abrdn Ethical Corporate Bond Fund

SRI Style:

Ethical Style

SDR Labelling:

Unlabelled - promotes sustainable characteristics (has CFD)

Product:

OEIC

Fund Region:

UK

Fund Asset Type:

Fixed Interest

Launch Date:

02/11/2005

Last Amended:

Dialshifter ():

Fund/Portfolio Size:

£270.30m

(as at: 08/01/2026)

Total Screened Themed SRI Assets:

£29131.00m

(as at: 30/06/2022)

Total Responsible Ownership Assets:

£29131.00m

(as at: 30/06/2022)

Total Assets Under Management:

£508407.00m

(as at: 30/06/2022)

ISIN:

GB00B0LNNH51, GB00B0LNNK80, GB00B4LQ8T99, GB00B708KW45, GB00B0LNNJ75, GB00B0LNNL97

Sustainable, Responsible
&/or ESG Overview:

No response when requested information from fund manager 

 

 

Primary fund last amended:


Information directly from fund manager.

Fund Filters

Environmental - General
Environmental policy

Has policies which relate to environmental issues. These will typically set out their stance on issues such as pollution, climate change, resource management, biodiversity loss, carbon emissions, plastics and/or additional environmental impacts. Strategies vary.

Limits exposure to carbon intensive industries

Options that limit or 'reduce' their exposure to carbon intensive industries (ie sectors which are major contributors to climate change). Strategies vary.

Environmental damage & pollution policy

Has documented policies explaining the approach to environmental damage and pollution. Strategies vary.

Resource efficiency policy or theme

Has a policy or theme that relates to managing natural resources more efficiently. Strategies vary. See individual entry information.

Plastics policy

Has a policy describing their response to the challenges posed by plastics (particularly single use, non-recyclable plastics). Strategies vary.

Nature & Biodiversity
Deforestation / palm oil policy

Has policies designed to address involvement in irresponsibly managed palm oil or other forms of deforestation (typically exclusion led). Strategies vary.

Illegal deforestation exclusion policy

Avoids assets that are involved in illegal deforestation. This may relate to palm oil, cattle farming or other areas. Strategies vary.

Avoids genetically modified seeds / crop production

Aims to avoid investing in companies that produce genetically modified seeds or crops. (This does not typically include avoiding companies such as supermarkets).

Climate Change & Energy
Climate change / greenhouse gas emissions policy

Has 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.

Coal, oil & / or gas majors excluded

Avoid investment in major coal, oil and/or gas (extraction) companies. Strategies vary.

Fracking & tar sands excluded

Avoid companies involved in fracking and tar sands - which are widely regarded as controversial methods of oil and gas extraction. Strategies vary.

Fossil fuel reserves exclusion

Avoid investing in companies / assets with coal, oil and gas reserves. See individual entry information for further details.

Invests in clean energy / renewables

Invest in renewable energy companies and / or companies where renewable energy is a significant part of their business. Strategies vary.

Nuclear exclusion policy

Has a policy which describes the avoidance or limited investment in the nuclear industry. Strategies vary.

Social / Employment
Social policy

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

Health & wellbeing policies or theme

Has policies or themes that set out their approach to health and wellbeing issues, typically aims to invest in companies with high standards - or encourage high standards.

Ethical Values Led Exclusions
Ethical policies

Has policies that set out their position on ethical or 'personal values' based issues. Strategies vary.

Tobacco & 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.

Armaments manufacturers avoided

Avoids companies that manufacture weapons intended specifically for military use. Strategies vary - may or may not include non-strategic military products.

Alcohol production excluded

Avoids companies that produce alcohol. Strategies vary; some may allow a small proportion of revenue to come from this area.

Gambling avoidance policy

Avoids companies with significant involvement in the gambling industry. Some may allow a small proportion of revenues to come from this area.

Pornography avoidance policy

Avoids companies that derive significant income from pornography and related areas. Strategies vary.

Animal welfare policy

Has policies that require specific animal welfare standards to be met. These may reference well-known welfare standards (3Rs - Replace, Reduce, Refine) or certification schemes. Strategies vary.

Human Rights
Human rights policy

Has policies relating to human rights issues. Typically require companies to demonstrate higher standards, although some managers work to encourage improvements. Investee companies are often judged against internationally agreed norms or standards. Strategies vary.

Child labour exclusion

Has policies to avoid companies that employ children.

