Press releases
LGIM launches Sustainable DC Property Fund
Innovative solution in response to growing demand from DC schemes to align with members’ ESG values, while protecting, and enhancing, real assets against the damaging effects of climate change.
4 Oct 2021
Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) today announces the launch of its Sustainable DC Property Fund (‘the Fund’), in response to a growing demand from DC schemes to access real assets and to incorporate more ambitious environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets.
The Fund is reshaping an existing property portfolio to include responsible investing as a core target, with explicit environmental, social and governance (ESG) objectives, including net zero operational carbon in the direct property portfolio by 2030. The Fund is already measuring carbon emissions and has set reduction objectives in line with ‘science-based’ targets.
In addition to LGIM’s wider efforts to advance the low-carbon transition, the Fund has already taken actions to deliver measurable progress on ESG with a focus on explicitly reducing operational energy consumption. The Fund has developed carbon reduction roadmaps at individual asset level and commissioned an estimate of social value created by the Fund, as a baseline against which to measure future social impact. This is already influencing occupier engagement and producing tangible outcomes. Occupiers are also being screened based on ESG exclusion criteria.
Valued at £238 million (as at 30 June 2021), it provides exposure to a diversified portfolio of assets across sectors and aims to achieve both income and long-term capital growth. In addition, the Fund will target a 30 per cent allocation to the L&G Global Real Estate Equity Index Fund to provide liquidity and support daily dealing for DC clients.
On top of the specialist Real Assets ESG team which operates across LGIM Real Assets, the Fund has dedicated resource working to support full ESG integration in its asset management, investment strategy and decision making.
Michael Barrie, Director of Fund Management for LGIM Real Assets: “Real estate is central in the transition to net zero as buildings play a major role in supporting a low-carbon economy and society. The demand for real assets is growing, three quarters of our recent major investment consultant conversations in DC Distribution have emphasised demand for them. We believe that protecting and enhancing real assets against the effects of climate change will create long-term value and performance. We are adopting this positioning now to capture this performance and to help enhance the long-term financial value of real estate.”
Rob Martin, Director of Strategy and ESG for LGIM Real Assets: “The Fund will provide a market-leading offering for clients that demand an increased focus on ESG. Providing a portfolio that positions towards the highest net zero standards will benefit both occupier demand and investment performance, as well as reduce risk.”
Veronica Humble, Head of DC Investments for LGIM: “Our research shows that DC members care deeply about ensuring that their pensions are invested in a responsible manner. The Sustainable DC Property Fund has ambitious carbon reduction targets and provides diversification through access to an alternative asset class that combines income and long-term capital growth.”
Investment Property Forum research forecasts that DC assets are set to grow to £1 trillion by 2028 and allocation to real estate is forecast to increase from 1.5 per cent to 4 per cent, and alternatives from 2 per cent to 8 per cent by 2027, coupled with the increasing demand for protecting and enhancing real assets against the effects of climate change.
According to the World Green Building Council, the operation of buildings, from energy to heat, cool and light buildings, is responsible for 28 per cent of global carbon emissions, with a further 11 per cent arising from the construction process. A major shift is required in the way that buildings are constructed and operated to manage environmental and social impact.
Further information
LGIM PR Team
T: 0203 124 4355/ 4363
Notes to editors
Established in 1836, Legal & General is one of the UK's leading financial services groups and a major global investor, with over £1.2 trillion in total assets under management* of which a third is international. We also provide powerful asset origination capabilities. Together, these underpin our leading retirement and protection solutions: we are a leading international player in pension risk transfer, in UK and US life insurance, and in UK workplace pensions and retirement income. Through inclusive capitalism, we aim to build a better society by investing in long-term assets that benefit everyone.
*at 31 Dec 2022
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.