Lazard Global Thematic Focus Fund

SRI Style:

Sustainability Tilt

SDR Labelling:

Not eligible to use label

Product:

SICAV/Offshore

Fund Region:

Global

Fund Asset Type:

Equity

Launch Date:

19/12/2019

Last Amended:

Jun 2025

Dialshifter ():

Fund Size:

£399.90m

(as at: 31/03/2025)

Total Screened Themed SRI Assets:

£2.23m

(as at: 31/12/2024)

Total Responsible Ownership Assets:

£123.69m

(as at: 31/12/2024)

Total Assets Under Management:

£149247.80m

(as at: 31/12/2024)

ISIN:

IE000X4CN0A9, IE000B7RA9G8, IE000CPX1LX6, IE0000XZS910, IE00BKKCV469, IE00BKKCV576, IE00BKX9F080, IE000725IYD9

Objectives:

The fund does not have a specific sustainability objective.

Sustainable, Responsible
&/or ESG Overview:

Successful long-term investing depends upon the identification of sustainable companies. The team believes traditional investment analysis tends to underestimate the risks faced by companies today. In particular, we see rising risks to sustainability from the potential breakdown of relationships of industries and companies with the larger society. To address this issue, we have broadened our definition of business risk to refer to all aspects of sustainability—including ESG issues. We have integrated this view of risk into our investment process through a proprietary, forward-looking framework. This framework offers a consistent way to evaluate sustainability and has the potential to generate positive, differentiated long-term returns for the portfolio.

While the Global Thematic Equity team incorporates a comprehensive, integrated approach to understanding ESG and sustainability considerations for all securities in the portfolio, the strategy does not target a specific sustainability outcome to deliver positive impact or beneficial environmental/social outcomes.

Primary fund last amended:

Jun 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

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/

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.

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.

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.

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
Energy efficiency theme

Fund funds that have an energy efficiency theme - typically meaning that a fund manager is focused on investing in organisations that manage - or help others to manage - energy use more carefully and less wastefully - and so reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Social / Employment
Social policy

Find funds that have policies which set out their approach to social issues (e.g. human rights, labour standards, equal opportunities, child labour and adherence to internationally recognised codes such as the UN Global Compact). Funds with social policies typically avoid companies with low standards or work to encourage higher standards. See fund information for detail.

Ethical Values Led Exclusions
Ethical policies

Find funds that have policies that set out their position on ethical or 'personal values' based issues. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

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.

Military involvement exclusion

Find funds that avoid companies with military contracts of any kind. This may include medical supplies, food, safety equipment, housing, etc. Fund strategies vary. See fund liteterature for more information.

Human Rights
Human rights policy

Find funds that have policies relating to human rights issues. Funds of this kind typically require companies to demonstrate higher standards, although some fund managers work to encourage improvements. Investee companies are often judged against internationally agreed norms or standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Meeting Peoples' Basic Needs
Healthcare / medical theme

Healthcare and or medical theme or area of investment - the fund may have a single theme or many themes

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.

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 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 mostly in large cap companies / assets

Find funds that have SRI strategies and focus their investment stock selection on larger companies. (e.g. over circa £5-£10bn)

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.

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.

Negative selection bias

Find funds where their main 'ethical approach' is to avoid companies by using negative screening criteria. Read fund literature for further information.

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.

Combines norms based exclusions with other SRI criteria

Find funds that make significant use of internationally agreed 'norms' (e.g. United Nations Global Compact - UNGC - or the UN Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs) as part of their investment selection process alongside additional SRI criteria such as positive or negative stock selection policies and/or stewardship strategies.

Combines ESG strategy with other SRI criteria

Find funds that have an ESG strategy (which is typically focused on avoiding companies that pose environmental, social or governance related risks) with additional criteria such as positive and/or negative screens, themes and stewardship strategies.

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).

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.

Labels & Accreditations
SFDR Article 8 fund / product (EU)

Finds funds classified under Article 8 of the EU’s SFDR (Sustainable Finance Disclosure Requirements). Article 8 of the SFDR is a set of requirements that apply to financial products that 'promote' environmental or social characteristics with high governance also. These rules do not currently apply to UK funds so many managers may leave this field blank.