Oppressive regimes (not free or democratic) exclusion policy

Has policies that exclude companies or other assets which operate in, or are owned by regimes which are not democratic, or where people may be oppressed. May use eg. Freedom House research. Strategies vary.

Responsible supply chain policy or theme

Has policies or a theme that relates to the responsible management of supply chains. These may relate to employment issues, notably people employed by their suppliers, as well as the sourcing of materials and products.

Meeting Peoples' Basic Needs
Water / sanitation policy or theme

Have policies or themes that set out the position on investment in the water sector and/or sanitation. Strategies vary.

Governance & Management
Governance policy

Has 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.

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 & corruption policy

Has 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.

Product / Service Governance
External oversight / advisory committee (fund / service)

Find options that have an external committee that helps steer or advise managers on sustainability, ethical, stewardship or ESG policy or strategy related issues. These people may be paid for their time but are not employees of the fund manager.

ESG integration strategy

Find fund / asset managers 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.

Impact Methodologies
Aims to generate positive impacts (or 'outcomes')

Has policies 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.

Positive environmental impact theme

Specifically sets out to help deliver positive environmental impacts, benefits or 'real world' outcomes.

Positive social impact theme

Specifically states that they aim to deliver positive social (i.e. people related) impacts and/or outcomes.

Invests in environmental solutions companies

Directs investment towards companies where a major part of their business is about solving environmental challenges. e.g. companies helping to address climate change.

How The Fund/Portfolio Works
Positive selection bias

Focuses on finding and investing in companies with positive / beneficial attributes. This strategy can be applied in addition to exclusion criteria and engagement/stewardship activity.

Strictly screened ethical investment

Has principle approach to apply positive or negative ethical, social and / or environmental screens. Strictly screened investments are likely to exclude more companies than other related options. Strategies vary.

Balances company 'pros and cons' / best in sector

Considers both the 'positive' and 'negative' aspects of company behaviour and makes balanced, considered decisions as part of their investment approach. May apply to a range of different issues and policy areas.

Norms focus

Uses internationally agreed standards, conventions and 'norms' to help direct investment decisions (e.g. the UN Global Compact, UN Sustainable Development Goals).

SRI / ESG / Ethical policies explained on website

Publish explanations of their ethical, social and/or environmental policies online (i.e. investment decision making strategies/ buy/sell &/or asset management strategies).

Intended Clients & Product Options
Available via an ISA (OEIC only)

Available via a tax efficient ISA product wrapper.

Fund Management Company Information

About The Business
Responsible ownership / stewardship policy or strategy (AFM companywide)

Finds fund / asset 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 companywide)

Find fund / asset 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 companywide)

Find fund / asset 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 / ESG a key differentiator (AFM companywide)

Find fund / asset managers that consider responsible ownership and ESG to be a key differentiator for their business.

Senior management KPIs include environmental goals (AFM companywide)

The leadership team of this fund / asset manager have performance targets linked to environmental goals.

SDG aligned aims / objectives (AFM companywide)

Find fund / asset management companies that aim to align all their investments (across all funds) to help meet the aims of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Responsible ownership policy for non SRI / sustainable options (AFM companywide)

Find options run by 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 across all or most funds, products and services.

Integrates ESG factors into all / most research (AFM companywide)

Find fund / asset 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.

Diversity, equality & inclusion engagement policy (AFM companywide)

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

UKSIF member

Find fund / asset management companies that are members of UKSIF - the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance association

TNFD forum member (AFM companywide)

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

Resources
In-house responsible ownership / voting expertise

Find fund / asset 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 / asset 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 / asset 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
UK Stewardship Code signatory (AFM companywide)

Find fund / asset managers that are signatories to the FRC UK Stewardship Code, which sets out a framework for constructive investor / investee relations where managers are encouraged to behave like responsible, typically longer term 'company owners'.

Engagement Approach
Regularly lead collaborative ESG initiatives (AFM companywide)

Find fund / asset 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 companywide)

Find fund / asset management companies that are working with the companies they invest in to encourage more responsible corporate taxation.

Company Wide Exclusions
Controversial weapons avoidance policy (AFM companywide)

Find fund / asset management companies (not funds) that avoid investment in 'controversial weapons' across all of their funds and other investment vehicles.

Review(ing) carbon / fossil fuel exposure for all funds (AFM companywide)

Find funds / asset managers that are reviewing, or have reviewed, their exposure to carbon intensive industries including (but not only) mining, oil and gas companies. (Typically with reference to climate change.)

