to drive the success of clients and the business in each region. Each region’s ESG team is responsible for broader ESG investing topics, such as regulatory impacts, ESG product methodology and ecosystem enhancements, and enterprise-wide ESG strategic initiatives. 

The regional teams stay connected on global initiatives such as ESG data and reporting, industry trends, and ESG product roadmaps. The teams closely collaborate with partners across PRD, including colleagues in manager search and oversight and other product category teams. Many members of these teams commit a significant portion of time to ESG efforts as well, such as assessing the ESG competitive product landscape to inform new ESG product design and evaluating active managers on their ESG integration approaches.

In addition to ESG-dedicated roles, Vanguard continues to embed ESG considerations into existing functions to ensure ESG factors are considered alongside other matters to improve the investment outcomes of our clients.  

For example:

  • Vanguard Fixed Income Group assesses the financial materiality of ESG risks to complement the standard credit assessment. FIG’s credit research analysts also regularly meet with issuers to discuss key credit risk topics and, where applicable, raise ESG concerns.
  • Vanguard Investment Management & Finance Risk (IMFR) team provides independent oversight and monitoring of sustainability risks.
  • Vanguard’s Investment Strategy Group (ISG) conducts research on both non-ESG and ESG topics which is then shared internally for education and to inform decision-making. This research may also be published.

ESG governance structure and responsibilities: In Europe, internal governance of Vanguard’s ESG-related policies and approaches, including its European Investment Sustainability Risk Policy occurs through an integrated structure of boards, senior leadership, committees and functions.

Vanguard’s European Boards oversee risk management (including ESG-risks) within Vanguard Europe’s overall business strategy, governance framework and risk appetite and across various departmental functions (including compliance, fund accounting, financial reporting, fund administration, investment management, investment stewardship, legal, and portfolio review).

At a functional level, the ESG SteerCo provides day-to-day oversight of ESG initiatives within the European business to ensure full compliance with ESG regulations and delivery of projects within its scope (including tracking progress, making key decisions, fielding escalations, providing guidance and approving reporting).

Affiliations, Membership and Involvement with Groups:

  • UN Principles for Responsible Investment (2014; Signatory) Vanguard’s most recent Public Transparency Report can be found on the UNPRI website.
  • Commonsense Corporate Governance Principles (2016; Open letter founding signatory)
  • International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Sustainability Alliance [formerly the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Investor Alliance] (2016; Member)
  • International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) Investor Advisory Group (IIAG) [formerly the SASB Investor Advisory Group] (2016; Member)
  • The Investment Association (2016; Member)
  • Investor Stewardship Group (2017; Founding signatory)
  • Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) (2017; Supporter)
  • CDP (2018; Capital markets signatory. Vanguard subscribes to data for CDP Climate Change, CDP Forests, and CDP Water)
  • International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN) (2019; Member)
  • Asian Corporate Governance Association (ACGA) (2021; Member)
  • Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGC) (2021; Member)
  • Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC) (2021; Member)
  • Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC) (2021; Member)
  • Stewardship Codes: The UK Stewardship Code (2021; Signatory)

SDR Labelling:

Unlabelled with sustainable characteristics

Disclaimer

Important Information

Confidentiality

The information contained in this document, including attachments, is confidential information and property of Vanguard Asset Management, Limited, The Vanguard Group, Inc. and their affiliates. The information may not be divulged or communicated to any third parties without the prior written consent of Vanguard Asset Management, Limited, unless it is needed for the execution of the present document or when divulgation is required by law.

Investment Risk Information

The value of investments, and the income from them, may fall or rise and investors may get back less than they invested.

Some funds invest in emerging markets which can be more volatile than more established markets. As a result the value of your investment may rise or fall.

ETF shares can be bought or sold only through a broker. Investing in ETFs entails stockbroker commission and a bid-offer spread which should be considered fully before investing.
Funds investing in fixed interest securities carry the risk of default on repayment and erosion of the capital value of your investment and the level of income may fluctuate. Movements in interest rates are likely to affect the capital value of fixed interest securities. Corporate bonds may provide higher yields but as such may carry greater credit risk increasing the risk of default on repayment and erosion of the capital value of your investment. The level of income may fluctuate and movements in interest rates are likely to affect the capital value of bonds.

