Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) is poised to increase its ESG dosage with the launch of a new fund and adding a sustainability screen to an existing fixed income option.
In a note to clients last week, NZ adviser services group, Finzo, says DFA will soon roll out a new sustainability-focused emerging markets fund while making changes to the Two-Year Diversified Fixed Interest Trust.
“The proposed Dimensional Emerging Markets Sustainability Trust (Fund) is not yet available for investment. The offering is expected to be available on or around 20 July 2021,” the Finzo note says. “The Dimensional Two-Year Diversified Fixed Interest Trust will be renamed the Dimensional Two-Year Sustainability Fixed Interest Trust to reflect the introduction of sustainability considerations.”
DFA will also rename its current emerging markets fund as the Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Trust to “clearly reflect the Trust’s investment objective, which is unchanged”, according to Finzo.
“These changes are expected to take place on or around 2 August 2021,” the note says.
Previously known as the Boutique Advisers Alliance, Finzo emerged in 2019 out of the Hastings-based Stewart Financial Group to offer compliance and investment platform services (backed by FNZ technology) to the broader market with a tilt to DFA funds. Finzo is headed by Nick Stewart.
As at April this year, the US-based factor-investing specialist DFA reported global assets under management of almost US$640 billion.