Axa Investment Mangers is renaming its ESG funds to include ‘ACT’ in the fund name, in a move it said will simplify its range for distributors and investors.
The fund range aims to target specific sustainability goals around issues such as climate change and inequality to achieve outcomes related to ESG criteria and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
Hans Stoter, global head of Axa IM Core said: “Both clients and regulators are increasingly calling for greater transparency and simplicity from asset managers when it comes to helping investors understand how to compare different ESG products.
“We believe a clearer categorisation of our offering will go some way to address this. Specifically, applying a common name to all products which sit under our strictest ESG category is intended to help our clients easily identify these funds and be clear on the criteria.”
Stoter said that the firm plans to expand the ACT range in the future.
Fund names in the range are being gradually changed to include the word ‘ACT’. The process began in August and September 2021.
Seven funds have now been renamed, including Axa WF ACT Framlington Human Capital, AXA WF ACT Framlington Social Progress, AXA WF ACT Multi Asset Optimal Impact, AXA WF ACT Global Green Bonds, Axa WF ACT US High Yield Bonds Low Carbon, Axa WF ACT US Corporate Bonds Low Carbon and Axa WF ACT Framlington Clean Economy.
By the end of the year, some funds will also be reshaped or launched, subject to regulatory approval.
The ACT range will also encompass Axa IM’s recently launched ESG funds, such as the Axa WF ACT US High Yield Bonds Low Carbon Fund, launched in April 2021.
Axa IM currently invests across alternative and traditional assets and manages approximately €866 billion in assets as of June 2021.
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