The list, which was posted on the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) website in late December, includes 21 SFC-authorised funds (see below) that fulfill the requirements on how firms should disclose information on green or ESG funds.
These disclosure requirements include the fund’s key investment focus, ESG analysis and evaluation methodologies; plus what the firm believes to be relevant “green” (green bonds) or ESG criteria.
In addition, at least 70% of a fund’s assets should be invested in securities or other instruments reflecting the ESG-related investment focus.
Not an official recommendation
The requirements were set out by the regulator in April last year, in a move to combat greenwashing.
“Although most funds [evaluated] have named the green or ESG factors in their investment objective or strategy, a majority of these funds do not specifically disclose how the management companies incorporate such green or ESG factors in their investment selection process,” the SFC said at the time.
The regulator noted on its website that, although the list includes funds that have fulfilled disclosure requirements, it does not constitute an “official recommendation” of the products or guarantee their green or ESG attributes or related performance.
“The SFC has not independently verified the effectiveness of the investment strategies, investment selection process, investment portfolios and management or the criteria used to achieve the stated green or ESG investment focuses adopted by these products.”
The firm with the most funds on the list is Allianz Global Investors, with five ESG or green funds, followed by BNP Paribas Asset Management and HSBC Global Asset Management.
Funds passing the SFC’s ESG disclosure filter
| Alliance Bernstein | Sustainable US Thematic Portfolio |
| Sustainable Global Thematic Portfolio | |
| Allianz Global Investors | Allianz Emerging Markets SRI Bond |
| Allianz Emerging Markets SRI Corporate Bond | |
| Allianz Global Credit SRI | |
| Allianz Global Sustainability | |
| Allianz Green Bond | |
| Amundi | Amundi HK – Green Planet Fund |
| BNP Paribas Asset Management | BNP Paribas Funds Aqua |
| BNP Paribas Funds Global Environment | |
| BNP Paribas Funds Green Tigers | |
| Blackrock | ESG Multi-Asset Fund |
| Sustainable Energy Fund | |
| Fidelity | Fidelity Funds – Sustainable Strategic Bond Fund |
| HSBC Global Asset Management | Global Equity Climate Change |
| Global Lower Carbon Bond | |
| Global Lower Carbon Equity | |
| Janus Henderson | Horizon Fund – Global Sustainable Equity Fund |
| Jupiter Asset Management | Jupiter Global Ecology Growth |
| Schroders | Global Climate Change Equity |
| Global Sustainable Growth |
Source: Securities and Futures Commission. Last updated: 27 December 2019
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