The funds may use derivatives in order to reduce risk or cost and/or generate extra income or growth. The use of derivatives could increase or reduce exposure to underlying assets and result in greater fluctuations of the funds’ net asset value. A derivative is a financial contract whose value is based on the value of a financial asset (such as a share, bond, or currency) or a market index.

Some funds invest in securities which are denominated in different currencies. Movements in currency exchange rates can affect the return of investments.
For further information on risks please see the “Risk Factors” section of the prospectus on our website at https://global.vanguard.com.

Disclaimer

This document is directed at professional investors and should not be distributed to, or relied upon by retail investors.

For further information on the funds’ investment policies and risks, please refer to the prospectus of the UCITS and to the Key Investor Information Document (“KIID”) before making any final investment decisions. The KIID for this fund is available, alongside the prospectus via Vanguard’s website https://global.vanguard.com/

This document is designed for use by, and is directed only at, persons resident in the UK.

The information contained in this document is not to be regarded as an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy or sell securities in any jurisdiction where such an offer or solicitation is against the law, or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation, or if the person making the offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so. The information in this document is general in nature and does not constitute legal, tax or investment advice. Potential investors are urged to consult their professional advisers on the implications of making an investment in, holding or disposing of units/shares of, and the receipt of distribution from any investment.

Vanguard Investment Series plc & Vanguard Funds plc have been authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland as a UCITS and have been registered for public distribution in certain EEA countries and the UK. Prospective investors are referred to the funds' prospectus for further information. Prospective investors are also urged to consult their own professional advisers on the implications of making an investment in, and holding or disposing shares of the funds and the receipt of distributions with respect to such shares under the law of the countries in which they are liable to taxation.

The Manager of Vanguard Investment Series plc is Vanguard Group (Ireland) Limited. Vanguard Asset Management, Limited is a distributor of Vanguard Investment Series plc.

The Manager of Vanguard Funds plc is Vanguard Group (Ireland) Limited. Vanguard Asset Management, Limited is a distributor for Vanguard Funds plc.

The Indicative Net Asset Value (iNAV) for Vanguard’s ETFs is published on Bloomberg or Reuters. Refer to the Portfolio Holdings Policy at https://global.vanguard.com/portal/site/portal/ucits-documentation for holdings information.

The Manager of the Ireland-domiciled funds may determine to terminate any arrangements made for marketing the shares in one or more jurisdictions in accordance with the UCITS Directive, as may be amended from time-to-time.

For investors in UK-domiciled funds, a summary of investor rights can be obtained via https://global.vanguard.com/portal/site/portal/ucits-investing-with-us and is available in English.

For investors in Ireland-domiciled funds, a summary of investor rights can be obtained via https://global.vanguard.com/portal/site/portal/ucits-investing-with-us and is available in English, German, French, Spanish, Dutch and Italian.

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

Vanguard ActiveLife Climate Aware 60-70% Equity Fund

Sustainability Tilt Unlabelled with sustainable characteristics OEIC Global Multi Asset 08/12/2021 Jul 2025

Objectives

The Vanguard ActiveLife 60-70% Equity Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to provide an increase in the value of investments over the long-term (more than 5 years) together with some money paid out from those investments as income.

The Funds are actively managed and seek to achieve their investment objective by investing in a combination of shares and bonds (issued by companies and entities which are not companies, such as government-related entities).

The Fund can invest worldwide and the majority of the Fund’s investments will be in developed countries. The Fund can invest in all countries, sectors and industries, subject to (i) Climate Considerations and (ii) Exclusions as described below.

