M&G Positive Impact Fund

SRI Style:

Sustainable Style

SDR Labelling:

Sustainability Impact label

Product:

OEIC

Fund Region:

Global

Fund Asset Type:

Equity

Launch Date:

20/11/2018

Last Amended:

Jul 2023

Dialshifter ():

Fund Size:

£199.60m

(as at: 31/12/2024)

Total Screened Themed SRI Assets:

£19510.51m

(as at: 31/12/2022)

Total Responsible Ownership Assets:

£304100.00m

(as at: 31/12/2022)

Total Assets Under Management:

£304100.00m

(as at: 31/12/2022)

ISIN:

GB00BK7XXT18, GB00BG886984, GB00BG886877, GB00BG03Y751, GB00BG886F40, GB00BG886D26, GB00BG886C19, GB00BG886B02, GB00BG886760, GB00BG884724

Contact Us:

info@mandg.co.uk

Objectives:

The Fund has two aims:

  • To provide a higher total return (the combination of capital growth and income), net of the Ongoing Charges Figure, than the MSCI ACWI Index over any five-year period; and
  • To invest in companies that aim to have a positive societal impact through addressing the world’s major social and environmental challenges.

Sustainable, Responsible
&/or ESG Overview:

Awaiting update from fund manager - fund last updated July 2023

 

The M&G Positive Impact Fund is a Global Equity Impact fund aimed at addressing the world's most pressing issues. The fund targets three under-addressed challenges on the environmental side and three on social side: climate action, environmental solutions, circular economy, better health saving lives, better work and education, social inclusion. Eligibility for the fund is assessed at company level using the III impact assessment methodology (Investment, Intention and Impact). ESG considerations are analysed within the ‘Investment’ and ‘Intention’ pillars of this framework.

Primary fund last amended:

Jul 2023

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.

UN Global Compact linked exclusion policy

Find funds that use the UN Global Compact to inform or help direct where they can or cannot invest and will typically not invest in companies with significant breaches (low standards) - although strategies vary. (The UNGC covers a wide range of issues - search 'UNGC'). See https://unglobalcompact.org/

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) focus

Find funds that specifically aim to invest (and manage assets) in ways that help to address all or some of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). See https://sdgs.un.org/goals).

Report against sustainability objectives

Find funds that publicly report their performance against specifically named sustainability objectives (in addition to reporting their financial performance)

Circular economy theme

Fund has a theme or investment strand focused on the shift to a circular economy (where products are reused and recycled not incinerated or dumped). See eg https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/overview

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.

Waste management policy or theme

Find funds that have a written policy or theme on waste management - typically a view to encouraging higher levels of recycling and better efficiency / reducing waste.

Nature & Biodiversity
Biodiversity / nature policy

Find funds that have a written biodiversity policy or theme aimed at encouraging and improving environmental protection and safeguarding the natural world (sometimes referred to as the preservation or enhancement of 'natural capital'). See eg https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/biodiversity

Water stewardship policy

Fund has a policy which sets out their expectations for how investee assets should manage water

Climate Change & Energy
Coal, oil & / or gas majors excluded

Funds that avoid investing in major coal, oil and/or gas (extraction) companies. Funds vary: some may exclude all companies that extract oil. Others may have exposure to oil extraction via more diversified energy companies. See fund literature to confirm details.

Fracking and tar sands excluded

Funds that avoid companies involved in fracking and tar sands - which are widely regarded as controversial methods of oil and gas extraction. Strategies vary. See fund information for further information.

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.

Nuclear exclusion policy

Find funds that have policies which say they avoid or limit their investment in the nuclear industry. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

TCFD reporting requirement (Becoming IFRS)

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

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.

Labour standards policy

Find funds that have a labour standards policy - which can be expected to mean that the fund will invest in / favour companies that have higher standards in this area - although fund strategies can vary significantly (as with all policy areas). See eg https://www.ilo.org/international-labour-standards

Health & wellbeing policies or theme

Find funds with policies or themes that set out their approach to health and wellbeing issues. Funds of this kind typically aim to invest in companies with high standards - or encourage high standards. Themed funds are likely to have more of an emphasis on this area. Strategies vary. See fund information for further 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 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

Find funds that avoid companies that manufacture products intended specifically for military use. Fund strategies vary - particularly with regard to non-strategic military products. See fund literature for fund specific details.

Alcohol production excluded

Find funds that avoid investment in companies involved in the production of alcohol. Strategies vary; some funds allow a small proportion of profits to come from this area. See fund literature for further information.

Gambling avoidance policy

Find funds that avoid companies with significant involvement in the gambling industry. Some funds may allow a small proportion of profits to come from this area. See fund policy for further details.

Pornography avoidance policy

Find funds that avoid companies that derive significant income from pornography and related areas. Strategies vary. See fund details for further information.

Human Rights
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.

Oppressive regimes (not free or democratic) exclusion policy

Find funds with policies that exclude companies or other assets where regimes are not democratic, or where people may be oppressed. May use eg. Freedom House research. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.

