St James’s Place Wealth Management (SJP) has rolled out a range of discretionary ESG portfolios for clients in Asia.
Clients in Singapore and Hong Kong will be able to align their preferences and values with a portfolio constructed from a range of pre-screened investments.
The press statement made no reference to the firm’s office in China.
Negative screening
The selection process is carried out by SJP’s discretionary portfolio team and is based on four factors:
- Integration of ESG criteria;
- Exclusion of specific sectors due to unsustainable activities;
- Inclusion of companies that provide solutions to the challenges the world faces; and,
- Engagement with firms to influence their behaviour.
The negative screening will discard any company whose activities damage the environment or are involved in weapons, alcohol, gambling, tobacco, or pornography.
Businesses that work within the water management, environmental, clean energy, sustainable transport, resource efficiency and educational services will be favoured through positive screening, the wealth giant said.
SJP Asia clients will be given the option to invest either all or part of their funds in the discretionary ESG portfolios.
Increased interest
The launch was informed by the firm’s research which discovered that 64% of Singaporeans and 61% of Hong Kongers are considering ESG and sustainability factors when investing.
Angelina Lai, head of division – Asia investment at SJP, said: “Since the start of the pandemic we have seen increased interest in ESG investing among our clients in Asia, and we expect this will continue to grow.
“These multi-asset portfolios will help meet an increasing demand in the ESG investment space, enabling our clients to put their money where it supports their values and beliefs, investing in a world worth living in.”
