SFDR Article 9: Is it all about impact?
This paper investigates 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, the authors 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. The WPSF researchers 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.
Scheitza, L.; Busch, T. (2024) SFDR Article 9: Is it all about impact? Finance Research Letters. Advance online publication: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2024.105179