Fund Size: £1000.00m

(as at: 31/03/2025)

Total Screened Themed SRI Assets: £48300.00m

(as at: 31/03/2025)

Total Assets Under Management: £8023800.00m

(as at: 31/03/2025)

ISIN: GB00BZ830054, GB00BZ82ZZ20

Contact Us: UK_internals@vanguard.com

Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Overview

Climate considerations: At least 70% of the Fund’s assets will meet at least one of the Climate Considerations for company shares, corporate bonds and sovereign bonds: - Corporate climate considerations: When purchasing shares and corporate bonds for the Fund, the Manager will consider whether the company displays at least one of the following qualities, which would enable the Manager to be aware of what the company is doing which might support its journey towards net zero: (i) displays current Scope 1+2 carbon intensity that is at least 25% below the industry average; and/or (ii) has published an active emissions reduction target. Scope 3 emissions are not included. - Sovereign climate considerations: When purchasing sovereign bonds for the Fund, the Manager will consider whether the relevant country’s sovereign carbon intensity is at least 25% lower than the average carbon intensity of the sovereign constituents within the Composite Index. The Fund can hold investments that do not meet the Climate Considerations and certain investments are not subject to any Climate Considerations. The Fund will not invest more than 30% of its value in assets that do not demonstrate any of the Climate Considerations.

Exclusions: The Manager seeks to avoid investing in companies involved in and/or deriving revenue (above a threshold specified by the Manager and set out in the exclusions policy at https://funddocs.vanguard.com/Vanguard_ActiveLife_Climate_Aware_Range_Exclusions_Policy.pdf. The Manager will not invest in sovereign bonds issued by countries where the fuel exports for the relevant country exceed 50% of total exports.

Primary fund last amended: Jul 2025

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.

Encourage more sustainable practices through stewardship

A core element of these funds aim to encourage higher sustainability standards across business practices through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement / voting activity

Environmental - General
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.

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.

TCFD reporting requirement (Becoming IFRS)

Will only invest in companies that report greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategies in line with the framework set out the by the Taskforce for Climate Related Financial Disclosure, which is increasingly becoming mandatory. See https://www.fsb-tcfd.org/ https ://www.ifrs.org/sustainability/tcfd/

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.

Tobacco and related products - avoid where revenue > 5%

Companies are excluded if they make more than 5% of their revenue from the manufacture, sale or distribution of tobacco products including cigarettes, vaping, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco and cigars.

Controversial weapons exclusion

Find funds that exclude companies which make controversial weapons such as landmines, cluster munitions and chemical weapons. See fund literature for further information.

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.

Civilian firearms production exclusion

Find funds with 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.

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.

Gilts & Sovereigns
Does not invest in sovereigns

Find funds that do not invest in / exclude 'sovereigns' - debt issued by governments. See eg https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sovereign-debt.asp

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 TCFD alignment for banks & insurance companies

Find fund managers that encourage the banks and insurance companies they invest in to publish climate change related financial information - as set out by the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (with the aim of helping investors measure and respond to climate risk).

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.

ESG factors included in Assessment of Value (AoV) report

Environmental, social and governance issues are part of this fund’s reporting of their ‘value’ to clients. AoV reporting is a statutory requirement. Including ESG factors in its calculation is not.

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 in small, mid and large cap companies / assets

Find a fund that invests in a combination of small, medium and larger (potentially multinational)companies.

Impact Methodologies
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.

Aim to deliver positive impacts through engagement

Fund aims to deliver positive environmental and or social impacts (real world benefits) through its engagement with investee assets

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.

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.

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.

Focus on ESG risk mitigation

A major focus of these funds is the careful management of environmental, social and governance (ESG) related risks - typically by avoiding or being underweight in companies seen as posing major risks in these areas (i.e. not necessarily by using themes, exclusions etc).

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).

Fund uses unscreened ‘diversifiers’ to help manage risk

Fund invests in assets that have not passed its usual sustainability criteria or screening standards in order to help manage investment risk. This may be limited or significant. See literature.

Use stock / securities lending

This fund uses, or can use, specialist strategies to aid performance which involve ‘lending’ fund assets to others at specific points in time.

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.

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.)

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.

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).

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)

Invests in newly listed companies (AFM company wide)

This asset management company invests in companies which have recently listed on a stock exchange (which is important as it can help grow new businesses).