Climate & Net Zero Transition
Voting policy includes net zero targets (AFM companywide)

Fund / asset manager AGM / EGM voting strategy has processes in place that mean they will normally be expected to vote in a way that will encourage the transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Net Zero - have set a Net Zero target date (AFM companywide)

This fund / 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 companywide)

Find fund / asset management companies that are working with the companies they invest in to encourage reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.

Carbon offsetting - offset carbon as part of net zero plan (AFM companywide)

This fund / asset management company plans to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (CO2e) emissions with the help of a scheme that will lock away an amount of carbon that is equivalent to the company’s own emissions – so that the end result is ‘net zero’. Calculations and scope vary.

In-house carbon / GHG reduction policy (AFM companywide)

Find fund / asset management companies that are working to reduce their own (fund management company) carbon/greenhouse gas emissions.

Transparency
Publish responsible ownership / stewardship report (AFM companywide)

Find fund / asset management companies that publish a report detailing their responsible investment ownership - also known as 'Stewardship' - activity.

Full stewardship / responsible ownership policy information on company website

Find fund / asset management companies that publish information about their sustainable and responsible investment strategies on their company website.

Publish full voting record (AFM companywide)

Fund / asset 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.

Sustainability transition plan publicly available (AFM companywide)

This fund / asset management company has published a plan that explains how they are to become a sustainable business - without significant negative environmental or social impacts.

Paris Alignment plan publicly available (AFM companywide)

This fund / asset management company has published a plan that explains how they will align to the climate change commitments made at the Paris Climate Talks, COP21.

Net Zero transition plan publicly available (AFM companywide)

This fund / asset management company has published a plan that explains how they are going to achieve net zero greenhouse gas / CO2e emissions.

Dialshifter statement

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

Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Policy:

Investment Objective

To generate income and some growth over the long term (5 years or more) by investing in sterling denominated investment grade corporate bonds which adhere to the abrdn Ethical Corporate Bond Investment Approach.

Performance Target: To be top quartile within the fund's peer group; defined as the Investment Association Sterling Corporate Bond Sector, over rolling five-year periods (after charges). There is no certainty or promise that the Performance Target will be achieved. Due to the ethical nature of the management process, there are a material number of stocks and sectors that the fund is unable to invest in while other funds in the Investment Association Sterling Corporate Bond Sector can, which means the fund's performance profile may deviate significantly from that of the Investment Association Sterling Corporate Bond Sector average.

The Investment Association Sterling Corporate Bond Sector (the "Sector") is a representative group of investment funds with a focus on sterling denominated investment grade bonds issued by companies.

Investment Policy
Portfolio Securities

  •  The fund will invest at least 60% in sterling denominated investment grade corporate bonds (which are like loans to companies that pay interest and are typically regarded as having a low default risk) issued anywhere in the world.
  • The fund may also invest in other bonds, including high yield bonds (which are like loans to companies or governments that pay a high rate of interest but have a lower credit rating than investment grade bonds). The fund will employ techniques to reduce (hedge) risk related to currency movements on non-sterling bonds.
  • The fund may also invest in other funds (including those managed by abrdn), cash and assets that can be turned into cash quickly.
  • All investments will adhere to the abrdn Ethical Corporate Bond Investment Approach (the "Investment Approach") as set out in the prospectus.
  • The fund applies a set of company exclusions which are related but not limited to fossil fuels, animal testing, weaponry, pornography, gambling, tobacco and alcohol.
  • In addition, the investment team carries out qualitative and quantitative assessment of companies' ESG characteristics.
  • The qualitative assessment utilises abrdn's fixed income investment process, which enables portfolio managers to assess how ESG factors are likely to impact on the company's ability to repay its debt, both now and in the future. A key component of this is the ESG Risk Rating, which enables the management team to qualitatively identify and avoid ESG laggards.
  • The quantitative assessment utilises the abrdn ESG House Score to evaluate how companies manage their ESG risks and assigns a score accordingly. The global universe of scored companies is then sorted and split into 7 equal groupings, with at least 70% of the fund invested in companies in the top two groups.