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).

Collaborations & Affiliations
PRI signatory

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

TNFD forum member (AFM company wide)

A member of the Taskforce for Nature Related Financial Disclosures group which aims to aid risk management and shift money towards nature-positive outcomes.

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.

Accreditations
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
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 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 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 governance issues

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

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

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
Net Zero commitment (AFM company wide)

Fund management organisations that have pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to ‘net zero’. Strategies vary - this area is changing rapidly.

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.

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'.

Committed to SBTi / Science Based Targets Initiative

See https://sciencebasedtargets.org/

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.

Dialshifter statement

Find fund management companies that have supplied Dialshifter information. See Dialshifter tab within record for more information.

Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Policy:

We believe that sustainability can be of great importance to risk assessment. In particular, our focus is on a risk that is often unaddressed in analysis today - relationships with society. We score companies under a formal rating system to provide consistency and transparency, and apply a threshold test which directly results in investment outcomes. Recognizing that ESG data is an important input but generally backward looking and incomplete, we incorporate fundamental analysis and direction of change to create a forward looking view.

The Global Thematic Focus Fund formally excludes investment in the following, consistent with other Article 8 funds in Lazard’s UCITS fund offerings:

  • Companies involved in any production of controversial weapons;
  • Companies deriving more than 10% of revenue from military weapons;
  • Companies deriving more than 5% of revenue from tobacco production;
  • Companies deriving more than 30% of revenue from thermal coal mining or production;
  • and Companies that “fail” under UN Global Compact Principles. Additionally, at the strategy level we also exclude stocks which fail to pass the threshold of our proprietary sustainability framework.

Portfolio investments are periodically monitored for ESG issues. The firm monitors an ESG watchlist for UNGC breaches, severe controversies, and low, third-party ratings (especially downgrades). In addition, controversies may also be identified by the Global Thematic Equity team and/or the global sector analysts. Any issues identified are reviewed and the firm may engage with companies on applicable issues.

Process:

Sustainability considerations are fully integrated at all steps of our investment process. Firstly, within our Global Framework, which is our broad model of the most important structural changes of the next decade, we consider all forms of structural change in a holistic manner, including both traditional financial insights and non-financial externalities that fall under the umbrella of sustainability. The result is full incorporation of sustainability from first principles. Secondly, all themes are designed such that they are aligned with probable policy change, such as climate change policy. Given that all stocks must fit the theme, stock level selection includes this policy alignment. Finally, all stocks considered for the portfolio are subject to our sustainability framework which integrates multiple aspects of business risk, including formal ESG inputs. This framework focuses on the strength of company and industry relationships with society – the societal license to operate – and how this might change over time. Our Sustainability Framework adopts a threshold approach, ensuring that companies with the potential to be damaged by a deterioration in societal license are excluded from the portfolio.

To support ESG-related research, the team has access to ESG data from both internal and external resources. This data includes:

  • Internal information, including: proprietary research reports containing ESG impacts/attributes of companies, Materiality Mapping analysis which evaluates ESG issues facing specific industry groups, an ESG Watchlist report that flags companies scoring poorly on a selection of ESG risk factors, and stewardship activity (engagement, proxy voting, shareholder resolution) information on ESG issues.
  • Third-party data and information, including: ESG ratings (such as Sustainalytics) and risk scores for systematic comparison of ESG performance across companies, controversies analysis and information, global norms compliance screens, and a wider set of ESG metrics for corporates in the investible universe.

Dialshifter

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

Our organisation supports the Paris Climate Agreement and the Race to Net Zero through our commitment to the Net Zero Asset Managers (NZAM) initiative, which we joined in March 2021. This aligns with global efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C and builds on our Climate Change Investment Policy. Lazard uses proprietary methodologies, including Climate Alignment Assessment, Science-Based Target Penetration, and Weighted Average Carbon Intensity, guided by the IPCC’s pathways and the Net Zero Investment Framework to assess portfolio alignment with net zero goals.

SDR Labelling:

Not eligible to use label

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

Lazard Global Thematic Focus Fund

Sustainability Tilt Not eligible to use label SICAV/Offshore Global Equity 19/12/2019 Jun 2025

Objectives

The fund does not have a specific sustainability objective.