Meeting Peoples' Basic Needs
Water / sanitation policy or theme

Find funds that have policies or themes that set out their position on investment in the water sector and/or sanitation. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Responsible food production or agriculture theme

Fund has a responsible food production or agriculture theme or strand of investment. Funds may have a single theme or many themes. See fund information.

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.

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.

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

Funds that aim to help or support the delivery of positive social or environmental impacts (or societal/real world outcomes) by investing in companies they regard as beneficial to people and / or the planet. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.

Measures positive impacts

Funds that aim to measure the positive real world environmental and / or social benefits that are associated with their investment strategy. Funds that aim to deliver positive impacts and measure those impacts may be referred to as 'impact funds' - although impact measurement is not restricted to impact funds. Strategies vary. See fund information.

Described as an ‘impact investment fund’

Funds that are specifically marketed as ‘Impact investments funds' will work to deliver both financial performance and specific, measurable positive, real world social and/or environmental benefits. Strategies vary.

Positive environmental impact theme

Find funds that specifically set out to help deliver positive environmental impacts, benefits or 'real world' outcomes.

Invests in social solutions companies

Find funds that invest in companies where a major part of their business is specifically aimed at helping to address social challenges. e.g. companies helping to address poverty.

Aim to deliver positive impacts through engagement

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

How The Fund Works
Positive selection bias

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

Strictly screened ethical fund

Find funds where their main approach is to apply positive or negative ethical, social and / or environmental screens. Strictly screened funds are likely to exclude more companies than other related fund options. See fund literature for further information.

Assets mapped to SDGs

Find funds that have 'mapped' (reviewed) their investment selection and management strategies to identify which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the fund is helping to address.

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.

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.

Available via an ISA (OEIC only)

Find funds that are available via a tax efficient ISA product wrapper.

Labels & Accreditations
RSMR rated

Find funds that are rated by research agency 'Rayner Spencer Mills Research' (awarded 'RSMR Rated' status). Read fund literature or contact RSMR for further information.

SFDR Article 9 fund / product (EU)

Finds funds classified under Article 9 of the EU’s SFDR (Sustainable Finance Disclosure Requirements). Article 9 of the SFDR applies to financial products that have sustainable investment 'objectives' - including emissions reduction objectives. (These may currently be referred to as 'impact' funds or aiming to deliver clear, specific positive outcomes.) These rules do not currently apply in the UK so fund managers may leave this field blank.

SDR Labelled

Find funds that have chosen to adopt one of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) SDR labels. Please note: there are a range of reasons why potentially relevant funds may not use an SDR label eg. adopting a label may be work in progress, the manager may not yet be allowed to do so because of the product type, a manager may feel their fund is insufficiently aligned to SDR requirements. Read fund literature and / or our blogs for further information.

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 / ESG a key differentiator (AFM company wide)

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

Sustainable property strategy (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that take sustainability criteria into account when selecting and/or managing all of their property / real estate investments.

SDG aligned aims / objectives (AFM company wide)

Find fund 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 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'.

UKSIF member

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

Fund EcoMarket partner

Find fund management companies that have partnered with Fund EcoMarket - meaning that they are helping to improve access to information on sustainable and responsible investment by paying an annual fee to us which enables us to publish information for free. Partner funds are listed ahead of other funds and have their logos displayed.

Investment Association (IA) member

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

Resources
In-house responsible ownership / voting expertise

Find fund management companies that employ people to steer and support fund managers in voting shares at company AGM's and EGMs in ways that are consistent with encouraging higher ESG/sustainability standards.

Employ specialist ESG / SRI / sustainability researchers

Find a fund management company that directly employs specialist ESG/SRI/sustainability researchers or analysts. This allows asset managers to discuss environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities directly with companies.

Use specialist ESG / SRI / sustainability research companies

Find fund management companies that makes use of expert external research companies. This can help deliver specialist expertise and means resources are pooled with other investors.

ESG specialists on all investment desks (AFM company wide)

Finds organisations / fund managers that have one or more ESG/sustainability experts on all investment teams or 'desks' (all asset types)

Accreditations
PRI A+ rated (AFM company wide)

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

UK Stewardship Code signatory (AFM company wide)

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

Engagement Approach
Regularly lead collaborative ESG initiatives (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that regularly initiate or run industry wide (collaborative) investor projects aimed at raising environmental, social and governance standards amongst investee companies.

Engaging on climate change issues

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

Engaging with fossil fuel companies on climate change

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

Engaging to reduce plastics pollution / waste

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

Engaging on biodiversity / nature issues

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

Engaging to encourage a Just Transition

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

Engaging on human rights issues

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

Engaging on labour / employment issues

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

Engaging on diversity, equality and / or inclusion issues

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

Engaging 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

Company Wide Exclusions
Controversial weapons avoidance policy (AFM company wide)

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

Fossil fuel exclusion policy (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that avoid investment in fossil fuel companies (e.g. coal, oil and gas) across all of their funds. (and/ or other assets.)

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.

