iSTOXX^® L&G Developed Europe ex UK Quality

The iSTOXX Europe 600 Ircantec PAB Index tracks the performance of liquid securities from the STOXX Europe 600. The index is 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 Climate Transition Benchmarks and EU Paris-aligned Benchmarks. The index is designed to help investors align investments with the overall long-term global warming target of the Paris Agreement. Companies identified as non-compliant based on Sustainalytics Global Standards Screening (GSS) assessment or are involved in Controversial Weapons or display a Severe (Category 5) Controversy Rating, as identified by Sustainalytics, are not eligible for selection. In addition, companies that are on Ircantec Exclusion List are excluded from the index, these are companies that do not meet Ircantec’s ESG and sustainability criteria. Tobacco Producers, and companies that derive revenues higher than 5% from wholesale or retail distribution, or services related to tobacco products, 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 5% of their revenues from thermal coal-based power generation or have thermal coal power generation capacity greater than 5 GW, or producing more than 10Mt volume from thermal coal, or higher than 50% from power generation with carbon intensity of lifecycle emissions higher than 100gCO2e/kWh are not considered for selection. Companies that ISS-ESG identifies to be expanding their thermal coal mining or thermal coal power generation capabilities, as identified by ISS-ESG, are also excluded from the index. The weighing process follows an optimization process to meet the minimum requirements detailed in the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1818. 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.

 

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

The ISS STOXX World AC ESG Climbers Index selects securities from the STOXX World AC universe that consistently improve their ESG performance, with standardized ESG exclusion screens applied for ISS ESG Norms Based Screening assessment, a set of definitions for Controversial Weapons, Tobacco, Thermal Coal, Unconventional Oil & Gas, Civilian Firearms and Military Equipment. The objective is to select such companies that are on trajectory to become ESG leaders in the future, based on whether their ISS ESG Corporate Ratings Overall Numeric Scores have improved at least 5 times if they are assigned to Developed Markets and at least 3 times of improvement if they are assigned to Emerging Markets in the past 5 years, and are required to improve at least 3 times if they are assigned to Developed Markets and 2 times if they are assigned to Emerging Markets in order to remain as constituents. The methodology also removes securities whose issuers are poor ESG performers, where their ISS ESG Corporate Ratings Overall Numeric Score is lower than 1.75. Securities whose issuers do not receive ESG Rating as of the effective review are also excluded.

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

The STOXX Climate Impact Ex UN Global Compact Principles and Controversial Weapons indices will include companies with CDP Performance Bands A to B- (pre-2016 Performance Band A to B). Band A and A- includes companies that are seen as leading companies in terms of climate change: these companies are disclosing particular “actions” which mark them as leaders, as well as high scores across all other levels of the CDP Scoring matrix. Scoring requires detailed company-specific explanations. Band B & B- includes companies that “manage” climate change: companies seek evidence of climate actions implemented and requires company-specific understanding of climate change related issues. The index also exlcudes companies violating international norms, are involved with controversial weapons, tobacco, thermal coal, civilian firearms, military equipment, and unconventional oil and gas.

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

STOXX ESG Target indices aim to provide a strong ESG tilt to the benchmark index while maintaining low tracking error of the benchmark index. The weight of each constituent security is determined through an optimization process that is designed to ensure diversification and uses Axioma's Risk Models and Optimizer. Companies that are non-compliant based on the ISS ESG’ Norms-based research assessment or are involved in controversial weapons are not eligible for selection. Additional exclusion filters are applied, screening companies for involvement in tobacco production and distribution, thermal coal extraction and power generation, small arms manufacturing, military contracting, unconventional oil and gas exploration and production, high ESG risk, and ESG controversies.

 

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.

 

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