Fund Size: £399.90m

(as at: 31/03/2025)

Total Screened Themed SRI Assets: £2.23m

(as at: 31/12/2024)

Total Responsible Ownership Assets: £123.69m

(as at: 31/12/2024)

Total Assets Under Management: £149247.80m

(as at: 31/12/2024)

ISIN: IE000X4CN0A9, IE000B7RA9G8, IE000CPX1LX6, IE0000XZS910, IE00BKKCV469, IE00BKKCV576, IE00BKX9F080, IE000725IYD9

Contact Us: Steven.Bayley@lazard.com

Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Overview

Successful long-term investing depends upon the identification of sustainable companies. The team believes traditional investment analysis tends to underestimate the risks faced by companies today. In particular, we see rising risks to sustainability from the potential breakdown of relationships of industries and companies with the larger society. To address this issue, we have broadened our definition of business risk to refer to all aspects of sustainability—including ESG issues. We have integrated this view of risk into our investment process through a proprietary, forward-looking framework. This framework offers a consistent way to evaluate sustainability and has the potential to generate positive, differentiated long-term returns for the portfolio.

While the Global Thematic Equity team incorporates a comprehensive, integrated approach to understanding ESG and sustainability considerations for all securities in the portfolio, the strategy does not target a specific sustainability outcome to deliver positive impact or beneficial environmental/social outcomes.

Primary fund last amended: Jun 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

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/

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.

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.

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.

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
Energy efficiency theme

Fund funds that have an energy efficiency theme - typically meaning that a fund manager is focused on investing in organisations that manage - or help others to manage - energy use more carefully and less wastefully - and so reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Social / Employment
Social policy

Find funds that have policies which set out their approach to social issues (e.g. human rights, labour standards, equal opportunities, child labour and adherence to internationally recognised codes such as the UN Global Compact). Funds with social policies typically avoid companies with low standards or work to encourage higher standards. See fund information for detail.

Ethical Values Led Exclusions
Ethical policies

Find funds that have policies that set out their position on ethical or 'personal values' based issues. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

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.

Military involvement exclusion

Find funds that avoid companies with military contracts of any kind. This may include medical supplies, food, safety equipment, housing, etc. Fund strategies vary. See fund liteterature for more information.

Human Rights
Human rights policy

Find funds that have policies relating to human rights issues. Funds of this kind typically require companies to demonstrate higher standards, although some fund managers work to encourage improvements. Investee companies are often judged against internationally agreed norms or standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Meeting Peoples' Basic Needs
Healthcare / medical theme

Healthcare and or medical theme or area of investment - the fund may have a single theme or many themes

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.

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 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 mostly in large cap companies / assets

Find funds that have SRI strategies and focus their investment stock selection on larger companies. (e.g. over circa £5-£10bn)

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.

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.

Negative selection bias

Find funds where their main 'ethical approach' is to avoid companies by using negative screening criteria. Read fund literature for further information.

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.

Combines norms based exclusions with other SRI criteria

Find funds that make significant use of internationally agreed 'norms' (e.g. United Nations Global Compact - UNGC - or the UN Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs) as part of their investment selection process alongside additional SRI criteria such as positive or negative stock selection policies and/or stewardship strategies.

Combines ESG strategy with other SRI criteria

Find funds that have an ESG strategy (which is typically focused on avoiding companies that pose environmental, social or governance related risks) with additional criteria such as positive and/or negative screens, themes and stewardship strategies.

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).

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.

Labels & Accreditations
SFDR Article 8 fund / product (EU)

Finds funds classified under Article 8 of the EU’s SFDR (Sustainable Finance Disclosure Requirements). Article 8 of the SFDR is a set of requirements that apply to financial products that 'promote' environmental or social characteristics with high governance also. These rules do not currently apply to UK funds so many managers may leave this field blank.

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).

Collaborations & Affiliations
PRI signatory

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

TNFD forum member (AFM company wide)

A member of the Taskforce for Nature Related Financial Disclosures group which aims to aid risk management and shift money towards nature-positive outcomes.

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.

Accreditations
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
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 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 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 governance issues

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

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

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
Net Zero commitment (AFM company wide)

Fund management organisations that have pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to ‘net zero’. Strategies vary - this area is changing rapidly.

