Responsible Investing report

Economic activities can have positive but also negative effects on sustainability factors. Principal Adverse Impacts (PAI) indicate the main adverse effects of investment decisions on sustainability factors, such as the environment, the social framework, respect for human rights, anti-corruption and the like. Learn more at www.kbc.be/en/srd.

The greenhouse gas intensity of a company indicates how many tonnes of CO2 – equivalents that company emits per million USD of turnover (tCO2e/$M turnover). The number of tonnes of greenhouse gases emitted by a company is the sum of:

• the direct greenhouse gas emissions resulting from of the company's own activities (Scope 1)
• the indirect greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the generation of purchased electricity (Scope 2)

The indirect greenhouse gas emissions resulting from activities of, for example, suppliers and customers (scope 3) are not included in that sum, as this scope 3 data largely depends on assumptions and is not disclosed by companies.

At fund level, this figure represents the weighted average of all greenhouse gas intensities of the underlying companies in which the fund invests and for which data is available. The specific ‘target’ objectives for a fund, as well as the benchmark and/or a reference portfolio based on a certain target allocation against which these objectives are compared, can be found at www.kbc.be/investment-legal-documents > Investment policy for responsible investing funds.

The greenhouse gas intensity of a country indicates how many tonnes of CO2-equivalents that country emits per million USD of Gross Domestic Product (tCO2e/$M GDP). The number of tonnes of greenhouse gases emitted by a country is the sum of:

• the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the domestic production of goods and services for domestic consumption and for export, and
• the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the import of goods and services, back to the country of origin

At fund level, this figure represents the weighted average of all greenhouse gas intensities of the underlying countries represented in the fund and for which data is available. The specific ‘target’ objectives for a fund, as well as the benchmark and/or a reference portfolio based on a certain target allocation against which these objectives are compared, can be found at www.kbc.be/investment-legal-documents > Investment policy for responsible investing funds.

The data coverage rate reflects the proportion of investment instruments for which relevant data is available, expressed as a percentage. In calculating this, technical elements such as cash or derivatives are not taken into account.

ESG stands for Environment, Social and Governance and refers to the three themes that are central to a sustainability screening.

ESG bonds are bonds to finance green and/or social projects. We distinguish three types:

1. Green bonds: for financing projects which have a positive impact on the environment.
2. Social bonds: for financing projects which have a positive impact on society.
3. Sustainable bonds: for financing projects which have a positive impact on both the environment and society.

Both companies and governments are authorised to issue these types of bonds. To qualify as an ESG bond with KBC, the bonds must comply with the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) principles as regards the use of the proceeds.

The ESG risk score for companies measures the difference between a company's exposure to sector-relevant environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks and the extent to which the company covers these risks. The lower a company's ESG risk score on a scale of 0 to 100, the less its sustainability risk. 

The company ESG risk score is determined from three perspectives:

1. Environment: waste policy, water intensity and greenhouse gas emissions;
2. Social: employment conditions, workforce diversity and union rights;
3. Governance: independence of the board of directors and transparency on pay and taxes.

At fund level, this figure represents the weighted average of all ESG risk scores for the underlying companies in which the fund invests and for which data is available. The specific ‘target’ objectives for a fund, as well as the benchmark and/or a reference portfolio based on a certain target allocation against which these objectives are compared, can be found at www.kbc.be/investment-legal-documents > Investment policy for Responsible Investing funds.

The ESG country score assesses how well the government policies of countries perform in terms of the environment, social issues and corporate governance (ESG). The higher a country’s ESG score on a scale of 0 to 100, the greater the number of countries that are committed to sustainable development.

The score is determined from five perspectives:

1. General economic performance and stability;
2. Socio-economic developments and public health;
3. Equality, freedom and rights of all citizens;
4. Environment;
5. Security, peace and international relations.

At fund level, this figure represents the weighted average of all ESG scores of the underlying countries in the fund for which data is available. The specific ‘target’ objectives for a fund, as well as the benchmark and/or a reference portfolio based on a certain target allocation against which these objectives are compared, can be found at www.kbc.be/investment-legal-documents > Investment policy for responsible investing funds.

This Board is made up of independent members whose sole responsibility is to supervise the approach and activities of the specialist researchers of KBC Asset Management NV.  Any changes KBC Asset Management makes to its responsible investment methodology must pass their test. In this way, KBC Asset Management keeps abreast of social trends.

The United Nations' Global Compact (UNGC) has drawn up 10 sustainability principles in the area of human rights, employment rights, environment and combating corruption, which all businesses have to respect.

For its responsible investing funds, KBC Asset Management excludes all companies that seriously violate these principles,  based on Morningstar Sustainalytics' Global Standard Screening and Controversy Research and MSCI's Controversy Research.

The Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) is a European Regulation governing sustainability disclosures in the financial sector. It divides funds into three categories:

• Article 6 funds: funds that neither have sustainable investment as their objective, nor do they promote environmental and/or social characteristics.
• Article 8 funds: funds that promote environmental and/or social characteristics.
• Article 9 funds: funds that have sustainable investment as their objective.

Companies or governments whose activities or the way in which they carry them out run seriously counter to the principles of responsible business are excluded. We distinguish two types of exclusion criteria:

• Exclusion criteria that apply to all KBC funds, such as serious violations of the United Nations Global Compact principles, human rights abuses, controversial regimes, tobacco producers, coal mining, etc.
• Exclusion criteria specific to responsible investment funds, such as companies linked to or active in conventional weapons, fossil fuels, gambling, adult entertainment, fur and speciality leather, etc.

You can find all the exclusion criteria at www.kbc.be/investment-legal-documents > Exclusion policies for Responsible Investing funds.