Vanguard Global Capital Stewards Equity Fund
SRI Style:
Sustainability Tilt
SDR Labelling:
Unlabelled with sustainable characteristics
Product:
OEIC
Fund Region:
Global
Fund Asset Type:
Equity
Launch Date:
08/12/2021
Last Amended:
Jul 2025
Dialshifter (
):
Fund Size:
£129.00m
(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:
GB00BMV9B514, GB00BMV9B621
Contact Us:
Objectives:
The Fund seeks to provide an increase in the value of investments over the long-term (more than 5 years), through a combination of capital growth and income. The Fund aims to achieve this whilst selecting investments which meet certain sustainability criteria.
Sustainable, Responsible
&/or ESG Overview:
The Fund will seek to invest in companies whose management teams and boards display strong corporate governance (i.e., companies that balance the interests of all customers, employees, communities and suppliers) in the pursuit of profits and consider environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities in their corporate strategy.
The Fund will only invest in companies that have at least one of the following: (i) a net zero science-based target; (ii) a non- science-based target which is a public active emissions reduction target; or (iii) a combined scope 1+2 intensity (tons CO2/$M revenue) that is at least 25% below their industry average based on publicly disclosed emissions. Scope 3 emissions are not included.
The Manager considers that investments in companies with significant exposure to certain activities would not be suitable for the Fund due to the impact that such companies have on society and/or the environment. The exclusions policy can be found at https://funddocs.vanguard.com/Vanguard_Capital_Stewards_Equity_Fund_Exclusions_Policy.pdf The Fund will avoid investing in shares issued by companies involved in and/or deriving revenue (above a threshold specified by the Manager and set out in the exclusions policy) from thermal coal extraction or thermal coal-based power generation, production and generation of oil sands, production of tobacco related products, nuclear weapons and controversial weapons.
Primary fund last amended:
Jul 2025
Information directly from fund manager.
Fund Filters
Sustainability - General
Funds that have policies that consider (environmental and social) sustainability issues. Strategies vary but are likely to consider environmental issues like climate change, carbon emissions, biodiversity loss, resource management, environmental impacts; and social issues like equal opportunities, human rights, labour standards, diversity and adherence to internationally recognised codes. See fund information.
Find funds which substantially focus on sustainability issues
A core element of these funds aim to encourage higher sustainability standards across business practices through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement / voting activity
Find funds that use the UN Global Compact to inform or help direct where they can or cannot invest and will typically not invest in companies with significant breaches (low standards) - although strategies vary. (The UNGC covers a wide range of issues - search 'UNGC'). See https://unglobalcompact.org/
Find funds that specifically aim to invest (and manage assets) in ways that help to address all or some of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). See https://sdgs.un.org/goals).
Find funds that publicly report their performance against specifically named sustainability objectives (in addition to reporting their financial performance)
Environmental - General
Funds that have policies which relate to environmental issues. These will typically set out the fund's stance on issues such as pollution, climate change, resource management, biodiversity loss, carbon emissions, plastics and/or additional environmental impacts. Strategies vary. See fund information for further information.
Find funds that have a policy or theme that relates to managing natural resources more efficiently. Funds with this policy will be likely to favour companies that make (or enable the) more efficient use of resources - and either avoid or encourage change amongst companies with lower standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Climate Change & Energy
Funds that have policies (documented strategies that explain their position on) climate change related issues such as greenhouse gas/carbon emissions, net zero, transitioning to lower carbon. Strategies vary. Read fund details for further information.
Funds that avoid investing in major coal, oil and/or gas (extraction) companies. Funds vary: some may exclude all companies that extract oil. Others may have exposure to oil extraction via more diversified energy companies. See fund literature to confirm details.
Funds that avoid companies involved in fracking and tar sands - which are widely regarded as controversial methods of oil and gas extraction. Strategies vary. See fund information for further information.
Funds that avoid investing in companies with coal, oil and gas reserves. See fund information for further details.
A core element of these funds will aim to encourage the transition to lower carbon activities through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement / voting activity
Funds that hold companies in the clean energy and renewable energy sectors (at the time research was supplied). Fund strategies vary, in particular the proportion of investment in these areas may vary significantly. Check fund literature for details.
