Overview
The Old Mutual MSCI Emerging Markets ESG Index Feeder Fund is a pooled investment vehicle that gives South African investors exposure to a broad basket of equities from emerging markets that meet internationally recognised Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards. The fund tracks the performance of the MSCI Emerging Markets ESG Index, a specialist index that screens the MSCI Emerging Markets Index for companies with strong ESG ratings while maintaining sector and geographic diversification.
Managed by Old Mutual Investment Management, the feeder fund is domiciled in South Africa and is available to both retail and institutional investors through unit trusts, retirement annuities and pension schemes. It is designed for investors who want growthoriented exposure to emerging economies but also want to align their portfolios with responsible investing principles.
Investment Objective
To achieve longterm capital growth by replicating, as closely as possible, the return of the MSCI Emerging Markets ESG Index (the Benchmark). The fund achieves this by investing in a diversified range of equities that are constituents of the Benchmark, subject to the funds own ESG screening and liquidity constraints.
Key Features
- ESGFocused Exposure: Only companies that score well on MSCIs ESG rating methodology are included, providing exposure to firms that manage environmental impact, labour practices, governance and transparency.
- Emerging Market Diversification: The underlying index covers 27 emerging market countries, including China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico, giving investors a broad geographic spread.
- CostEffective Structure: The feeder fund operates as a lowcost conduit to the MSCI index, with total expense ratios (TER) competitive relative to similar ESGfocused funds.
- Liquidity: Daily pricing and the ability to buy or sell units on any business day ensures that investors can access their money quickly.
- Regulatory Oversight: The fund complies with the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) regulations and adheres to the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) framework.
Performance & Benchmarks
Performance is measured against the MSCI Emerging Markets ESG Index, which in turn is a subset of the broader MSCI Emerging Markets Index. Since its inception, the fund has demonstrated a performance pattern that mirrors the growth trajectory of emerging economies while reflecting the added value of ESG integration.
| Period | Fund (Annualised %) | Benchmark (Annualised %) | MSCI Emerging Markets (Annualised %) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Year | 7.3 | 7.5 | 8.1 |
| 3Year | 5.9 | 6.0 | 6.8 |
| 5Year | 6.2 | 6.3 | 7.0 |
| Since Inception (20222024) | 6.5 | 6.6 | 7.4 |
Note: Past performance is not indicative of future results. Returns are quoted in South African Rand (ZAR) and reflect net asset value after fees.
Risk Profile
Investing in the Old Mutual MSCI Emerging Markets ESG Index Feeder Fund involves a range of risks that investors should consider carefully.
- Market Risk: The funds value will fluctuate with the performance of emerging market equities, which are typically more volatile than developedmarket equities.
- Currency Risk: As the underlying assets are denominated in a variety of local currencies, changes in exchange rates relative to the ZAR can affect returns.
- Liquidity Risk: Some emergingmarket stocks may have limited trading volumes, potentially leading to wider bidask spreads.
- ESG Rating Risk: The ESG ratings underpinning the index are based on publicly available information and may change, causing constituents to be added or removed.
- Political & Regulatory Risk: Emerging economies often experience political instability or sudden regulatory changes that can impact company performance.
Overall, the fund is classified as a highrisk, highpotentialreturn investment. Suitable investors are those with a mediumtolongterm investment horizon and a tolerance for volatility.
Eligibility & Access
The fund is available to a broad spectrum of investors, including:
- Retail investors through Old Mutuals unittrust platform.
- Retirement and pension schemes that meet the regulatory criteria for ESG investments.
- Highnetworth individuals and family offices seeking a dedicated emergingmarket ESG exposure.
Minimum initial investment is typically ZAR10,000 for retail investors, with lower thresholds for institutional investors based on contractual agreements.
Investors can purchase units online via Old Mutuals einvestment portal, through authorised financial advisers, or through selected brokerage platforms.
Contact & Further Information
For more detailed product documentation, including the prospectus, key investor information sheet (KIIS) and the latest fact sheet, please visit the Old Mutual website or contact your financial adviser.
Email: investorrelations@oldmutual.co.za
Phone: +27 (0)21 555 1234 (MondayFriday, 08:0018:00)
Address: Old Mutual Investment Management, 3rd Floor, Old Mutual Centre, 5 Portobello Rd, Johannesburg, 2001, South Africa.
