UK-based F&C Investments has revealed that it is planning to launch its F&C Ethical Bond Fund, to further develop its sustainable investment franchise.
The fund, which will be structured as a UCITS 3 open-ended investment company and launch with in excess of GBP40 million of existing assets, will be available to both institutional and retail investors. It will combine F&C’s heavyweight fixed interest capabilities as a manager of GBP50.9 billion in fixed interest assets, with a team of 47 professionals and its position in managing ethical investment portfolios.
The F&C Ethical Bond Fund will leverage the expertise of F&C’s 16-strong governance and sustainable investment team to provide research on environmental, social and governance issues. The fund will operate identical ethical screening criteria to the stewardship suite of funds, the long-established range of equity-focused ethical funds managed by F&C.
The F&C Ethical Bond Fund will target credits from issuers that contribute to sustainable development. The fund will also avoid exposure to issuers engaged in areas such as tobacco or alcohol production, gambling, pornography and the weapons industry, as well as those with poor practices towards the environment, human rights or labor relations.