Invests in new sustainability linked bond issuances (AFM company wide)

Asset management company has investments in bonds designed to meet sustainability requirements - however these assets may not be 'ringfenced' for this purpose. See fund manager website for details.

Collaborations & Affiliations
PRI signatory

Find fund management companies that have signed up to the UN backed 'Principles of Responsible Investment'.

Investment Association (IA) member

Fund management entity is a member of the Investment Association https://www.theia.org/

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
PRI A+ rated (AFM company wide)

Finds organisations / fund managers that have an A+ PRI rating - meaning they are highly rated according to the 'Principles of Responsible Investment'

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.

Engaging on climate change issues

Fund manager has stewardship /responsible ownership strategy that is focused on addressing climate change with investee assets.

Engaging with fossil fuel companies on climate change

Asset manager has a stewardship /responsible ownership strategy that involves working with fossil fuel companies on climate change related issues. See fund manager website for details.

Engaging to reduce plastics pollution / waste

Asset manager has stewardship /responsible ownership strategy with involves encouraging investee asset to reduce plastic waste and pollution.

Engaging to encourage responsible mining practices

Asset manager has a stewardship / responsible ownership policy that means they are working to encourage more responsible mining practices - where environmental and social issues are properly dealt with by the companies they invest in.

Engaging on biodiversity / nature issues

The asset manager has a responsible ownership / stewardship strategy that focuses on biodiversity and nature issues relating to the assets they invest the aim of which will be to reduce harm and or deliver improvement. Strategies vary. https://tnfd.global

Engaging to encourage a Just Transition

Asset manager has a responsible ownership / stewardship strategy which means they are working to encourage the shift to more sustainable business practices in ways that respect and are sensitive to social issues and the impact change has on people effected by the changes that are taking place. https://www.transitionpathwayinitiative.org/ https://transitiontaskforce.net/

Engaging on human rights issues

Asset manager has responsible ownership / stewardship strategy in place which aims to address human rights issues in investee companies (and potentially their suppliers) with the aim of raising standards

Engaging on labour / employment issues

Asset manager has responsible ownership / stewardship strategy in place that aims to improve labour standards for the benefit of employees in investee companies (and potentially their suppliers)

Engaging on diversity, equality and / or inclusion issues

Asset management company has a stewardship strategy in place which involves working to raise diversity, equality and inclusion standards across investee assets

Engaging to stop modern slavery

working with the assets they hold to help stamp out modern slavery - where direct or indirect company employees are exploited for business benefits.

Engaging on governance issues

Fund managers have stewardship strategies in place that focus on improving governance standards across investee assets

Engaging on mental health issues

Asset manager has stewardship strategy in place which involves discussing mental health issues with investee companies - with the aim of raising standards

Engaging on responsible supply chain issues

Has a stewardship / responsible ownership strategy that encourages responsible supply chain - ie the managers will discuss environmental, social and governance issues with investee companies with the aim of raising standards

Engaging to encourage more sustainable ‘diversifiers’ (e.g. derivatives)

Funds may use assets that are not directly aligned with sustainability objectives in order to help manage investment risk. Engaging for more sustainable options will aid alignment with fund objectives.

Engaging on the responsible use of AI

Working to address sustainability, ESG and related concerns around artificial intelligence.

Split voting policy

This fund manager may vote differently for different clients or regions. See fund manager stewardship policy for further information.

Stewardship escalation policy

Escalation policies describe how a manager will proceed if stewardship / engagement activity is not successful in the short term.

Climate & Net Zero Transition
Publish 'CEO owned' Climate Risk policy (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that have published a Climate Risk policy or statement that is signed / owned by their Chief Executive.

Net Zero - have set a Net Zero target date (AFM company wide)

This asset management company has set a date by which they plan to achieve net zero greenhouse gas / CO2e emissions.

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.

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.

Carbon offsetting – do NOT offset carbon as part of net zero plan (AFM company wide)

This asset management company plans to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (CO2e) emissions by reducing their emissions. Calculations and scope vary.

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.

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
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.

Full SRI / responsible ownership policy information available on request

Find fund management companies that will supply information about their sustainable and responsible investment activity on request.