Find funds that have policies which say they avoid or limit their investment in the nuclear industry. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Fund has a supply chain decarbonisation policy which sets out its position on the need to reduce carbon emissions throughout the investment chain. This will inform where the manager can and can not invest.
The fund manager excludes companies with direct involvement in fossil fuel exploration (eg coal, oil and gas companies)
The fund manager excludes companies with indirect involvement in fossil fuel exploration. For example they would be expected to exclude banks and insurance companies that are effectively enabling new coal, oil and or gas reserves to be discovered and in due course extracted through the provision of necessary finance or services.
Find funds that require all, or almost all, of the companies it invests in to have a ‘net zero action plan’ - meaning that the companies they invest in have worked out how they will, over time, reduce their total carbon (and other greenhouse gas) emissions to nil.
Social / Employment
All mining companies excluded
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.
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.
Find funds that exclude companies which make controversial weapons such as landmines, cluster munitions and chemical weapons. See fund literature for further information.
Find funds that avoid companies that manufacture products intended specifically for military use. Fund strategies vary - particularly with regard to non-strategic military products. See fund literature for fund specific details.
Find funds 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.
Find funds that avoid investment in companies involved in the production of alcohol. Strategies vary; some funds allow a small proportion of profits to come from this area. See fund literature for further information.
Find funds that avoid companies with significant involvement in the gambling industry. Some funds may allow a small proportion of profits to come from this area. See fund policy for further details.
Find funds that avoid companies that derive significant income from pornography and related areas. Strategies vary. See fund details for further information.
Human Rights
The fund has a policy which excludes assets with involvement in Modern Slavery
Governance & Management
Find fund options that have policies that relate to corporate governance issues such as board structure, executive remuneration, bribery and/or corporate corruption. These funds will typically avoid companies with poor practices. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.
Exclude companies that are subject to United Nations sanctions. See eg https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/content/un-sc-consolidated-list
Find funds that have policies explaining how managers will respond to assets / companies that do not comply with relevant anti-bribery and anti-corruption standards or laws. Strategies vary; options include stewardship/ engagement and divestment - or a combination. See fund literature for further information.
Fund managers encourage the companies they invest in to have more diverse board structures (e.g. more women on boards)
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).
A core element of these funds will aim to encourage higher ESG standards through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement /voting activity
Fund Governance
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.
Asset Size
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.
Find a fund that invests in a combination of small, medium and larger (potentially multinational)companies.
Impact Methodologies
Funds that aim to help or support the delivery of positive social or environmental impacts (or societal/real world outcomes) by investing in companies they regard as beneficial to people and / or the planet. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.
Find funds that direct investment towards companies where a major part of their business is about solving environmental challenges. e.g. companies helping to address climate change.
Find funds that invest in companies where a major part of their business is specifically aimed at helping to address social challenges. e.g. companies helping to address poverty.
Fund aims to deliver positive environmental and or social impacts (real world benefits) through its engagement with investee assets
How The Fund Works
Find funds that focus on finding and investing in companies with positive / beneficial attributes. This strategy can be applied in addition to exclusion criteria and engagement/stewardship activity.
Find funds with few exclusions - typically for example exclude tobacco or companies that breach commonly adopted standards or norms such as the UN Global Compact.
Find funds that 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.
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).
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).
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
Finds funds designed to meet the needs of individual investors with an interest in sustainability issues.
Find funds designed for clients who care about ethical and values-based issues, often alongside sustainability issues also.
Find funds that are available via a tax efficient ISA product wrapper.
Fund Management Company Information
About The Business
Finds fund management companies that have a published company wide stewardship, engagement and / or responsible ownership policy or strategy that covers all investments. Stewardship typically involves encouraging higher ESG standards through voting and dialogue.
Find fund management companies that actively encourage higher 'environmental, social and governance' and/or 'sustainable and responsible investment' practices across investee companies - typically where the aim is to encourage positive change that is aligned with the best interests of investors. Strategies vary. See additional information and options.
