EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation

The EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) is a new set of European Union rules that came into effect on March 10, 2021, with the goal of making the sustainability profile of funds more comparable and easy to understand for investors. They categorise products into specific types and include metrics for assessing the environmental, social and governance (ESG) impacts of the investment process for each fund.

As the name suggests, this regulation will place much more emphasis on disclosure. The information on this page describes our approach to SFDR and includes our policies and procedures, disclosed in accordance with these new rules.

Many of our clients will also be subject to these new requirements. Apart from our disclosures in prospectuses, annual reports and on this website, we will provide our clients with the information they need to comply with SFDR.

Background to SFDR and how it impacts Aviva Investors

SFDR is part of the EU’s wider Sustainable Finance Framework, which is backed by a broad set of new and enhanced regulations that will apply across the region. The framework includes the Sustainable Finance Action Plan, which aims to promote sustainable investment across the EU, and a new Taxonomy to categorise economic activity through a sustainability lens and help create a level playing field across the region.

Product reporting obligations under SFDR

The most visible and impactful aspect of SFDR is the reporting format funds and mandates will need to make based on three categories, as laid out by Articles 8 and 9 of the SFDR and those funds not defined by either article, referred to as ‘neutral’ funds.

Neutral funds do not integrate any kind of binding sustainability controls into their investment process and can include stocks that may be excluded by ESG-focused funds, such as tobacco companies or thermal coal producers. While neutral funds are still allowed to be sold in the EU, they may not be promoted as ESG funds.

Among other characteristics, Article 8 products promote environmental or social characteristics, or a combination of those characteristics, provided the companies in which investments are made follow good governance practices.

Article 9, also referred to as ‘products targeting sustainable investments’, covers products targeting bespoke sustainable investments and those that have sustainable investment as their objective.

Remuneration

To meet the requirements set out under Article 5 of the SFDR, we have published additional information on remuneration and ESG in our Pillar 3 disclosure.

Asset Class Responsible Investment Policies

Private Markets Responsible Investment and Sustainability Risk Policy

PDF 1.2 MB 7 pages

This policy describes how we integrate our responsible investment philosophy into each asset class investment process. Private Markets covers traditional real estate products and our alternatives business including infrastructure equity and commercial property/private market debt.

Public Markets Responsible Investment and Sustainability Risk Policy

PDF 235.5 KB 9 pages

This policy describes how we integrate our responsible investment philosophy into each asset class investment process across Public Markets, which includes Credit & Equities (funds managed by Aviva Investors that primarily invest in equities and bonds and includes money market funds) and Multi Assets (including Multi-Strategy, Multi-Asset ranges, Fund of Funds, Liability Driven Investment, Global Convertibles).

Aviva Investors Luxembourg Sustainability Risk Policy

PDF 215.1 KB 5 pages

Aviva Investors Luxembourg (AILX) recognises and embraces its duty to act as long-term stewards of clients’ assets, maintaining a deep conviction that environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors can have a material impact on investment returns and client outcomes. This policy includes the key pillars AILX’s ESG approach including consideration of sustainability risk and how they apply to the funds we operate.

Luxembourg SICAV funds with SFDR ESG characteristics (Article 8 and 9)

Aviva Investors has a wide range of sub-funds with Article 8 status as well as some Article 9 funds.

The investment process includes binding ESG characteristics (ESG screens and sector exclusions), and integration of ESG considerations and the investment manager’s transition philosophy into investment decisions.

This approach aligns with Aviva Investors’ long-standing investment philosophy and commitment to responsible investing.

For further information regarding these funds, please see the below documentation which includes the SICAV Impact Assessment Matrix and an outline of Aviva Investors’ approach to Article 9. The detailed pre-contractual information is within the prospectus and also in the website disclosure section of this webpage.

Article 9 Client Facing Summary

For further details of the Aviva Investors' approach to Article 9, please follow the below link.

Website product disclosures

For financial products that promote environmental or social characteristics, financial market participants shall publish the information referred to in Article 10(1) of Regulation (EU) EN 32 EN 2019/2088 and Articles 25 to 36 of this Regulation.

Responsible investment views

Fund centre

Access key fund documentation and performance reports.

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