Amundi expands its range of ESG equity ETFs

“Investors are increasingly looking for options to reorient their portfolio towards responsible investments,” explains Arnaud Llinas, head of the ETF business line.

Amundi confirms its commitment to offering investors an ever-wider range of ESG products. With this in mind, Amundi is changing two of its main equity ETFs (on the CAC 40 and STOXX Europe 600 indices) in order to integrate extra-financial ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) criteria. This action is part of the Societal Project of the Crédit Agricole group and its commitment to the climate.

As of March 21, 2022, the Amundi CAC 40 UCITS ETF DR, which has become Amundi CAC 40 ESG UCITS ETF DR, now replicates the CAC 40 ESG index. This fund allows investors to gain exposure to the 40 leading stocks on the French market demonstrating solid Environmental, Social and Governance practices. After an exclusion filter, the stocks with the best ESG rating, according to a best-in-class approach, among the stocks making up the CAC Large 60 index, are selected. This ETF has a reduced weighted carbon footprint, and its green-to-brown ratio¹ improved supports the transition to low-carbon investments. With €1.2 billion in assets under management, the Amundi CAC 40 ESG UCITS ETF DR ETF represents the largest fund on the market for this exposure.

On the same date, the Amundi Stoxx Europe 600 UCITS ETF became Amundi Stoxx Europe 600 ESG UCITS ETF DR. This ETF replicates the STOXX Europe 600 ESG Broad Market Index and allows investors to gain exposure to equities from developed European countries by selecting 80% of the stocks with the highest ESG score from the STOXX Europe 600 Index. in controversial activities are excluded². Both ETFs are now classified art. 8 of the European SFDR regulation.

Arnaud Llinas, Head of ETF, Indexing and Smart Beta Business Line at Amundi, said: “Investors are increasingly looking for options to redirect their portfolio towards responsible investments. These changes to our range of ETFs reflect our commitment to supporting our clients in their ESG transition”.

¹ That is to say the ratio between the share of investments that finances activities in favor of the transition to a low-carbon economy and that of activities that are lagging behind in the transition to a low-carbon economy.
² Excluded sectors include controversial weapons, tobacco, thermal coal mining and military activities. More information on the investment policy is available on the index provider’s website: www.stoxx.com.