Find fund managers that vote all* the shares they own at Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings. A commitment to voting shares is a key indicator of 'responsible share ownership' demonstrating their support for or disagreement with management policy. (*situations can legitimately, occasionally occur where voting proves impossible, but in principle all shares should be voted.)
Find funds run by fund managers that apply Responsible ownership or 'Stewardship' policies to all or most of their investment assets. This means active involvement (e.g. voting, dialogue) with the companies they invest in across funds (not normally limited to ethical or SRI options.) Read fund literature for further information.
Find fund management companies that consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues when deciding whether or not to invest in a company for all / almost all of their funds and other assets. This is increasingly seen as part of sound risk management.
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.
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).
Asset manager has information on their website that explains how they treat 'vulnerable clients' (as set out in FCA regulation)
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).
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
Find fund management companies that have signed up to the UN backed 'Principles of Responsible Investment'.
Fund management entity is a member of the Investment Association https://www.theia.org/
Resources
Find fund management companies that employ people to steer and support fund managers in voting shares at company AGM's and EGMs in ways that are consistent with encouraging higher ESG/sustainability standards.
Find a fund management company that directly employs specialist ESG/SRI/sustainability researchers or analysts. This allows asset managers to discuss environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities directly with companies.
Find fund management companies that makes use of expert external research companies. This can help deliver specialist expertise and means resources are pooled with other investors.
Accreditations
Finds organisations / fund managers that have an A+ PRI rating - meaning they are highly rated according to the 'Principles of Responsible Investment'
Find fund managers that are signatories to the FRC UK Stewardship Code, which sets out a framework for constructive investor / investee relations where fund managers are encouraged to behave like responsible, typically longer term 'company owners'.
Engagement Approach
Find fund management companies that regularly initiate or run industry wide (collaborative) investor projects aimed at raising environmental, social and governance standards amongst investee companies.
Find fund management companies that are working with the companies they invest in to encourage more responsible corporate taxation.
Fund manager has stewardship /responsible ownership strategy that is focused on addressing climate change with investee assets.
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.
Asset manager has stewardship /responsible ownership strategy with involves encouraging investee asset to reduce plastic waste and pollution.
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.
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
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/
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
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)
Asset management company has a stewardship strategy in place which involves working to raise diversity, equality and inclusion standards across investee assets
working with the assets they hold to help stamp out modern slavery - where direct or indirect company employees are exploited for business benefits.
Fund managers have stewardship strategies in place that focus on improving governance standards across investee assets
Asset manager has stewardship strategy in place which involves discussing mental health issues with investee companies - with the aim of raising standards
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
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.
Working to address sustainability, ESG and related concerns around artificial intelligence.
This fund manager may vote differently for different clients or regions. See fund manager stewardship policy for further information.
Escalation policies describe how a manager will proceed if stewardship / engagement activity is not successful in the short term.
Climate & Net Zero Transition
Find fund management companies that have published a Climate Risk policy or statement that is signed / owned by their Chief Executive.
This asset management company has set a date by which they plan to achieve net zero greenhouse gas / CO2e emissions.
Find fund management companies that are working with the companies they invest in to encourage reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.
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.
This asset management company plans to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (CO2e) emissions by reducing their emissions. Calculations and scope vary.
Find fund management companies that are working to reduce their own (fund management company) carbon/greenhouse gas emissions.
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
Find fund management companies that publish a report detailing their responsible investment ownership - also known as 'Stewardship' - activity.
Find companies that publish information about their sustainable and responsible investment strategies on their company website.
Find fund management companies that will supply information about their sustainable and responsible investment activity on request.
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:
Vanguard takes a sub-advised approach to the active management of our equity funds and partners with leading fund managers from around the world. The Vanguard Global Sustainable Equity Fund is managed by Wellington, it is an active fund whereby the investment adviser uses their expertise to pick investments to achieve the fund’s objectives. The fund uses an independent sub-investment adviser (the “manager”), Wellington Management Company, which follows a distinct approach in managing the fund’s investments.
ESG philosophy - Wellington believes that:
- A portfolio that equally weights capital returns and ESG practices can beat the market over the long term.
- Leading corporate ESG practices matter for long-term success.
- Companies should consider the fair treatment of all constituents in pursuit of profits.