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.

Comments

Please note:

  • Net Zero - have set a Net Zero target date (AFM company wide) - for business operations
  • Stewardship Escalation Policy - Vanguard’s Investment Stewardship program is responsible for proxy voting and engagement on behalf of the quantitative and index equity portfolios advised by Vanguard (together, “Vanguard-advised funds”). Vanguard’s externally managed portfolios are managed by unaffiliated third-party investment advisors, and proxy voting and engagement for those portfolios are conducted by their respective advisors
  • Split voting policy  - From an evidentiary standpoint: on behalf of each Vanguard-advised fund, the Investment Stewardship team evaluates ballot items on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the principles articulated in the funds’ proxy voting policies approved by the board and each fund’s investment objective (which could vote differently). This includes Vanguard’s externally managed portfolios that are managed by unaffiliated third-party investment advisors, and proxy voting and engagement for those portfolios are conducted by their respective advisors.

For Vanguard U.S. equity index funds where Investor Choice is an option, an investor's proportionate ownership of a fund may be voted different based on the investor's chosen voting policy. The voting policy selected determines how an investor's proportionate fund ownership is voted at shareholder meetings.  Client-selected policies may reach different voting decisions on the same matter.

Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Policy:

Among other sustainability criteria, each Vanguard SustainableLife fund has a commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 or earlier. The funds aim to invest 60% of their shares and corporate bonds in companies with net-zero science-based targets by 2030, rising to 90% by 2040 and 100% by 2050, in alignment with the Paris Agreement. The funds also screen out certain types of companies, including those involved in the production, distribution, retail sale or supply of tobacco-related products, those involved with thermal coal extraction or power generation, or those involved with controversial weapons. The fund managers engage with portfolio companies too, to ensure their continued alignment with the funds’ objectives, and expect these companies to follow good governance practices before investing in them.

Process:

Among other sustainability criteria, each Vanguard SustainableLife fund has a commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 or earlier. The funds aim to invest 60% of their shares and corporate bonds in companies with net-zero science-based targets by 2030, rising to 90% by 2040 and 100% by 2050, in alignment with the Paris Agreement. The funds also screen out certain types of companies, including those involved in the production, distribution, retail sale or supply of tobacco-related products, those involved with thermal coal extraction or power generation, or those involved with controversial weapons. And the fund managers engage with portfolio companies too, to ensure their continued alignment with the funds’ objectives, and expect these companies to follow good governance practices before investing in them.

 

Resources, Affiliations & Corporate Strategies:

ESG resources, roles and responsibilities: Vanguard does not have one central ESG team. Instead, we have various teams and groups tackling the different aspects of ESG. Please see details below on some teams responsible for various ESG considerations at Vanguard:

ESG Team, Portfolio Review Department

Regional ESG teams act as centers of excellence that deploy subject matter expertise and partner across the Portfolio Review Department (PRD) and cross-functionally to drive the success of clients and the business in each region. Each region’s ESG team is responsible for broader ESG investing topics, such as regulatory impacts, ESG product methodology and ecosystem enhancements, and enterprise-wide ESG strategic initiatives. 

The regional teams stay connected on global initiatives such as ESG data and reporting, industry trends, and ESG product roadmaps. The teams closely collaborate with partners across PRD, including colleagues in manager search and oversight and other product category teams. Many members of these teams commit a significant portion of time to ESG efforts as well, such as assessing the ESG competitive product landscape to inform new ESG product design and evaluating active managers on their ESG integration approaches.

In addition to ESG-dedicated roles, Vanguard continues to embed ESG considerations into existing functions to ensure ESG factors are considered alongside other matters to improve the investment outcomes of our clients.  

For example:

  • Vanguard Fixed Income Group assesses the financial materiality of ESG risks to complement the standard credit assessment. FIG’s credit research analysts also regularly meet with issuers to discuss key credit risk topics and, where applicable, raise ESG concerns.
  • Vanguard Investment Management & Finance Risk (IMFR) team provides independent oversight and monitoring of sustainability risks.
  • Vanguard’s Investment Strategy Group (ISG) conducts research on both non-ESG and ESG topics which is then shared internally for education and to inform decision-making. This research may also be published.

