The HGIF Lower Carbon Bond Fund focuses on sustainable investing while also incorporating rigorous ESG policies and practices throughout the investment process.

The Fund’s investment mandate to deliver a lower carbon footprint means its environmental impact is explicit by limiting exposure to the corporate debt of highly polluting issuers or carbon-intensive sectors. In addition to this direct focus on environmental materiality, ESG factors are screened for their potential impact on bond ratings, performance, and risk. This process can lead to further diligence being undertaken before investment.

ESG is utilized throughout the investment process with multiple analytical tools, including a proprietary algorithm and ESG rating calculation engine and a dedicated GRI Investment team and ESG analysts.

The Fund reports and publishes its ESG policies and commitments with annual Responsible Investment Reporting and has been active in various bodies supporting sustainable finance and investment.

The Fund was reviewed by seven industry veterans of the Benchmark judging committee.