Publish 'CEO owned' Climate Risk policy (AFM company wide)

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

Encourage carbon / greenhouse gas reduction (AFM company wide)

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

Carbon transition plan published (AFM company wide)

Finds organisations / fund managers that have a company wide carbon transition plan - meaning that they have plotted a path to how they will move away from activities that produce or use carbon based energy sources (that emit greenhouse gases) towards clean, alternative, renewable energy sources.

In-house carbon / GHG reduction policy (AFM company wide)

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

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.

Publish full voting record (AFM company wide)

Fund management companies that publish a full record of how they vote their shares at AGMs (annual general meetings) and EGMs (extraordinary general meetings). Voting strategies have an important role to play encouraging higher environmental, social and governance standards.

Net Zero transition plan publicly available (AFM company wide)

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

Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Policy:

At least 80% of the Fund is invested in the equity securities of companies across any sector and market capitalisation that are domiciled in any country, including Emerging Markets. The Fund has a concentrated portfolio and usually holds fewer than 40 stocks.

 

Assessment and measurement of the ability to deliver positive social and/or environmental impact and generate financial returns will be conducted at a company level using M&G’s impact assessment methodology. This focuses on three criteria:

  • Investment credentials: the quality and durability of the company’s business model and its ability to produce sustainable economic returns;
  • Intention: the company’s purpose as evidenced by the alignment of its mission statement with its corporate actions and strategy; and
  • Impact: the scale of the net positive societal impact and the company’s progress towards addressing specified social and environmental challenges.

 

Certain investments which are considered by M&G to conflict with the Fund’s aim to invest in companies with a positive societal impact are excluded from the investment universe. The following are excluded:

  • Companies that are assessed to be in breach of the United Nations Global Compact principles on human rights, labour rights, the environment and anti-corruption; and
  • Companies involved in the production of tobacco, alcohol, adult entertainment, controversial weapons, oil sands, nuclear power or coal-fired power, or the provision of gambling services.

The fund manager has discretion to invest in companies with limited exposure to fossil fuels but which are driving or significantly participating in the transition to a more sustainable economy.

 

Process:

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors are integrated throughout the investment process to identify companies with strong ESG credentials. Sustainability considerations are fully integrated in the investment process and ESG credentials are measured through a range of sustainability indicators.

 

From an initial global investment universe of over 4,000 companies, the Investment Manager uses negative screening to remove any companies deemed to be in breach of the UN Global Compact Principles, as well as those involved in a number of excluded/restricted sectors and activities. These screens are monitored internally on an ongoing basis through a number of external data providers which flag companies involved in breaches.

 

From this remaining pool of stocks, the Investment Manager ‘screens in’ a watch-list of some 150 impactful companies that can be purchased if the Investment Manager believes the timing and price are right. These are analysed applying the Investment Manager’s proprietary III approach, examining the Investment case, Intentionality and Impact of a company to assess its suitability for the Fund.

 

The III framework applies set criteria and standards for rating the inclusion and investment case of each company. Each ‘I’ score is derived from the assessment and rating of its key drivers.

  • The Investment pillar helps determine the strength of the business model under review by examining a company’s competitive attributes as well as its track record of capital allocation and its corresponding business risks.
  • The Intention pillar aims to protect from the risk of greenwashing by ensuring that a company has an authentic purpose that filters through the entire organisation.
  • When assessing the ‘Impact’ score of a company, the Investment Manager adopts a net impact approach where any activity that might be causing harm is deducted from the positive as well as consider the measurability, ‘materiality’, and the ‘additionality’ of the impact delivered.

 

As part of this analysis, it scores companies on these III credentials, and requires above-average results for consideration within the watch-list. Once a company has been analysed through the III process and been deemed potentially appropriate for the watch-list, the wider Positive Impact team will debate it merits. Only when the team is unanimously convinced of the appropriateness of the company will it enter the watch-list. At that point, extended due diligence is carried out on the company through a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to further analyse all elements of the business.

 

Data sources:

We use third party research to aid in our internal ESG methodologies. The third party research forms part of our overall approach to internal ESG research. All our investment teams have access to this range of external ESG data providers, which ensures that the teams have sufficient ESG data and research that can be used by portfolio managers and analysts when engaging with companies on issues material to them.

 

Our analysts and investment teams also make use of external ESG content for a range of purposes. We have portal and data access with a number of ESG vendors, including MSCI, ISS, Sustainalytics and other specialist advisers.

 

In addition, we obtain ESG data through authorised aggregators or channels, including Bloomberg, Factset, Refinitiv Eikon and Aladdin. Our ESG Data Strategy records preferred vendors for particular coverage and subject matter requirements. The use of these vendors for different applications should balance the following requirements:

  • Data quality and accuracy – whether the vendor’s products deliver accurate, actionable information in the context of the envisaged use case
  • Breadth of coverage for particular asset classes

 

Resources, Affiliations & Corporate Strategies:

The central ESG team at M&G Investments is the Stewardship & Sustainability (S&S) team, which currently comprises of 32 M&G employees. Additionally, there are numerous ESG specialists across the floor, embedded in investment teams. At M&G we believe that ESG integration should occur in all parts of our investment business and to reflect this everyone has an objective to this end.