ESG governance structure and responsibilities: In Europe, internal governance of Vanguard’s ESG-related policies and approaches, including its European Investment Sustainability Risk Policy occurs through an integrated structure of boards, senior leadership, committees and functions.

Vanguard’s European Boards oversee risk management (including ESG-risks) within Vanguard Europe’s overall business strategy, governance framework and risk appetite and across various departmental functions (including compliance, fund accounting, financial reporting, fund administration, investment management, investment stewardship, legal, and portfolio review).

At a functional level, the ESG SteerCo provides day-to-day oversight of ESG initiatives within the European business to ensure full compliance with ESG regulations and delivery of projects within its scope (including tracking progress, making key decisions, fielding escalations, providing guidance and approving reporting).

Affiliations, Membership and Involvement with Groups:

  • UN Principles for Responsible Investment (2014; Signatory) Vanguard’s most recent Public Transparency Report can be found on the UNPRI website.
  • Commonsense Corporate Governance Principles (2016; Open letter founding signatory)
  • International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Sustainability Alliance [formerly the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Investor Alliance] (2016; Member)
  • International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) Investor Advisory Group (IIAG) [formerly the SASB Investor Advisory Group] (2016; Member)
  • The Investment Association (2016; Member)
  • Investor Stewardship Group (2017; Founding signatory)
  • Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) (2017; Supporter)
  • CDP (2018; Capital markets signatory. Vanguard subscribes to data for CDP Climate Change, CDP Forests, and CDP Water)
  • International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN) (2019; Member)
  • Asian Corporate Governance Association (ACGA) (2021; Member)
  • Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGC) (2021; Member)
  • Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC) (2021; Member)
  • Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC) (2021; Member)
  • Stewardship Codes: The UK Stewardship Code (2021; Signatory)

Dialshifter (Corporate)

Our organisation is helping to support the Paris Climate Agreement and the Race to Net Zero by…

Please refer to our website:

https://corporate.vanguard.com/content/corporatesite/us/en/corp/who-we-are/we-care-about/sustainability.html

SDR Labelling:

Unlabelled with sustainable characteristics

Disclaimer

Important Information

Confidentiality

The information contained in this document, including attachments, is confidential information and property of Vanguard Asset Management, Limited, The Vanguard Group, Inc. and their affiliates. The information may not be divulged or communicated to any third parties without the prior written consent of Vanguard Asset Management, Limited, unless it is needed for the execution of the present document or when divulgation is required by law.

Investment Risk Information

The value of investments, and the income from them, may fall or rise and investors may get back less than they invested.

Some funds invest in emerging markets which can be more volatile than more established markets. As a result the value of your investment may rise or fall.

ETF shares can be bought or sold only through a broker. Investing in ETFs entails stockbroker commission and a bid-offer spread which should be considered fully before investing.
Funds investing in fixed interest securities carry the risk of default on repayment and erosion of the capital value of your investment and the level of income may fluctuate. Movements in interest rates are likely to affect the capital value of fixed interest securities. Corporate bonds may provide higher yields but as such may carry greater credit risk increasing the risk of default on repayment and erosion of the capital value of your investment. The level of income may fluctuate and movements in interest rates are likely to affect the capital value of bonds.

The funds may use derivatives in order to reduce risk or cost and/or generate extra income or growth. The use of derivatives could increase or reduce exposure to underlying assets and result in greater fluctuations of the funds’ net asset value. A derivative is a financial contract whose value is based on the value of a financial asset (such as a share, bond, or currency) or a market index.

Some funds invest in securities which are denominated in different currencies. Movements in currency exchange rates can affect the return of investments.
For further information on risks please see the “Risk Factors” section of the prospectus on our website at https://global.vanguard.com.

Disclaimer

This document is directed at professional investors and should not be distributed to, or relied upon by retail investors.

