Aegon Asset Management is set to adopt the Sustainability Focus label under the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) for two of its funds.
The Aegon Sustainable Diversified Growth and Aegon Sustainable Equity funds intend to adopt the label from the end of March 2025 following shareholder notification.
Aegon also confirmed the Aegon Ethical Equity fund, Aegon Ethical Corporate Bond fund and Aegon Ethical Cautious Managed fund will not have UK sustainability investment labels, as they operate exclusionary screens and do not fit within the label categories defined by the FCA. However, they will be in the unlabelled with sustainable characteristics category, which will result in disclosures aligned with the labelled funds to ensure transparency.
Miranda Beacham (pictured), head of responsible investment at Aegon, said: “We are very pleased to see SDR is gathering momentum in providing greater clarity and confidence in the market for our clients and look forward to adopting the new labels for our funds.
“Our ethical franchise, remaining unlabelled with sustainability characteristics, will continue to be entirely unambiguous in its goals, an attractive proposition to some investors looking to align their values and views on responsible investing.
“Indeed, our Ethical Investor Survey – carried out every two years – ensures our funds stay aligned both to these goals, and also with societal changes.”