- Great companies integrate material ESG factors in their long-term strategic planning.
- Thoughtful capital and resource allocation along with strong governance practices can help companies sustain returns over time.
- ESG practices can be a competitive advantage by lowering the cost of capital.
- Companies with high and sustainable return on capital historically outperform.
- ESG practices become more valuable as the holding period extends.
- Engagement and proxy voting enable shareholders to hold management and boards accountable.
- Even the most highly regarded ESG companies have room to improve.
Process:
Investment approach
The fund is managed by Wellington Management Company, who employ a long-term, high-quality approach that seeks to invest in companies with leading stewardship practices and high and persistent financial returns that adhere to certain sustainability criteria. The portfolio is built from the bottom up and starts with a universe of the world’s largest and most liquid stocks. Stock selection itself starts with fundamental research, looking for the best 10-year ideas from within the investment universe and focuses on the following company attributes as reflected by their Stewardship flywheel:
(i) A proven track record of effective capital allocation.
(ii) Demonstrated corporate responsibility and stewardship.
(iii) Confidence that a wide gap between return on capital and cost of capital can be sustained.
The portfolio managers apply their own proprietary judgments when assessing the long-term fundamental appeal of each company and complement this research by engaging with them. Through their conversations with management teams and boards, the portfolio managers focus on each company’s outlook for sustaining return on capital and maintaining their position as leaders in stewardship.
Principle investment strategy
As noted above, the Vanguard Global Sustainable Equity Fund is an active fund whereby the investment adviser uses their expertise to pick investments to achieve the fund’s objectives. The fund uses an independent sub-investment adviser (the “manager”), Wellington Management Company, which follows a distinct approach in managing the fund’s investments.
The fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing almost exclusively (at least 90% of the fund’s assets) in equity securities issued by large and mid-size companies located throughout the world, selected in accordance with the fund’s Sustainability Policy.
The fund has a specific focus on investing in and engaging with companies which display good ‘stewardship’ and are assessed as leaders in incorporating ESG risks and opportunities into their corporate strategy, along with a sustained track record of strong returns. Engagement is key to this strategy, as the portfolio managers aim to engage with a board member and executive from every company they invest in on a yearly basis and have a “constructivist” approach to engagement, looking to build collaboration with the companies.
The fund uses an investment approach based on bottom-up fundamental research into companies that exhibit attractive and persistent returns on equity and stewardship excellence. The manager is biased to own companies already in a position of strength, with established competitive positions, identifiable business advantages, a history of continuous improvement and innovation and inspiring leadership. To help evaluate the likelihood of continuing attractive returns, the manager places an emphasis on each company’s stewardship, with the belief that proper care and nurturing of a company’s valuable assets and intangibles is critical to the business’s long-term resilience.
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
- Consumer Facing Disclosure
SDR Literature:
Fund Holdings
Voting Record
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.
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"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.
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Fund Name | SRI Style | SDR Labelling | Product | Region | Asset Type | Launch Date | Last Amended |
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Vanguard Global Capital Stewards Equity Fund |
Sustainability Tilt | Unlabelled with sustainable characteristics | OEIC | Global | Equity | 08/12/2021 | Jul 2025 | |
ObjectivesThe Fund seeks to provide an increase in the value of investments over the long-term (more than 5 years), through a combination of capital growth and income. The Fund aims to achieve this whilst selecting investments which meet certain sustainability criteria.