(Source: KIID, as at January 2026)

Dialshifter

 

 

 

SDR Labelling:

Unlabelled - promotes sustainable characteristics (has CFD)

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

abrdn Ethical Corporate Bond Fund

Ethical Style Unlabelled - promotes sustainable characteristics (has CFD) OEIC UK Fixed Interest 02/11/2005

Fund/Portfolio Size: £270.30m

(as at: 08/01/2026)

Total Screened Themed SRI Assets: £29131.00m

(as at: 30/06/2022)

Total Responsible Ownership Assets: £29131.00m

(as at: 30/06/2022)

Total Assets Under Management: £508407.00m

(as at: 30/06/2022)

ISIN: GB00B0LNNH51, GB00B0LNNK80, GB00B4LQ8T99, GB00B708KW45, GB00B0LNNJ75, GB00B0LNNL97

Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Overview

No response when requested information from fund manager 

 

 

Information received directly from Fund Manager

Please select what you would like to read:

Fund Filters

Environmental - General
Environmental policy

Has policies which relate to environmental issues. These will typically set out their stance on issues such as pollution, climate change, resource management, biodiversity loss, carbon emissions, plastics and/or additional environmental impacts. Strategies vary.

Limits exposure to carbon intensive industries

Options that limit or 'reduce' their exposure to carbon intensive industries (ie sectors which are major contributors to climate change). Strategies vary.

Environmental damage & pollution policy

Has documented policies explaining the approach to environmental damage and pollution. Strategies vary.

Resource efficiency policy or theme

Has a policy or theme that relates to managing natural resources more efficiently. Strategies vary. See individual entry information.

Plastics policy

Has a policy describing their response to the challenges posed by plastics (particularly single use, non-recyclable plastics). Strategies vary.

Nature & Biodiversity
Deforestation / palm oil policy

Has policies designed to address involvement in irresponsibly managed palm oil or other forms of deforestation (typically exclusion led). Strategies vary.

Illegal deforestation exclusion policy

Avoids assets that are involved in illegal deforestation. This may relate to palm oil, cattle farming or other areas. Strategies vary.

Avoids genetically modified seeds / crop production

Aims to avoid investing in companies that produce genetically modified seeds or crops. (This does not typically include avoiding companies such as supermarkets).

Climate Change & Energy
Climate change / greenhouse gas emissions policy

Has 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.

Coal, oil & / or gas majors excluded

Avoid investment in major coal, oil and/or gas (extraction) companies. Strategies vary.

Fracking & tar sands excluded

Avoid companies involved in fracking and tar sands - which are widely regarded as controversial methods of oil and gas extraction. Strategies vary.

Fossil fuel reserves exclusion

Avoid investing in companies / assets with coal, oil and gas reserves. See individual entry information for further details.

Invests in clean energy / renewables

Invest in renewable energy companies and / or companies where renewable energy is a significant part of their business. Strategies vary.

Nuclear exclusion policy

Has a policy which describes the avoidance or limited investment in the nuclear industry. Strategies vary.

Social / Employment
Social policy

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

Health & wellbeing policies or theme

Has policies or themes that set out their approach to health and wellbeing issues, typically aims to invest in companies with high standards - or encourage high standards.

Ethical Values Led Exclusions
Ethical policies

Has policies that set out their position on ethical or 'personal values' based issues. Strategies vary.

Tobacco & 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.

Armaments manufacturers avoided

Avoids companies that manufacture weapons intended specifically for military use. Strategies vary - may or may not include non-strategic military products.

Alcohol production excluded

Avoids companies that produce alcohol. Strategies vary; some may allow a small proportion of revenue to come from this area.

Gambling avoidance policy

Avoids companies with significant involvement in the gambling industry. Some may allow a small proportion of revenues to come from this area.

Pornography avoidance policy

Avoids companies that derive significant income from pornography and related areas. Strategies vary.

Animal welfare policy

Has policies that require specific animal welfare standards to be met. These may reference well-known welfare standards (3Rs - Replace, Reduce, Refine) or certification schemes. Strategies vary.

Human Rights
Human rights policy

Has policies relating to human rights issues. Typically require companies to demonstrate higher standards, although some managers work to encourage improvements. Investee companies are often judged against internationally agreed norms or standards. Strategies vary.

Child labour exclusion

Has policies to avoid companies that employ children.

Oppressive regimes (not free or democratic) exclusion policy

Has policies that exclude companies or other assets which operate in, or are owned by regimes which are not democratic, or where people may be oppressed. May use eg. Freedom House research. Strategies vary.

