Sustainable investing

Overview

ii ACE 40 investments:
Royal London Sustainable Leaders Fund

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ii Ace 40
Asset GroupAsset Sub-GroupInvestment Category
EquitiesUK equitiesCore

Why we recommend it

Mike Fox has managed the strategy since November 2003, initially at the Co-operative Group until its acquisition by Royal London Asset Management in July 2013, making him one of the longest-tenured UK manages within the sustainable investment space. George Crowdy and Sebastien Beguelin who joined the group in 2020 support him as co-managers, along with four dedicated analysts. They are also supported by the broader investment team, which includes environmental, social and governance (ESG) specialists.

The fund’s aim is to invest in companies that deliver a net benefit to society in terms of the products and services they provide or that show leadership in ESG management. The ESG approach is designed to be flexible and in line with a longer-term growth mindset. Fox primarily seeks to identify long-term growth opportunities that are underappreciated by the market, based on the belief that markets incorrectly fade long-term growth rates in certain circumstances. The team conducts Cash Flow Return on Investment (CFROI) analysis in order to understand value creation and what is already implied in current valuations. 

The fund shows a natural growth bias versus the FTSE All-Share Index. This search for growth is reflected in the manager’s willingness to include off-benchmark overseas names (up to 20%) in the fund. Success has been seen over longer time periods, but the biases in the approach can be detrimental when other factors drive markets such as in 2022. 

Opinion
Overall, Fox has applied the long-term approach consistently and to great success. The fund’s socially responsible objectives and longer-term growth approach do, however, limit exposure to certain sectors and companies, which may result in a return profile that differs markedly from that of the index and peers from time-to-time.

Sustainability criteria

Morningstar Sustainable Attribute: This fund is considered a sustainable investment product based on its prospectus or other regulatory filings. As a General ESG Investment, the fund uses ESG criteria as a central part of the security-selection and portfolio-construction process. These strategies endeavour to promote sustainability and minimise negative impact, without focusing on a specific theme or area of action.

Information and data compiled to March 2024.
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Risk warnings

The information we provide in the ACE 40 investments list does not constitute a "personal recommendation". You should ensure that any investment decisions you make are suitable for your personal circumstances and that the ethical style of the investment reflects your personal beliefs.

Past performance of the underlying constituents is not a guarantee of future performance. Remember, the value of investments, and any income from them, can fall as well as rise so you could get back less than you invest.

Annual performance can be found on the factsheet of each fund, trust or ETF. Simply click on the asset’s name and then the performance tab.

If you are unsure about the suitability of a particular investment or think that you need a personal recommendation, you should speak to a suitably qualified financial advisor.

Any changes to the ii ACE 40 investments list and the rationale behind those decisions will be communicated through the Quarterly Investment Review.

Details of all recommendations issued by ii during the previous 12 month period can be found here.

ii adheres to a strict code of conduct. Members of ii staff may hold shares in companies mentioned in the ii ACE 40 investments list, which could create a conflict of interest. Any member of staff intending to complete some research about any financial instrument in which they have an interest are required to disclose such interest to ii. We will at all times consider whether such interest impairs the objectivity of the recommendation.

In addition, staff involved in the production of this ii ACE 40 list are subject to a personal account dealing restriction. This prevents them from placing a transaction in the specified instrument(s) for five working days before and after an investment is included or amended and made public within the list. This is to avoid personal interests conflicting with the interests of the recipients of this ii ACE 40 investments list.