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SFDR Article 9: Is it all about impact?

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  • Scheitza, Lisa
  • Busch, Timo

Abstract

We investigate more than 1,000 investment funds that are classified under Article 9 of the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). Using the G7’s new typology of sustainable investments, we show that Article 9 funds pursue varying degrees of ambition: while 60 % follow an impact-oriented strategy, we identify 40 % that instead pursue a general Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy. We do not find significant differences in ESG scores between ESG-related and impact-related funds. Yet, impact-related funds have higher SDG impact scores and higher management fees. Downgraded funds that changed SFDR status, however, tend to be less focused on impact.

Suggested Citation

  • Scheitza, Lisa & Busch, Timo, 2024. "SFDR Article 9: Is it all about impact?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PA).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:62:y:2024:i:pa:s1544612324002095
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2024.105179
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Timo Busch & Peter Bruce-Clark & Jeroen Derwall & Robert Eccles & Tessa Hebb & Andreas Hoepner & Christian Klein & Philipp Krueger & Falko Paetzold & Bert Scholtens & Olaf Weber, 2021. "Impact investments: a call for (re)orientation," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 1(2), pages 1-13, February.
    2. Irene Bengo & Leonardo Boni & Alessandro Sancino, 2022. "EU financial regulations and social impact measurement practices: A comprehensive framework on finance for sustainable development," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(4), pages 809-819, July.
    3. Samuel M. Hartzmark & Abigail B. Sussman, 2019. "Do Investors Value Sustainability? A Natural Experiment Examining Ranking and Fund Flows," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 74(6), pages 2789-2837, December.
    4. Arno Riedl & Paul Smeets, 2017. "Why Do Investors Hold Socially Responsible Mutual Funds?," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 72(6), pages 2505-2550, December.
    5. Duncombe, Samuel & Park, Min & Tarsalewska, Monika & Trojanowski, Grzegorz, 2023. "ESG positioning in private infrastructure fundraising," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    6. Florian Berg & Julian F Kölbel & Roberto Rigobon, 2022. "Aggregate Confusion: The Divergence of ESG Ratings [Corporate social responsibility and firm risk: theory and empirical evidence]," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 26(6), pages 1315-1344.
    7. Becker, Martin G. & Martin, Fabio & Walter, Andreas, 2022. "The power of ESG transparency: The effect of the new SFDR sustainability labels on mutual funds and individual investors," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PB).
    8. Badenhoop, Nikolai & Hackmann, Angelina & Mücke, Christian & Pelizzon, Loriana, 2023. "Quo vadis sustainable funds? Sustainability and taxonomy-aligned disclosure in Germany under the SFDR," SAFE White Paper Series 94, Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE.
    9. Bernd Scherer & Milot Hasaj, 2023. "Greenlabelling: How valuable is the SFDR Art 9 label?," Journal of Asset Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 24(7), pages 541-546, December.
    10. Florian Heeb & Julian F Kölbel & Falko Paetzold & Stefan Zeisberger, 2023. "Do Investors Care about Impact?," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 36(5), pages 1737-1787.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    SFDR; ESG investing; Impact investing;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility

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