 

We look to continuously monitor S&S team resourcing levels to ensure the best quality of service is provided to clients. M&G will also ensure and make it the responsibility of all team members to keep up to date with the rapidly changing landscape of ESG to leverage resources effectively.

 

The S&S team works collaboratively, both directly and via the analysts, to equip managers to make better-informed decisions, knowing the full spectrum of ESG risks that could impact their portfolios, as well as where these risks may be concentrated within certain issuers or holdings. By working in conjunction with the credit and equity analysts on ESG, the S&S team is able to ensure that ESG risks and opportunities are considered throughout the full investment process, as well as in the monitoring of companies.

 

Rob Marshall, Head of Sustainable Investments at M&G Investments heads up the S&S team and research

 

Rob Marshall – Head of Sustainable Investments

Rob was appointed Head of Sustainable Investments in July 2022. Prior to that, Rob served as the Global Head of Research since 2019, responsible for leading M&G’s highly regarded Credit and Equity Research teams. During his time with M&G, Rob has worked as an analyst and credit practitioner across Public and Private asset classes.

Rob joined M&G in 2000. He previously worked as a senior analyst in European structured finance for the credit rating agency DCR, and later for Fitch Ratings. Rob holds a degree in Classics from Christ's College, Cambridge.

 

Rupert Krefting, Head of Corporate Finance and Stewardship

Rupert Krefting joined M&G in March 2016 and was appointed Head of Corporate Finance and Stewardship, Equities. Rupert has worked in investment banking for more than two decades. Most recently, he was at Numis, where he was a director in its corporate broking and advisory business for 8 years. Prior to his move to Numis, Rupert held senior roles at Investec and Panmure Gordon on the advisory side. He is a chartered accountant.

 

Ben Constable-Maxwell, Head of Sustainable & Impact Investment

Ben joined M&G in 2003 as a senior investment writer covering global and European equities, before joining the investment specialist team supporting the global equity desk. He is now Head of Sustainable and Impact Investing, responsible for sustainable investing at M&G and for developing M&G’s impact investment activities within our Equities business.

Ben has been central to the development of ESG integration within M&G’s investment processes and has supported the development of ESG client solutions across asset classes. He sits on M&G’s Responsible Investment Advisory Forum, which oversees ESG related activities at M&G, and is a member of the UK Investment Association’s Sustainability & Responsible Investment Committee, chairing the Working Group on non-financial disclosures.

Previous to M&G, Ben spent four years with the Equities team at Invesco Perpetual. Ben graduated from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne with an Honours Degree in Classics and has been on M&G’s Staff Charity Fund Committee since 2004. With the launch of the M&G Positive Impact Fund, Ben will be taking the Impact lead alongside fund manager John William Olsen.

 

John Vercoe

John joined as a Manager in the Policy and Disclosure team in January 2021 from 8 Miles, where he was the Head of ESG and Impact for Bob Geldof’s African Mid Cap Private Equity Firm. With 22 years of environmental and social risk experience, John currently Heads up Sustainability for Public Assets at M&G. John is a chartered environmentalist (C.Env), Member of the Institution of Environmental Sciences (M.IES) and Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts (F.RSA).

 

The following is a list of Initiatives and signatories of M&G plc and M&G Investments:

M&G plc

  • UN Global Compact
  • TCFD
  • TNFD Forum
  • CDP
  • ClimateWise
  • ShareAction's Workforce Disclosure Initiative (WDI)
  • National Equality Index
  • Stonewall's Top 100 Employers
  • Department of Work and Pensions - Level 3 Disability Confident Leader
  • Say on Climate
  • Powering Past Coal Alliance

 

M&G Investments

  • 30% Club Investor Group
  • Access to Medicine Foundation
  • All Party Parliamentary Corporate Governance Group (APPCGG)
  • CDP
  • Climate Action 100+ (CA 100+)
  • Climate Bonds Initiative
  • Climate Bonds Initiative -  Climate Bonds Industry Working Group for Hydropower Investments
  • Climate Bonds Initiative - Climate Bonds Industry Working Group for Bioenergy European Green Securities Steering Committee
  • Climate Bonds Initiative - Climate Bonds Industry Working Group for Marine Renewable Energy Investments
  • European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA)
  • FAIRR (Farm Animal Investment Risk and Return)
  • Find it, Fix it, Prevent it
  • Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN)
  • Green Bond Principles
  • IA (Investment Association )
  • IA Corporate Reporting and Auditing Group (CRAG)
  • IA Remuneration and Shares committee
  • IA Responsible Investment committee
  • IA Stewardship & Governance Committee
  • IA Stewardship Reporting Working Group
  • Impact Management Project (IMP) [Now Impact Management Platform]
  • Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC)
  • International Corporate Governance Network
  • Investor Forum
  • Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative
  • Pre-emption Group
  • Transition Pathway Initiative (TPI)
  • UK Stewardship Code 2020
  • UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF)
  • UN PRI

SDR Labelling:

Sustainability Impact label

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

M&G Positive Impact Fund

Sustainable Style Sustainability Impact label OEIC Global Equity 20/11/2018 Jul 2023

Objectives

The Fund has two aims:

  • To provide a higher total return (the combination of capital growth and income), net of the Ongoing Charges Figure, than the MSCI ACWI Index over any five-year period; and
  • To invest in companies that aim to have a positive societal impact through addressing the world’s major social and environmental challenges.