For further information on the funds’ investment policies and risks, please refer to the prospectus of the UCITS and to the Key Investor Information Document (“KIID”) before making any final investment decisions. The KIID for this fund is available, alongside the prospectus via Vanguard’s website https://global.vanguard.com/

This document is designed for use by, and is directed only at, persons resident in the UK.

The information contained in this document is not to be regarded as an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy or sell securities in any jurisdiction where such an offer or solicitation is against the law, or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation, or if the person making the offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so. The information in this document is general in nature and does not constitute legal, tax or investment advice. Potential investors are urged to consult their professional advisers on the implications of making an investment in, holding or disposing of units/shares of, and the receipt of distribution from any investment.

Vanguard Investment Series plc & Vanguard Funds plc have been authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland as a UCITS and have been registered for public distribution in certain EEA countries and the UK. Prospective investors are referred to the funds' prospectus for further information. Prospective investors are also urged to consult their own professional advisers on the implications of making an investment in, and holding or disposing shares of the funds and the receipt of distributions with respect to such shares under the law of the countries in which they are liable to taxation.

The Manager of Vanguard Investment Series plc is Vanguard Group (Ireland) Limited. Vanguard Asset Management, Limited is a distributor of Vanguard Investment Series plc.

The Manager of Vanguard Funds plc is Vanguard Group (Ireland) Limited. Vanguard Asset Management, Limited is a distributor for Vanguard Funds plc.

The Indicative Net Asset Value (iNAV) for Vanguard’s ETFs is published on Bloomberg or Reuters. Refer to the Portfolio Holdings Policy at https://global.vanguard.com/portal/site/portal/ucits-documentation for holdings information.

The Manager of the Ireland-domiciled funds may determine to terminate any arrangements made for marketing the shares in one or more jurisdictions in accordance with the UCITS Directive, as may be amended from time-to-time.

For investors in UK-domiciled funds, a summary of investor rights can be obtained via https://global.vanguard.com/portal/site/portal/ucits-investing-with-us and is available in English.

For investors in Ireland-domiciled funds, a summary of investor rights can be obtained via https://global.vanguard.com/portal/site/portal/ucits-investing-with-us and is available in English, German, French, Spanish, Dutch and Italian.

The Authorised Corporate Director for Vanguard Investments Funds ICVC is Vanguard Investments UK, Limited. Vanguard Asset Management, Limited is a distributor of Vanguard Investments Funds ICVC.

London Stock Exchange Group companies include FTSE International Limited ("FTSE"), Frank Russell Company ("Russell"), MTS Next Limited ("MTS"), and FTSE TMX Global Debt Capital Markets Inc. ("FTSE TMX"). All rights reserved. "FTSE®", "Russell®", "MTS®", "FTSE TMX®" and "FTSE Russell" and other service marks and trademarks related to the FTSE or Russell indexes are trademarks of the London Stock Exchange Group companies and are used by FTSE, MTS, FTSE TMX and Russell under license. All information is provided for information purposes only. No responsibility or liability can be accepted by the London Stock Exchange Group companies nor its licensors for any errors or for any loss from use of this publication. Neither the London Stock Exchange Group companies nor any of its licensors make any claim, prediction, warranty or representation whatsoever, expressly or impliedly, either as to the results to be obtained from the use of the FTSE Indexes or the fitness or suitability of the Indexes for any particular purpose to which they might be put.

"Bloomberg®" and Bloomberg EUR Non-Government Float Adjusted Bond Index are service marks of Bloomberg Finance L.P. and its affiliates, including Bloomberg Index Services Limited ("BISL"), the administrator of the index (collectively, "Bloomberg") and have been licensed for use for certain purposes by Vanguard. Bloomberg is not affiliated with Vanguard, and Bloomberg does not approve, endorse, review, or recommend Vanguard SRI Euro Investment Grade Bond. Bloomberg does not guarantee the timeliness, accurateness, or completeness of any data or information relating to Vanguard SRI Euro Investment Grade Bond.

SEDOL and SEDOL Masterfile® are registered trademarks of the London Stock Exchange Group PLC. SEDOL Data has been provided from the London Stock Exchange's SEDOL Masterfile®

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