STOXX^® Willis Towers Watson USA 500 Climate Transition

The iSTOXX Univest World Factor ESG Index is designed to achieve sustainable carbon reduction in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and intensities over time, while tracking the STOXX Developed World Index and providing exposure to Value, Momentum, Quality and Low Risk risk-premia factors. The iSTOXX Univest World Factor ESG Index also tilts away from companies that are laggards in corporate governance, and other social criteria. In addition, the Index aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and intensity by at least half by December 2024 (versus the baseline values of STOXX Developed World Index in December 2019) and aims to track the STOXX Developed World Index with a tracking error close to 1%.

Index Guides, Benchmark statement, and other reports are available under the Data tab.

The STOXX Paris-Aligned Benchmark Indices are based on liquid securities from a selection of STOXX Benchmark Indices. The indices are constructed to follow the EU Paris-aligned Benchmark (EU PAB) requirements outlined in the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1818 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards minimum standards for EU Paris-aligned Benchmarks.

Companies identified as non-compliant based on norms-based Screening assessment, or are involved in Controversial Weapons, as identified by ISS ESG are not eligible for selection. Tobacco Producers, as identified by ISS ESG, are also not eligible. Securities that generate revenues above a certain threshold from coal, oil and gas exploration or processing activities are excluded. Additionally, securities that derive higher than 10% of their revenues from thermal coal-based power generation, or higher than 50% from power generation with carbon intensity of lifecycle emissions higher than 100gCO2e/kWh are not considered for selection. Furthermore, STOXX will exclude companies that ISS ESG assesses to have significant obstruction in the following UN SDGs: SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13 Climate Action, SDG 14 Life Below Water and SDG 15 Life On Land.

The weighing process follows an optimization process to keep the tracking error less than on equal to 1.5% compared to the parent indes while meeting the minimum requirements detailed in the regulation. The STOXX Paris-Aligned Benchmark Indices aim to reduce their greenhouse gas intensity by at least 50% when compared to their underlying benchmarks. They are also designed to meet the year on year 7% decarbonization target.

High climate impact sector weights of the STOXX Paris-Aligned Benchmark Indices are not underweighted relative to the underlying benchmark. The indices also overweigh securities with Science Based Targets, as verified by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi).

Index Guides, Benchmark statement, and other reports are available under the Data tab.

The iSTOXX L&G Multifactor ESG index is designed to provide regional exposures to Value, Momentum, Low Volatility and Quality risk-premia factors, a greater exposure to the ESG scores provided by LGIM, while achieving sustainable carbon reduction in terms of greenhouse gas emission intensities over time. The indices track the STOXX World regional indices, while ensuring tradability, diversification, and liquidity.

Index Guides, Benchmark statement, and other reports are available under the Data tab.

STOXX single and multi-factor indices aim to harvest the risk premia of several academically validated style factors – Value, Momentum, Quality, Size and Low Risk. At the same time the rules ensure tradability and diversification as well as limit untargeted systematic exposures.

STOXX uses Axioma's risk model and optimizer to construct the factor indices. The STOXX ESG-X single and multi-factor indices are based on the respective STOXX ESG-X country or regional benchmark indices.

This index applies screens in alignment with the ESMA guidelines on funds’ names using ESG or sustainability-related terms, which include controversial weapons, Tobacco, Coal (>1%), Oil fuels (>10%), Gaseous fuels (>50%/ Power generation), UNGC principles / OECD guidelines.Per the ESMA guidelines on funds’ names using ESG or sustainability-related terms, this index meets an 80% threshold linked to the proportion of investments used to meet environmental or social characteristic or sustainable investment objectives in accordance with the binding elements of the investment strategy.

Index Guides, Benchmark statement, and other reports are available under the Data tab.

The ISS STOXX World AC Biodiversity Leaders selects companies that have revenues aligned to biodiversity and environmental UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) objectives after a set of compliance, ESG involvement screens, biodiversity screens, and overall SDG positive contribution assessment are applied. Companies that are non-compliant based on the ISS ESG Norms Based Screening assessment or are involved in Controversial Weapons are not eligible for selection. Additional exclusion filters are applied, screening companies for involvement in Palm Oil, GMO Agriculture, Hazardous Pesticides, Animal Welfare, Fur Involvement, Tobacco, Thermal Coal, Unconventional Oil & Gas, Civilian Firearms, and Military Contracting. Furthermore, only companies in the top 80% rank of Potentially Disappeared Fraction of species over Enterprise Value including Cash (PDF/EVIC) scores based on ISS ESG Biodiversity Impact Assessment Tool (BIAT) within each ICB Sector of the universe are selected. Finally, only companies that have biodiversity-related revenues from products/services and an overall positive contribution to UN SDGs greater than or equal to 2 according to ISS ESG SDG Solutions Assessment would be eligible for the index.

Index Guides, Benchmark statement, and other reports are available under the Data tab.