Fund Size: £199.60m

(as at: 31/12/2024)

Total Screened Themed SRI Assets: £19510.51m

(as at: 31/12/2022)

Total Responsible Ownership Assets: £304100.00m

(as at: 31/12/2022)

Total Assets Under Management: £304100.00m

(as at: 31/12/2022)

ISIN: GB00BK7XXT18, GB00BG886984, GB00BG886877, GB00BG03Y751, GB00BG886F40, GB00BG886D26, GB00BG886C19, GB00BG886B02, GB00BG886760, GB00BG884724

Contact Us: info@mandg.co.uk

Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Overview

Awaiting update from fund manager - fund last updated July 2023

 

The M&G Positive Impact Fund is a Global Equity Impact fund aimed at addressing the world's most pressing issues. The fund targets three under-addressed challenges on the environmental side and three on social side: climate action, environmental solutions, circular economy, better health saving lives, better work and education, social inclusion. Eligibility for the fund is assessed at company level using the III impact assessment methodology (Investment, Intention and Impact). ESG considerations are analysed within the ‘Investment’ and ‘Intention’ pillars of this framework.

Primary fund last amended: Jul 2023

Information received directly from Fund Manager

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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.

UN Global Compact linked exclusion policy

Find funds that use the UN Global Compact to inform or help direct where they can or cannot invest and will typically not invest in companies with significant breaches (low standards) - although strategies vary. (The UNGC covers a wide range of issues - search 'UNGC'). See https://unglobalcompact.org/

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) focus

Find funds that specifically aim to invest (and manage assets) in ways that help to address all or some of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). See https://sdgs.un.org/goals).

Report against sustainability objectives

Find funds that publicly report their performance against specifically named sustainability objectives (in addition to reporting their financial performance)

Circular economy theme

Fund has a theme or investment strand focused on the shift to a circular economy (where products are reused and recycled not incinerated or dumped). See eg https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/overview

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.

Waste management policy or theme

Find funds that have a written policy or theme on waste management - typically a view to encouraging higher levels of recycling and better efficiency / reducing waste.

Nature & Biodiversity
Biodiversity / nature policy

Find funds that have a written biodiversity policy or theme aimed at encouraging and improving environmental protection and safeguarding the natural world (sometimes referred to as the preservation or enhancement of 'natural capital'). See eg https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/biodiversity

Water stewardship policy

Fund has a policy which sets out their expectations for how investee assets should manage water

Climate Change & Energy
Coal, oil & / or gas majors excluded

Funds that avoid investing in major coal, oil and/or gas (extraction) companies. Funds vary: some may exclude all companies that extract oil. Others may have exposure to oil extraction via more diversified energy companies. See fund literature to confirm details.

Fracking and tar sands excluded

Funds that avoid companies involved in fracking and tar sands - which are widely regarded as controversial methods of oil and gas extraction. Strategies vary. See fund information for further information.

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.

Nuclear exclusion policy

Find funds that have policies which say they avoid or limit their investment in the nuclear industry. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

TCFD reporting requirement (Becoming IFRS)

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

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.

Labour standards policy

Find funds that have a labour standards policy - which can be expected to mean that the fund will invest in / favour companies that have higher standards in this area - although fund strategies can vary significantly (as with all policy areas). See eg https://www.ilo.org/international-labour-standards

Health & wellbeing policies or theme

Find funds with policies or themes that set out their approach to health and wellbeing issues. Funds of this kind typically aim to invest in companies with high standards - or encourage high standards. Themed funds are likely to have more of an emphasis on this area. Strategies vary. See fund information for further 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 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

Find funds that avoid companies that manufacture products intended specifically for military use. Fund strategies vary - particularly with regard to non-strategic military products. See fund literature for fund specific details.

Alcohol production excluded

Find funds that avoid investment in companies involved in the production of alcohol. Strategies vary; some funds allow a small proportion of profits to come from this area. See fund literature for further information.

Gambling avoidance policy

Find funds that avoid companies with significant involvement in the gambling industry. Some funds may allow a small proportion of profits to come from this area. See fund policy for further details.

Pornography avoidance policy

Find funds that avoid companies that derive significant income from pornography and related areas. Strategies vary. See fund details for further information.

Human Rights
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.

Oppressive regimes (not free or democratic) exclusion policy

Find funds with policies that exclude companies or other assets where regimes are not democratic, or where people may be oppressed. May use eg. Freedom House research. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.