Responsible supply chain policy or theme

Has policies or a theme that relates to the responsible management of supply chains. These may relate to employment issues, notably people employed by their suppliers, as well as the sourcing of materials and products.

Meeting Peoples' Basic Needs
Water / sanitation policy or theme

Have policies or themes that set out the position on investment in the water sector and/or sanitation. Strategies vary.

Governance & Management
Governance policy

Has 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.

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 & corruption policy

Has 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.

Product / Service Governance
External oversight / advisory committee (fund / service)

Find options that have an external committee that helps steer or advise managers on sustainability, ethical, stewardship or ESG policy or strategy related issues. These people may be paid for their time but are not employees of the fund manager.

ESG integration strategy

Find fund / asset managers 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.

Impact Methodologies
Aims to generate positive impacts (or 'outcomes')

Has policies 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.

Positive environmental impact theme

Specifically sets out to help deliver positive environmental impacts, benefits or 'real world' outcomes.

Positive social impact theme

Specifically states that they aim to deliver positive social (i.e. people related) impacts and/or outcomes.

Invests in environmental solutions companies

Directs investment towards companies where a major part of their business is about solving environmental challenges. e.g. companies helping to address climate change.

How The Fund/Portfolio Works
Positive selection bias

Focuses on finding and investing in companies with positive / beneficial attributes. This strategy can be applied in addition to exclusion criteria and engagement/stewardship activity.

Strictly screened ethical investment

Has principle approach to apply positive or negative ethical, social and / or environmental screens. Strictly screened investments are likely to exclude more companies than other related options. Strategies vary.

Balances company 'pros and cons' / best in sector

Considers both the 'positive' and 'negative' aspects of company behaviour and makes balanced, considered decisions as part of their investment approach. May apply to a range of different issues and policy areas.

Norms focus

Uses internationally agreed standards, conventions and 'norms' to help direct investment decisions (e.g. the UN Global Compact, UN Sustainable Development Goals).

SRI / ESG / Ethical policies explained on website

Publish explanations of their ethical, social and/or environmental policies online (i.e. investment decision making strategies/ buy/sell &/or asset management strategies).

Intended Clients & Product Options
Available via an ISA (OEIC only)

Available via a tax efficient ISA product wrapper.

Fund Management Company Information

About The Business
Responsible ownership / stewardship policy or strategy (AFM companywide)

Finds fund / asset 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 companywide)

Find fund / asset 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 companywide)

Find fund / asset 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 / ESG a key differentiator (AFM companywide)

Find fund / asset managers that consider responsible ownership and ESG to be a key differentiator for their business.

Senior management KPIs include environmental goals (AFM companywide)

The leadership team of this fund / asset manager have performance targets linked to environmental goals.

SDG aligned aims / objectives (AFM companywide)

Find fund / asset management companies that aim to align all their investments (across all funds) to help meet the aims of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Responsible ownership policy for non SRI / sustainable options (AFM companywide)

Find options run by 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 across all or most funds, products and services.

Integrates ESG factors into all / most research (AFM companywide)

Find fund / asset 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.

Diversity, equality & inclusion engagement policy (AFM companywide)

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

UKSIF member

Find fund / asset management companies that are members of UKSIF - the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance association

TNFD forum member (AFM companywide)

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

Resources
In-house responsible ownership / voting expertise

Find fund / asset 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 / asset 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 / asset 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
UK Stewardship Code signatory (AFM companywide)

Find fund / asset managers that are signatories to the FRC UK Stewardship Code, which sets out a framework for constructive investor / investee relations where managers are encouraged to behave like responsible, typically longer term 'company owners'.

Engagement Approach
Regularly lead collaborative ESG initiatives (AFM companywide)

Find fund / asset 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 companywide)

Find fund / asset management companies that are working with the companies they invest in to encourage more responsible corporate taxation.

Company Wide Exclusions
Controversial weapons avoidance policy (AFM companywide)

Find fund / asset management companies (not funds) that avoid investment in 'controversial weapons' across all of their funds and other investment vehicles.

Review(ing) carbon / fossil fuel exposure for all funds (AFM companywide)

Find funds / asset managers that are reviewing, or have reviewed, their exposure to carbon intensive industries including (but not only) mining, oil and gas companies. (Typically with reference to climate change.)