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Fund Size: £129.00m (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: GB00BMV9B514, GB00BMV9B621 Contact Us: UK_internals@vanguard.com |
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Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG OverviewThe Fund will seek to invest in companies whose management teams and boards display strong corporate governance (i.e., companies that balance the interests of all customers, employees, communities and suppliers) in the pursuit of profits and consider environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities in their corporate strategy. The Fund will only invest in companies that have at least one of the following: (i) a net zero science-based target; (ii) a non- science-based target which is a public active emissions reduction target; or (iii) a combined scope 1+2 intensity (tons CO2/$M revenue) that is at least 25% below their industry average based on publicly disclosed emissions. Scope 3 emissions are not included. The Manager considers that investments in companies with significant exposure to certain activities would not be suitable for the Fund due to the impact that such companies have on society and/or the environment. The exclusions policy can be found at https://funddocs.vanguard.com/Vanguard_Capital_Stewards_Equity_Fund_Exclusions_Policy.pdf The Fund will avoid investing in shares issued by companies involved in and/or deriving revenue (above a threshold specified by the Manager and set out in the exclusions policy) from thermal coal extraction or thermal coal-based power generation, production and generation of oil sands, production of tobacco related products, nuclear weapons and controversial weapons. |
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Primary fund last amended: Jul 2025 |
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Information received directly from Fund Manager |
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Fund FiltersSustainability - General
Sustainability policy
Funds that have policies that consider (environmental and social) sustainability issues. Strategies vary but are likely to consider environmental issues like climate change, carbon emissions, biodiversity loss, resource management, environmental impacts; and social issues like equal opportunities, human rights, labour standards, diversity and adherence to internationally recognised codes. See fund information.
Sustainability focus
Find funds which substantially focus on sustainability issues
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
UN Global Compact linked exclusion policy
Find funds that use the UN Global Compact to inform or help direct where they can or cannot invest and will typically not invest in companies with significant breaches (low standards) - although strategies vary. (The UNGC covers a wide range of issues - search 'UNGC'). See https://unglobalcompact.org/
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) focus
Find funds that specifically aim to invest (and manage assets) in ways that help to address all or some of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). See https://sdgs.un.org/goals).
Report against sustainability objectives
Find funds that publicly report their performance against specifically named sustainability objectives (in addition to reporting their financial performance) Environmental - General
Environmental policy
Funds that have policies which relate to environmental issues. These will typically set out the fund's stance on issues such as pollution, climate change, resource management, biodiversity loss, carbon emissions, plastics and/or additional environmental impacts. Strategies vary. See fund information for further information.
Resource efficiency policy or theme
Find funds that have a policy or theme that relates to managing natural resources more efficiently. Funds with this policy will be likely to favour companies that make (or enable the) more efficient use of resources - and either avoid or encourage change amongst companies with lower standards. Strategies vary. 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.
Fossil fuel reserves exclusion
Funds that avoid investing in companies with coal, oil and gas reserves. See fund information for further details.
Encourage transition to low carbon through stewardship activity
A core element of these funds will aim to encourage the transition to lower carbon activities through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement / voting activity
Invests in clean energy / renewables
Funds that hold companies in the clean energy and renewable energy sectors (at the time research was supplied). Fund strategies vary, in particular the proportion of investment in these areas may vary significantly. Check fund literature for details.
Nuclear exclusion policy
Find funds that have policies which say they avoid or limit their investment in the nuclear industry. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Supply chain decarbonisation policy
Fund has a supply chain decarbonisation policy which sets out its position on the need to reduce carbon emissions throughout the investment chain. This will inform where the manager can and can not invest.
Fossil fuel exploration exclusion - direct involvement
The fund manager excludes companies with direct involvement in fossil fuel exploration (eg coal, oil and gas companies)
Fossil fuel exploration exclusion – indirect involvement
The fund manager excludes companies with indirect involvement in fossil fuel exploration. For example they would be expected to exclude banks and insurance companies that are effectively enabling new coal, oil and or gas reserves to be discovered and in due course extracted through the provision of necessary finance or services.
Require net zero action plan from all/most companies
Find funds that require all, or almost all, of the companies it invests in to have a ‘net zero action plan’ - meaning that the companies they invest in have worked out how they will, over time, reduce their total carbon (and other greenhouse gas) emissions to nil. Social / Employment
Mining exclusion
All mining companies excluded 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. Human Rights
Modern slavery exclusion policy
The fund has a policy which excludes assets with involvement in Modern Slavery 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.
UN sanctions exclusion
Exclude companies that are subject to United Nations sanctions. See eg https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/content/un-sc-consolidated-list
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. 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
Aims to generate positive impacts (or 'outcomes')
Funds that aim to help or support the delivery of positive social or environmental impacts (or societal/real world outcomes) by investing in companies they regard as beneficial to people and / or the planet. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.
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.
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).
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.