Meeting Peoples' Basic Needs
Water / sanitation policy or theme

Find funds that have policies or themes that set out their position on investment in the water sector and/or sanitation. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Responsible food production or agriculture theme

Fund has a responsible food production or agriculture theme or strand of investment. Funds may have a single theme or many themes. See fund information.

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.

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.

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

Funds that aim to help or support the delivery of positive social or environmental impacts (or societal/real world outcomes) by investing in companies they regard as beneficial to people and / or the planet. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.

Measures positive impacts

Funds that aim to measure the positive real world environmental and / or social benefits that are associated with their investment strategy. Funds that aim to deliver positive impacts and measure those impacts may be referred to as 'impact funds' - although impact measurement is not restricted to impact funds. Strategies vary. See fund information.

Described as an ‘impact investment fund’

Funds that are specifically marketed as ‘Impact investments funds' will work to deliver both financial performance and specific, measurable positive, real world social and/or environmental benefits. Strategies vary.

Positive environmental impact theme

Find funds that specifically set out to help deliver positive environmental impacts, benefits or 'real world' outcomes.

Invests in social solutions companies

Find funds that invest in companies where a major part of their business is specifically aimed at helping to address social challenges. e.g. companies helping to address poverty.

Aim to deliver positive impacts through engagement

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

How The Fund Works
Positive selection bias

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

Strictly screened ethical fund

Find funds where their main approach is to apply positive or negative ethical, social and / or environmental screens. Strictly screened funds are likely to exclude more companies than other related fund options. See fund literature for further information.

Assets mapped to SDGs

Find funds that have 'mapped' (reviewed) their investment selection and management strategies to identify which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the fund is helping to address.

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.

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.

Available via an ISA (OEIC only)

Find funds that are available via a tax efficient ISA product wrapper.

Labels & Accreditations
RSMR rated

Find funds that are rated by research agency 'Rayner Spencer Mills Research' (awarded 'RSMR Rated' status). Read fund literature or contact RSMR for further information.

SFDR Article 9 fund / product (EU)

Finds funds classified under Article 9 of the EU’s SFDR (Sustainable Finance Disclosure Requirements). Article 9 of the SFDR applies to financial products that have sustainable investment 'objectives' - including emissions reduction objectives. (These may currently be referred to as 'impact' funds or aiming to deliver clear, specific positive outcomes.) These rules do not currently apply in the UK so fund managers may leave this field blank.

SDR Labelled

Find funds that have chosen to adopt one of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) SDR labels. Please note: there are a range of reasons why potentially relevant funds may not use an SDR label eg. adopting a label may be work in progress, the manager may not yet be allowed to do so because of the product type, a manager may feel their fund is insufficiently aligned to SDR requirements. Read fund literature and / or our blogs for further information.

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 / ESG a key differentiator (AFM company wide)

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

Sustainable property strategy (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that take sustainability criteria into account when selecting and/or managing all of their property / real estate investments.

SDG aligned aims / objectives (AFM company wide)

Find fund 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 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'.

UKSIF member

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

Fund EcoMarket partner

Find fund management companies that have partnered with Fund EcoMarket - meaning that they are helping to improve access to information on sustainable and responsible investment by paying an annual fee to us which enables us to publish information for free. Partner funds are listed ahead of other funds and have their logos displayed.

Investment Association (IA) member

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

Resources
In-house responsible ownership / voting expertise

Find fund management companies that employ people to steer and support fund managers in voting shares at company AGM's and EGMs in ways that are consistent with encouraging higher ESG/sustainability standards.

Employ specialist ESG / SRI / sustainability researchers

Find a fund management company that directly employs specialist ESG/SRI/sustainability researchers or analysts. This allows asset managers to discuss environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities directly with companies.

Use specialist ESG / SRI / sustainability research companies

Find fund management companies that makes use of expert external research companies. This can help deliver specialist expertise and means resources are pooled with other investors.

ESG specialists on all investment desks (AFM company wide)

Finds organisations / fund managers that have one or more ESG/sustainability experts on all investment teams or 'desks' (all asset types)

Accreditations
PRI A+ rated (AFM company wide)

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

UK Stewardship Code signatory (AFM company wide)

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

Engagement Approach
Regularly lead collaborative ESG initiatives (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that regularly initiate or run industry wide (collaborative) investor projects aimed at raising environmental, social and governance standards amongst investee companies.

Engaging on climate change issues

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

Engaging with fossil fuel companies on climate change

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

Engaging to reduce plastics pollution / waste

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

Engaging on biodiversity / nature issues

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

Engaging to encourage a Just Transition

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

Engaging on human rights issues

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

Engaging on labour / employment issues

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

Engaging on diversity, equality and / or inclusion issues

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

Engaging 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

Company Wide Exclusions
Controversial weapons avoidance policy (AFM company wide)

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

Fossil fuel exclusion policy (AFM company wide)

Find fund management companies that avoid investment in fossil fuel companies (e.g. coal, oil and gas) across all of their funds. (and/ or other assets.)

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.

