Responsible funds

We offer four global responsible multi asset funds catering to a spectrum of different risk preferences. The funds aim to deliver financial returns to our customers over the long term.

The responsible funds are actively managed within the same investment process as our core funds, while the responsible credentials of a potential investment are assessed against our Responsible Investment Policy. The policy outlines our definition of responsible investing and details on what basis underlying investments are assessed and selected.

All investments are tested against the policy’s criteria by our Responsible Investment Committee.

The full policy is available here

How we approach responsible investing 

Our approach to responsible investing is to pursue investment in companies, sectors and countries that demonstrate a positive influence on environmental and/or social themes. At the same time, we seek to avoid investment in activities that we consider harmful to the environment and/or society.

The responsible funds have a multi-asset investment approach, meaning their portfolios have exposure to a range of asset classes. The responsible funds usually access asset classes ‘indirectly’ through investment in other funds. These funds are pooled investment vehicles, where one large portfolio is funded by numerous different investors and invested into different underlying assets, including funds managed by third-party fund managers.

We have listed the asset classes used in the responsible funds, and how we invest in each of them, below:

Our responsible investing framework

We use a responsible investing framework to assess, select and monitor the third-party managers and issuers of the investments that we select for the responsible funds. The framework comprises four underlying components:

• ESG (environmental, social and governance) integration
• Negative screening
• Pursuing positive environmental and/or social themes
• Engagement

All assets held in the responsible funds are subject to our ESG integration assessment and negative screening.

Our aim is that at least 70% (65% for the Handelsbanken Defensive Responsible Multi Asset Fund) of the assets within the responsible funds shall meet our criteria for demonstrating positive environmental and/or social themes.

As the responsible funds usually invest in funds managed by third-party managers, we assess the engagement processes of those third-party managers, and their engagement with investee companies or issuers.

Our responsible fund range:

Defensive Responsible Fund
The Defensive Responsible Multi Asset Fund is our lowest-risk responsible investment strategy. It is best suited to investors with a low appetite for risk and a keen interest in taking a responsible approach to investing. Like all of our responsible funds, Defensive Responsible follows the same investment process as our ‘core’ funds, but with the added assessment of potential investments against our own Responsible Investment Policy.

Although truly multi asset in its approach, the Defensive Responsible fund contains a high proportion of traditionally ‘safer’ asset types (like bonds), with a much lower allocation to riskier asset types (like shares and ‘alternative’ assets).

Cautious Responsible Fund
The Cautious Responsible Multi Asset Fund takes a relatively low-risk approach to investment. It is best suited to investors with a limited appetite for risk and a keen interest in taking a responsible approach to investing. Like all of our responsible funds, Cautious Responsible follows the same investment process as our ‘core’ funds, but with the added assessment of potential investments against our own Responsible Investment Policy.

Although truly multi asset in its approach, the Cautious Responsible fund is somewhat weighted towards traditionally ‘safer’ asset types (like bonds), with a fairly low allocation to riskier asset types (like shares and ‘alternative’ assets).

Balanced Responsible Fund
The Balanced Responsible Multi Asset Fund is best suited to investors willing to take on some risk in exchange for improved potential financial reward, alongside a keen interest in taking a responsible approach to investing. Like all of our responsible funds, Balanced Responsible follows the same investment process as our ‘core’ funds, but with the added assessment of potential investments against our own Responsible Investment Policy.

Taking a truly multi asset approach to achieving its goals, the Balanced Responsible fund tends to invest in a blend of all major asset types, from shares and government bonds to ‘alternative’ assets.

Growth Responsible Fund
The Growth Responsible Multi Asset Fund takes a higher-risk approach to investment. It is best suited to investors willing to take on additional risk in exchange for greater potential financial reward, alongside a keen interest in taking a responsible approach to investing. Like all of our responsible funds, Growth Responsible follows the same investment process as our ‘core’ funds, but with the added assessment of potential investments against our own Responsible Investment Policy.

Although truly multi asset in its approach, the Growth Responsible fund is substantially weighted towards riskier asset types (like shares and ‘alternative’ assets), with a lower allocation to traditionally ‘safer’ asset types (like bonds).