Climate & Net Zero Transition
Voting policy includes net zero targets (AFM companywide)

Fund / asset manager AGM / EGM voting strategy has processes in place that mean they will normally be expected to vote in a way that will encourage the transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Net Zero - have set a Net Zero target date (AFM companywide)

This fund / 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 companywide)

Find fund / asset management companies that are working with the companies they invest in to encourage reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.

Carbon offsetting - offset carbon as part of net zero plan (AFM companywide)

This fund / asset management company plans to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (CO2e) emissions with the help of a scheme that will lock away an amount of carbon that is equivalent to the company’s own emissions – so that the end result is ‘net zero’. Calculations and scope vary.

In-house carbon / GHG reduction policy (AFM companywide)

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Transparency
Publish responsible ownership / stewardship report (AFM companywide)

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Full stewardship / responsible ownership policy information on company website

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Publish full voting record (AFM companywide)

Fund / asset 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.

Sustainability transition plan publicly available (AFM companywide)

This fund / asset management company has published a plan that explains how they are to become a sustainable business - without significant negative environmental or social impacts.

Paris Alignment plan publicly available (AFM companywide)

This fund / asset management company has published a plan that explains how they will align to the climate change commitments made at the Paris Climate Talks, COP21.

Net Zero transition plan publicly available (AFM companywide)

This fund / asset management company has published a plan that explains how they are going to achieve net zero greenhouse gas / CO2e emissions.

Dialshifter statement

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

Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Policy:

Investment Objective

To generate income and some growth over the long term (5 years or more) by investing in sterling denominated investment grade corporate bonds which adhere to the abrdn Ethical Corporate Bond Investment Approach.

Performance Target: To be top quartile within the fund's peer group; defined as the Investment Association Sterling Corporate Bond Sector, over rolling five-year periods (after charges). There is no certainty or promise that the Performance Target will be achieved. Due to the ethical nature of the management process, there are a material number of stocks and sectors that the fund is unable to invest in while other funds in the Investment Association Sterling Corporate Bond Sector can, which means the fund's performance profile may deviate significantly from that of the Investment Association Sterling Corporate Bond Sector average.

The Investment Association Sterling Corporate Bond Sector (the "Sector") is a representative group of investment funds with a focus on sterling denominated investment grade bonds issued by companies.

Investment Policy
Portfolio Securities

  •  The fund will invest at least 60% in sterling denominated investment grade corporate bonds (which are like loans to companies that pay interest and are typically regarded as having a low default risk) issued anywhere in the world.
  • The fund may also invest in other bonds, including high yield bonds (which are like loans to companies or governments that pay a high rate of interest but have a lower credit rating than investment grade bonds). The fund will employ techniques to reduce (hedge) risk related to currency movements on non-sterling bonds.
  • The fund may also invest in other funds (including those managed by abrdn), cash and assets that can be turned into cash quickly.
  • All investments will adhere to the abrdn Ethical Corporate Bond Investment Approach (the "Investment Approach") as set out in the prospectus.
  • The fund applies a set of company exclusions which are related but not limited to fossil fuels, animal testing, weaponry, pornography, gambling, tobacco and alcohol.
  • In addition, the investment team carries out qualitative and quantitative assessment of companies' ESG characteristics.
  • The qualitative assessment utilises abrdn's fixed income investment process, which enables portfolio managers to assess how ESG factors are likely to impact on the company's ability to repay its debt, both now and in the future. A key component of this is the ESG Risk Rating, which enables the management team to qualitatively identify and avoid ESG laggards.
  • The quantitative assessment utilises the abrdn ESG House Score to evaluate how companies manage their ESG risks and assigns a score accordingly. The global universe of scored companies is then sorted and split into 7 equal groupings, with at least 70% of the fund invested in companies in the top two groups.

(Source: KIID, as at January 2026)

Dialshifter (Fund)

 

 

 

Dialshifter (Corporate)

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

 abrdn strongly supports the objectives of the Paris Agreement. We are committed to playing a constructive role in the decarbonisation of the global economy and serving the long-term interests of our clients. We have developed a business-wide approach to support the goals of the Paris Agreement based on five principles:

  • Public policy advocacy
  • Rigorous climate scenario analysis
  • Responsible stewardship
  • abrdn net zero real estate commitment
  • Reporting: tracking carbon and climate solutions

Further information on these principles and our approach to Paris alignment is available here:  https://www.abrdn.com/docs?editionId=407977f9-165c-4edf-a894-13d005e4ac3f

SDR Labelling:

Unlabelled - promotes sustainable characteristics (has CFD)