Publish 'CEO owned' Climate Risk policy (AFM company wide)

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

Encourage carbon / greenhouse gas reduction (AFM company wide)

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

Carbon transition plan published (AFM company wide)

Finds organisations / fund managers that have a company wide carbon transition plan - meaning that they have plotted a path to how they will move away from activities that produce or use carbon based energy sources (that emit greenhouse gases) towards clean, alternative, renewable energy sources.

In-house carbon / GHG reduction policy (AFM company wide)

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

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.

Publish full voting record (AFM company wide)

Fund management companies that publish a full record of how they vote their shares at AGMs (annual general meetings) and EGMs (extraordinary general meetings). Voting strategies have an important role to play encouraging higher environmental, social and governance standards.

Net Zero transition plan publicly available (AFM company wide)

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

Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Policy:

At least 80% of the Fund is invested in the equity securities of companies across any sector and market capitalisation that are domiciled in any country, including Emerging Markets. The Fund has a concentrated portfolio and usually holds fewer than 40 stocks.

 

Assessment and measurement of the ability to deliver positive social and/or environmental impact and generate financial returns will be conducted at a company level using M&G’s impact assessment methodology. This focuses on three criteria:

  • Investment credentials: the quality and durability of the company’s business model and its ability to produce sustainable economic returns;
  • Intention: the company’s purpose as evidenced by the alignment of its mission statement with its corporate actions and strategy; and
  • Impact: the scale of the net positive societal impact and the company’s progress towards addressing specified social and environmental challenges.

 

Certain investments which are considered by M&G to conflict with the Fund’s aim to invest in companies with a positive societal impact are excluded from the investment universe. The following are excluded:

  • Companies that are assessed to be in breach of the United Nations Global Compact principles on human rights, labour rights, the environment and anti-corruption; and
  • Companies involved in the production of tobacco, alcohol, adult entertainment, controversial weapons, oil sands, nuclear power or coal-fired power, or the provision of gambling services.

The fund manager has discretion to invest in companies with limited exposure to fossil fuels but which are driving or significantly participating in the transition to a more sustainable economy.

 

Process:

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors are integrated throughout the investment process to identify companies with strong ESG credentials. Sustainability considerations are fully integrated in the investment process and ESG credentials are measured through a range of sustainability indicators.

 

From an initial global investment universe of over 4,000 companies, the Investment Manager uses negative screening to remove any companies deemed to be in breach of the UN Global Compact Principles, as well as those involved in a number of excluded/restricted sectors and activities. These screens are monitored internally on an ongoing basis through a number of external data providers which flag companies involved in breaches.

 

From this remaining pool of stocks, the Investment Manager ‘screens in’ a watch-list of some 150 impactful companies that can be purchased if the Investment Manager believes the timing and price are right. These are analysed applying the Investment Manager’s proprietary III approach, examining the Investment case, Intentionality and Impact of a company to assess its suitability for the Fund.

 

The III framework applies set criteria and standards for rating the inclusion and investment case of each company. Each ‘I’ score is derived from the assessment and rating of its key drivers.

  • The Investment pillar helps determine the strength of the business model under review by examining a company’s competitive attributes as well as its track record of capital allocation and its corresponding business risks.
  • The Intention pillar aims to protect from the risk of greenwashing by ensuring that a company has an authentic purpose that filters through the entire organisation.
  • When assessing the ‘Impact’ score of a company, the Investment Manager adopts a net impact approach where any activity that might be causing harm is deducted from the positive as well as consider the measurability, ‘materiality’, and the ‘additionality’ of the impact delivered.

 

As part of this analysis, it scores companies on these III credentials, and requires above-average results for consideration within the watch-list. Once a company has been analysed through the III process and been deemed potentially appropriate for the watch-list, the wider Positive Impact team will debate it merits. Only when the team is unanimously convinced of the appropriateness of the company will it enter the watch-list. At that point, extended due diligence is carried out on the company through a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to further analyse all elements of the business.

 

Data sources:

We use third party research to aid in our internal ESG methodologies. The third party research forms part of our overall approach to internal ESG research. All our investment teams have access to this range of external ESG data providers, which ensures that the teams have sufficient ESG data and research that can be used by portfolio managers and analysts when engaging with companies on issues material to them.

 

Our analysts and investment teams also make use of external ESG content for a range of purposes. We have portal and data access with a number of ESG vendors, including MSCI, ISS, Sustainalytics and other specialist advisers.

 

In addition, we obtain ESG data through authorised aggregators or channels, including Bloomberg, Factset, Refinitiv Eikon and Aladdin. Our ESG Data Strategy records preferred vendors for particular coverage and subject matter requirements. The use of these vendors for different applications should balance the following requirements:

  • Data quality and accuracy – whether the vendor’s products deliver accurate, actionable information in the context of the envisaged use case
  • Breadth of coverage for particular asset classes

 

Resources, Affiliations & Corporate Strategies:

The central ESG team at M&G Investments is the Stewardship & Sustainability (S&S) team, which currently comprises of 32 M&G employees. Additionally, there are numerous ESG specialists across the floor, embedded in investment teams. At M&G we believe that ESG integration should occur in all parts of our investment business and to reflect this everyone has an objective to this end.

