Thailand’s Aberdeen Asset Management, an affiliate of UK-based global investment company Abrdn Plc [ABDN:LN], is launching Abrdn Global Innovation Equity Fund (ABINNO), a mutual fund focused on tech businesses that comply with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, as reported by Bangkok Post on March 2. ABINNO invests in the master fund Aberdeen Standard SICAV I – Global Innovation Equity Fund, which seeks innovative businesses on different scales worldwide. Citing the CEO of Abrdn Thailand, Robert Penaloza, ABINNO will enable Thai investors to invest in sectors benefiting from innovations, such as industrials, healthcare, consumer goods, and consumer services. Penaloza stressed that innovation is a crucial part of sustainability and high-quality human life.

Abrdn aims for a diversified portfolio by investing in enterprises of different sizes across the world. Large-cap companies accounted for 60% of the master fund’s portfolio, while small and medium-cap firms took up 40%. Besides, the master fund tends to invest in enterprises that weigh ESG factors as it considers sustainability as the key to long-term development. Last July, Aberdeen Standard Investments set up the Abrdn sustainability institute in the Asia Pacific (APAC). The institute aims to establish an impactful ESG ecosystem in APAC, a region that still falls behind in applying sustainable investment strategies compared to Europe and North America.

Sources:

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2272291/aberdeen-introduces-tech-esg-fund

https://www.abrdn.com/corporate/media-centre/media-centre-news-article/aberdeen-standard-investments-establishes-abrdn-sustainability-institute-in-asia-pacific