The fund seeks capital appreciation in the long term by investing in companies located throughout the world including the U.S.
The sub-adviser’s investment process starts with a list of companies in the benchmark index and the research team utilizes quantitative techniques and fundamental analysis to identify investment opportunities.
The investment team invests in securities of companies that aim to create positive measurable environmental and/or social impacts, and will invest significantly in non-U.S. companies.
According to the team, a company is considered to be a non-U.S. company if the company is organized under the laws of, or has its principal office in, a country outside the U.S., or the company has its principal securities trading market in a country outside the U.S., and/or the company derives the majority of its annual revenue or earnings or assets from goods produced, sales made or services performed in a country outside the U.S.
In selecting securities for the portfolio, the research team considers factors that drive a company's share price, as well as the company's environmental and social impact practices.
The research process is driven by fundamental analysis of one stock at a time. Next, the research team examines the company's ability to deliver positive outcomes for the environment and society in nine areas or pillars.
The nine areas or pillars are circular economy, sustainable energy, food and agriculture, water and sanitation, health and social care, financial inclusion, sustainable real estate and infrastructure, education and employment, and impact leaders.
The team generally aligns its impact assessment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Then the manager constructs a portfolio of stocks from a list of companies favored by the research team and allocates capital based on its conviction level.
The manager invests in securities from at least three different countries, and may also invest in companies of emerging market countries.
At times, the fund may have a significant amount of its assets invested in a country or geographic region.
Also, the fund may invest in securities denominated in U.S. dollars and currencies of the foreign countries in which it is permitted to invest.
Additionally, the fund may invest in securities of any market sector and may hold a significant amount of securities of companies, from time to time, within a single sector.