Intended for clients interested in ethical issues
Find funds designed for clients who care about ethical and values-based issues, often alongside sustainability issues also.
Available via an ISA (OEIC only)
Find funds that are available via a tax efficient ISA product wrapper. Fund Management Company InformationAbout The Business
Responsible ownership / stewardship policy or strategy (AFM company wide)
Finds fund management companies that have a published company wide stewardship, engagement and / or responsible ownership policy or strategy that covers all investments. Stewardship typically involves encouraging higher ESG standards through voting and dialogue.
ESG / SRI engagement (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies that actively encourage higher 'environmental, social and governance' and/or 'sustainable and responsible investment' practices across investee companies - typically where the aim is to encourage positive change that is aligned with the best interests of investors. Strategies vary. See additional information and options.
Vote all* shares at AGMs / EGMs (AFM company wide)
Find fund managers that vote all* the shares they own at Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings. A commitment to voting shares is a key indicator of 'responsible share ownership' demonstrating their support for or disagreement with management policy. (*situations can legitimately, occasionally occur where voting proves impossible, but in principle all shares should be voted.)
Responsible ownership 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. CommentsPlease note:
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:Vanguard takes a sub-advised approach to the active management of our equity funds and partners with leading fund managers from around the world. The Vanguard Global Sustainable Equity Fund is managed by Wellington, it is an active fund whereby the investment adviser uses their expertise to pick investments to achieve the fund’s objectives. The fund uses an independent sub-investment adviser (the “manager”), Wellington Management Company, which follows a distinct approach in managing the fund’s investments. ESG philosophy - Wellington believes that:
Process:Investment approach The fund is managed by Wellington Management Company, who employ a long-term, high-quality approach that seeks to invest in companies with leading stewardship practices and high and persistent financial returns that adhere to certain sustainability criteria. The portfolio is built from the bottom up and starts with a universe of the world’s largest and most liquid stocks. Stock selection itself starts with fundamental research, looking for the best 10-year ideas from within the investment universe and focuses on the following company attributes as reflected by their Stewardship flywheel: (i) A proven track record of effective capital allocation. (ii) Demonstrated corporate responsibility and stewardship. (iii) Confidence that a wide gap between return on capital and cost of capital can be sustained. The portfolio managers apply their own proprietary judgments when assessing the long-term fundamental appeal of each company and complement this research by engaging with them. Through their conversations with management teams and boards, the portfolio managers focus on each company’s outlook for sustaining return on capital and maintaining their position as leaders in stewardship. Principle investment strategy As noted above, the Vanguard Global Sustainable Equity Fund is an active fund whereby the investment adviser uses their expertise to pick investments to achieve the fund’s objectives. The fund uses an independent sub-investment adviser (the “manager”), Wellington Management Company, which follows a distinct approach in managing the fund’s investments. The fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing almost exclusively (at least 90% of the fund’s assets) in equity securities issued by large and mid-size companies located throughout the world, selected in accordance with the fund’s Sustainability Policy. The fund has a specific focus on investing in and engaging with companies which display good ‘stewardship’ and are assessed as leaders in incorporating ESG risks and opportunities into their corporate strategy, along with a sustained track record of strong returns. Engagement is key to this strategy, as the portfolio managers aim to engage with a board member and executive from every company they invest in on a yearly basis and have a “constructivist” approach to engagement, looking to build collaboration with the companies. The fund uses an investment approach based on bottom-up fundamental research into companies that exhibit attractive and persistent returns on equity and stewardship excellence. The manager is biased to own companies already in a position of strength, with established competitive positions, identifiable business advantages, a history of continuous improvement and innovation and inspiring leadership. To help evaluate the likelihood of continuing attractive returns, the manager places an emphasis on each company’s stewardship, with the belief that proper care and nurturing of a company’s valuable assets and intangibles is critical to the business’s long-term resilience. 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:
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:
Dialshifter (Corporate)Our organisation is helping to support the Paris Climate Agreement and the Race to Net Zero by… Please refer to our website: SDR Labelling:Unlabelled with sustainable characteristics
SDR Literature:Fund HoldingsVoting RecordDisclaimerImportant 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. 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. 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. 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