By MARK HINTON 01/03/2007
This fund employs a ‘mid green’ approach to ethical investing in UK equities and has been managed by Lesley Duncan since May 2004. An independent ethical screening tool precludes the manager from investing in companies involved in areas such as nuclear power, animal testing, oppressive regimes and tobacco. Companies which derive 10% or more in turnover from both gambling and alcohol production will also be avoided. Stock ideas are generated from across the UK team and by an internal quantitative screening tool. The portfolio tends to have a bias towards medium and smaller companies in the UK..
This fund is a possible alternative, or a complement, to the F&C Stewardship funds. The strength of the UK equity team at Standard Life gives us the confidence to award it three stars.