 

We look to continuously monitor S&S team resourcing levels to ensure the best quality of service is provided to clients. M&G will also ensure and make it the responsibility of all team members to keep up to date with the rapidly changing landscape of ESG to leverage resources effectively.

 

The S&S team works collaboratively, both directly and via the analysts, to equip managers to make better-informed decisions, knowing the full spectrum of ESG risks that could impact their portfolios, as well as where these risks may be concentrated within certain issuers or holdings. By working in conjunction with the credit and equity analysts on ESG, the S&S team is able to ensure that ESG risks and opportunities are considered throughout the full investment process, as well as in the monitoring of companies.

 

Rob Marshall, Head of Sustainable Investments at M&G Investments heads up the S&S team and research

 

Rob Marshall – Head of Sustainable Investments

Rob was appointed Head of Sustainable Investments in July 2022. Prior to that, Rob served as the Global Head of Research since 2019, responsible for leading M&G’s highly regarded Credit and Equity Research teams. During his time with M&G, Rob has worked as an analyst and credit practitioner across Public and Private asset classes.

Rob joined M&G in 2000. He previously worked as a senior analyst in European structured finance for the credit rating agency DCR, and later for Fitch Ratings. Rob holds a degree in Classics from Christ's College, Cambridge.

 

Rupert Krefting, Head of Corporate Finance and Stewardship

Rupert Krefting joined M&G in March 2016 and was appointed Head of Corporate Finance and Stewardship, Equities. Rupert has worked in investment banking for more than two decades. Most recently, he was at Numis, where he was a director in its corporate broking and advisory business for 8 years. Prior to his move to Numis, Rupert held senior roles at Investec and Panmure Gordon on the advisory side. He is a chartered accountant.

 

Ben Constable-Maxwell, Head of Sustainable & Impact Investment

Ben joined M&G in 2003 as a senior investment writer covering global and European equities, before joining the investment specialist team supporting the global equity desk. He is now Head of Sustainable and Impact Investing, responsible for sustainable investing at M&G and for developing M&G’s impact investment activities within our Equities business.

Ben has been central to the development of ESG integration within M&G’s investment processes and has supported the development of ESG client solutions across asset classes. He sits on M&G’s Responsible Investment Advisory Forum, which oversees ESG related activities at M&G, and is a member of the UK Investment Association’s Sustainability & Responsible Investment Committee, chairing the Working Group on non-financial disclosures.

Previous to M&G, Ben spent four years with the Equities team at Invesco Perpetual. Ben graduated from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne with an Honours Degree in Classics and has been on M&G’s Staff Charity Fund Committee since 2004. With the launch of the M&G Positive Impact Fund, Ben will be taking the Impact lead alongside fund manager John William Olsen.

 

John Vercoe

John joined as a Manager in the Policy and Disclosure team in January 2021 from 8 Miles, where he was the Head of ESG and Impact for Bob Geldof’s African Mid Cap Private Equity Firm. With 22 years of environmental and social risk experience, John currently Heads up Sustainability for Public Assets at M&G. John is a chartered environmentalist (C.Env), Member of the Institution of Environmental Sciences (M.IES) and Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts (F.RSA).

 

The following is a list of Initiatives and signatories of M&G plc and M&G Investments:

M&G plc

  • UN Global Compact
  • TCFD
  • TNFD Forum
  • CDP
  • ClimateWise
  • ShareAction's Workforce Disclosure Initiative (WDI)
  • National Equality Index
  • Stonewall's Top 100 Employers
  • Department of Work and Pensions - Level 3 Disability Confident Leader
  • Say on Climate
  • Powering Past Coal Alliance

 

M&G Investments

  • 30% Club Investor Group
  • Access to Medicine Foundation
  • All Party Parliamentary Corporate Governance Group (APPCGG)
  • CDP
  • Climate Action 100+ (CA 100+)
  • Climate Bonds Initiative
  • Climate Bonds Initiative -  Climate Bonds Industry Working Group for Hydropower Investments
  • Climate Bonds Initiative - Climate Bonds Industry Working Group for Bioenergy European Green Securities Steering Committee
  • Climate Bonds Initiative - Climate Bonds Industry Working Group for Marine Renewable Energy Investments
  • European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA)
  • FAIRR (Farm Animal Investment Risk and Return)
  • Find it, Fix it, Prevent it
  • Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN)
  • Green Bond Principles
  • IA (Investment Association )
  • IA Corporate Reporting and Auditing Group (CRAG)
  • IA Remuneration and Shares committee
  • IA Responsible Investment committee
  • IA Stewardship & Governance Committee
  • IA Stewardship Reporting Working Group
  • Impact Management Project (IMP) [Now Impact Management Platform]
  • Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC)
  • International Corporate Governance Network
  • Investor Forum
  • Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative
  • Pre-emption Group
  • Transition Pathway Initiative (TPI)
  • UK Stewardship Code 2020
  • UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF)
  • UN PRI

SDR Labelling:

Sustainability Impact label