Press releases

Legal & General Investment Management redefines core equity ETFs with the launch of new range

Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) has launched a range of core low-cost equity exchange traded funds (ETFs) in response to feedback from clients that investors expect more from their core equity solutions.

13 Nov 2018


Further details on the Core ETF range can be found here:

Low-cost core equity ETFs with key features that respond to the evolving investment landscape

  • Avoids risk of crowding experienced by traditional core index ETF
  • Raise the bar by investing in companies that meet minimum best business practices
  • Actively engages with companies for strong governance to promote long-term performance

LGIM has redefined core equity market-cap ETFs through a new index design that can help shield investors from unpredictable behaviour of crowded trading that is experienced by equity indices commonly tracked by most core ETFs. LGIM’s new core equity range will ensure investors are not forced to turn over their portfolio at the same time as the vast majority of core equity ETFs in the market where short-term price volatility frequently occurs. The risk from this volatility is increasing with the rise of index investing, which LGIM believes highlights the need for change.

Howie Li, Head of ETFs at LGIM, said:  "It’s right to expect more than just low-cost from core equity ETFs. Index managers need to be more active in mitigating the risks of crowded indices and engaging with companies for the long-term benefit of the market and investors. We have designed our range of core ETFs with these principles in mind, taking steps to promote long-term performance and stability."

LGIM’s core equity ETFs will also ensure companies in the portfolio meet minimum standards for best business practices in order to mitigate risks that may affect long-term investment performance. Unique to any core range on the market, LGIM’s Future World Protection List is integrated into the design, shielding investors from the negative future outlook associated with controversial weapons manufacturers, pure coal companies and consistent violators of the UN Global Compact. As part of LGIM’s management of over £984.8bn1 of assets, the core ETF range, as with all of LGIM’s funds, are subject to the active scrutiny of LGIM’s corporate governance team who engage with companies to create sustainable long-term value for investors.

LGIM has partnered with index provider Solactive, an established index provider with over a decade of operational track record and $200bn+2 invested into its indices, who will manage and calculate the indices designed and used by LGIM’s core equity ETFs.

Simon Hynes, Head of Retail Distribution, EMEA, said: "Our core equity ETFs can be used on their own or in conjunction with investors’ existing building blocks to help diversify issuer concentration risk. We believe our core range will be of interest to our clients due to the low cost and additional value they deliver compared to what’s currently available in the market."

The core equity ETF range is managed by LGIM’s ETF portfolio managers within the Global Index Fund Management team. The ETFs below are now listed on the London Stock Exchange.

L&G core equity ETF range of funds:

Name Share Class Ticker OCF* Currency

1 LGIM internal data as at 31 June 2018. These figures include assets managed by LGIMA, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Data includes derivative positions.

2 Source: Solactive as at January 2018

* Expressed as a % per annum of the Net Asset Value of the Share class.

L&G UK Equity UCITS ETF

GBP Accumulating ETF

LGUK

0.05%

GBP

L&G Europe ex UK Equity UCITS ETF

EUR Accumulating ETF

LGEG

0.10%

GBP

L&G US Equity UCITS ETF

USD Accumulating ETF

LGUG

0.05%

GBP

L&G Global Equity UCITS ETF

USD Distributing ETF

LGGG

0.10%

GBP

L&G Japan Equity UCITS ETF

USD Accumulating ETF

LGJP

0.10%

USD

L&G Asia Pacific ex Japan Equity UCITS ETF

USD Distributing ETF

LGAG

0.10%

GBP

Further information

Further information

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Andrew Gates

Senior PR Manager

Legal & General Investment Management

T: +44 (0)20 3124 4363

Email Andrew Gates

Notes to editors

Legal & General Investment Management

Legal & General Investment Management is one of Europe’s largest asset managers and a major global investor, with total assets under management of £1.29 trillion1. We work with a wide range of global clients, including pension schemes, sovereign wealth funds, fund distributors and retail investors.

For more than 50 years, we have built our business through understanding what matters most to our clients and transforming this insight into valuable, accessible investment products and solutions. We provide investment expertise across the full spectrum of asset classes including fixed income, equities, commercial property, and cash. Our capabilities range from index-tracking and active strategies to liquidity management and liability-based risk management solutions.

1Globally, we manage assets of £1.42 trillion or CHF 1.75 trillion as at 31 December 2021 (source: LGIM internal data as at 31 December 2021). The data combines assets under management by LGIM in the UK, LGIMA in the US and LGIM Asia in Hong Kong. Assets under management include securities and derivatives positions.

*at 11 Jan 2023

KEY RISKS

Past performance is not a guide to the future. The value of an investment and any income taken from it is not guaranteed and can go down as well as up, you may not get back the amount you originally invested. For illustrative purposes only. Reference to a particular security is on a historical basis and does not mean that the security is currently held or will be held within an LGIM portfolio. The above information does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Views expressed are of LGIM as at 3 January 2023.

IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICE

In the European Economic Area, it is issued by LGIM Managers (Europe) Limited, authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland as a UCITS management company (pursuant to European Communities (Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities) Regulations, 2011 (S.I. No. 352 of 2011), as amended) and as an alternative investment fund manager with "top up" permissions which enable the firm to carry out certain additional MiFID investment services (pursuant to the European Union (Alternative Investment Fund Managers) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 257 of 2013), as amended). Registered in Ireland with the Companies Registration Office (No. 609677).  Registered Office: 70 Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin, 2, Ireland. Regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (No. C173733).

LGIM Managers (Europe) Limited operates a branch network in the European Economic Area, which is subject to supervision by the Central Bank of Ireland. In Italy, the branch office of LGIM Managers (Europe) Limited is subject to limited supervision by the Commissione Nazionale per le società e la Borsa ("CONSOB") and is registered with Banca d'Italia (no. 23978.0) with registered office at Piazza della Repubblica 3, 20121 Milan, (Companies' Register no. MI - 2557936). In Germany, the branch office of LGIM Managers (Europe) Limited is subject to limited supervision by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority ("BaFin"). In the Netherlands, the branch office of LGIM Managers (Europe) Limited is subject to limited supervision by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets ("AFM") and it is included in the register held by the AFM and registered with the trade register of the Chamber of Commerce under number 74481231.Details about the full extent of our relevant authorisations and permissions are available from us upon request. For further information on our products (including the product prospectuses), please visit our website.