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.

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'.

Committed to SBTi / Science Based Targets Initiative

See https://sciencebasedtargets.org/

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.

Dialshifter statement

Find fund management companies that have supplied Dialshifter information. See Dialshifter tab within record for more information.

Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Policy:

We believe that sustainability can be of great importance to risk assessment. In particular, our focus is on a risk that is often unaddressed in analysis today - relationships with society. We score companies under a formal rating system to provide consistency and transparency, and apply a threshold test which directly results in investment outcomes. Recognizing that ESG data is an important input but generally backward looking and incomplete, we incorporate fundamental analysis and direction of change to create a forward looking view.

The Global Thematic Focus Fund formally excludes investment in the following, consistent with other Article 8 funds in Lazard’s UCITS fund offerings:

  • Companies involved in any production of controversial weapons;
  • Companies deriving more than 10% of revenue from military weapons;
  • Companies deriving more than 5% of revenue from tobacco production;
  • Companies deriving more than 30% of revenue from thermal coal mining or production;
  • and Companies that “fail” under UN Global Compact Principles. Additionally, at the strategy level we also exclude stocks which fail to pass the threshold of our proprietary sustainability framework.

Portfolio investments are periodically monitored for ESG issues. The firm monitors an ESG watchlist for UNGC breaches, severe controversies, and low, third-party ratings (especially downgrades). In addition, controversies may also be identified by the Global Thematic Equity team and/or the global sector analysts. Any issues identified are reviewed and the firm may engage with companies on applicable issues.

Process:

Sustainability considerations are fully integrated at all steps of our investment process. Firstly, within our Global Framework, which is our broad model of the most important structural changes of the next decade, we consider all forms of structural change in a holistic manner, including both traditional financial insights and non-financial externalities that fall under the umbrella of sustainability. The result is full incorporation of sustainability from first principles. Secondly, all themes are designed such that they are aligned with probable policy change, such as climate change policy. Given that all stocks must fit the theme, stock level selection includes this policy alignment. Finally, all stocks considered for the portfolio are subject to our sustainability framework which integrates multiple aspects of business risk, including formal ESG inputs. This framework focuses on the strength of company and industry relationships with society – the societal license to operate – and how this might change over time. Our Sustainability Framework adopts a threshold approach, ensuring that companies with the potential to be damaged by a deterioration in societal license are excluded from the portfolio.

To support ESG-related research, the team has access to ESG data from both internal and external resources. This data includes:

  • Internal information, including: proprietary research reports containing ESG impacts/attributes of companies, Materiality Mapping analysis which evaluates ESG issues facing specific industry groups, an ESG Watchlist report that flags companies scoring poorly on a selection of ESG risk factors, and stewardship activity (engagement, proxy voting, shareholder resolution) information on ESG issues.
  • Third-party data and information, including: ESG ratings (such as Sustainalytics) and risk scores for systematic comparison of ESG performance across companies, controversies analysis and information, global norms compliance screens, and a wider set of ESG metrics for corporates in the investible universe.

Dialshifter (Fund)

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

Our organisation supports the Paris Climate Agreement and the Race to Net Zero through our commitment to the Net Zero Asset Managers (NZAM) initiative, which we joined in March 2021. This aligns with global efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C and builds on our Climate Change Investment Policy. Lazard uses proprietary methodologies, including Climate Alignment Assessment, Science-Based Target Penetration, and Weighted Average Carbon Intensity, guided by the IPCC’s pathways and the Net Zero Investment Framework to assess portfolio alignment with net zero goals.

Dialshifter (Corporate)

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

Our organisation supports the Paris Climate Agreement and the Race to Net Zero through our commitment to the Net Zero Asset Managers (NZAM) initiative, which we joined in March 2021. This aligns with global efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C and builds on our Climate Change Investment Policy. Lazard uses proprietary methodologies, including Climate Alignment Assessment, Science-Based Target Penetration, and Weighted Average Carbon Intensity, guided by the IPCC’s pathways and the Net Zero Investment Framework to assess portfolio alignment with net zero goals.

SDR Labelling:

Not eligible to use label