The ii ACE 40 makes investing ethically easy.
From our list of more than 140 ethical investment options, we have picked out what we believe to be the 40 best-in-class funds, investment trusts and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). These offer the highest quality across a wide variety of markets.
You can find out how each one attained ii rated status by reading our Methodology and FAQs.
Our ii ACE 40 selections are:
- High-quality companies chosen from the widest possible range of ethical investments
- From different sectors and regions, with risk options from core to adventurous
- Designed to suit ALL investors
- Chosen for their potential to deliver strong financial performance
- Managed in a genuinely ethical manner – there is no ‘greenwashing’ of information that aims to mislead about the environmental credentials of a company
Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance.
The ACE 40 list offers a filtered selection of collective investment vehicles for all investors, new or experienced. We aim to provide a menu of high-quality choices across a broad variety of markets and investment types.
Tools
Ethical growth portfolio – designed to give you an idea about how you can build your own balanced ethical portfolio.
How to use the ii ACE 40
The ii ACE 40 is sorted into asset groups, investment categories and ACE ethical styles.
Asset groups include global equities and fixed-income options, while the investment categories suit the type of investor you are. These range from low cost – for those looking to control what they are paying – to smaller company and adventurous, for investors keen to add higher-risk options to a balanced portfolio.
The investment categories follow a similar structure to our Super 60, but the limited range of ethical options available means some categories are currently blank. We plan to add extra options over time as new ethical investments are launched or build up a good track record of performance.
ACE ethical styles explained
Each fund is given an ACE ethical style. Where a fund’s manager adopts more than one, we use the strongest that applies:
Avoids.
Funds that focus on simply excluding companies, sectors or specific business practices.
Considers.
Funds that carefully consider an often wide range of ethical and/or environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues or themes when balancing positive and negative factors.
Embraces.
Funds that focus on companies delivering positive social and/or environmental outcomes.
All funds listed are the Accumulation version of the fund, where available, where any income generated within the fund is reinvested automatically. Income versions of these funds may also be available for investors looking for income generated to be paid directly into their account. The information we provide in the ACE investments list does not constitute a personal recommendation. You should ensure that any investment decisions you make are suitable for your personal circumstances and that the ethical style of the investment reflects your personal beliefs. Past performance of the underlying constituents is not a guarantee of future performance. Remember, the value of investments and any income from them can fall as well as rise, so you could get back less than you invest.
Display ii ACE 40 investments by:
Asset Groups
ii ACE 40 Equities
ii ACE 40 Fixed Income
ii ACE 40 Alternatives
ii ACE 40 Equities
UK equities
Name | Investment Category | ii ACE ethical style | Selection rationale | Invest now |
| Royal London Sustainable Leaders C Acc | Core | Considers | find out more | trade |
| Aegon Ethical Equity | Adventurous | Avoids | find out more | trade |
| Liontrust UK Ethical 2 Net Acc | Adventurous | Considers | find out more | trade |
L&G Ethical Trust Fund has been removed. Find out more
UK equity income
Name | Investment Category | ii ACE ethical style | Selection rationale | Invest now |
| BMO Responsible UK Income 2 Acc | Core | Considers | find out more | trade |
| Janus Henderson UK Responsible Income | Core | Considers | find out more | trade |
| Unicorn UK Ethical Income B Acc | Smaller company | Avoids | find out more | trade |
| Trojan Ethical Income X Acc | Adventurous | Avoids | find out more | trade |
Global equities
Name | Investment Category | ii ACE ethical style | Selection rationale | Invest now |
| UBS ETF MSCI World SRI USD A dis GBP | Low cost | Avoids | find out more | trade |
| BMO Responsible Global Equity 2 Acc | Core | Considers | find out more | trade |
| Baillie Gifford Global Stewardship | Core | Considers | find out more | trade |
| Montanaro Better World | Smaller company | Embraces | find out more | trade |
| Impax Environmental Markets Ord | Adventurous | Embraces | find out more | trade |
| Baillie Gifford Positive Change | Adventurous | Embraces | find out more | trade |
| Fundsmith Sustainable Equity I Acc | Adventurous | Considers | find out more | trade |
The classification of Impax Environmental Markets has changed. Find out more
Global equity income
Name | Investment Category | ii ACE ethical style | Selection rationale | Invest now |
| Baillie Gifford Responsible Global Equity Income | Core | Considers | find out more | trade |
Emerging markets
Name | Investment Category | ii ACE ethical style | Selection rationale | Invest now |
| iShares MSCI EM SRI ETF USD Acc GBP | Low cost | Avoids | find out more | trade |
| Stewart Investors Glbl EM Sust B Acc GBP | Core | Considers | find out more | trade |
Asian equities
Name | Investment Category | ii ACE ethical style | Selection rationale | Invest now |
| UBS ETF MSCI Pacific SRI USD A dis GBP | Low cost | Avoids | find out more | trade |
| Pacific Assets Ord | Core | Considers | find out more | trade |
| Impax Asian Environmental Markets IRL X | Adventurous | Embraces | find out more | trade |
European equities
Name | Investment Category | ii ACE ethical style | Selection rationale | Invest now |
| Vanguard SRI European Stock GBP Acc | Low cost | Avoids | find out more | trade |
| Liontrust Sust Fut Eurp Gr 2 Net Acc | Core | Considers | find out more | trade |
| ASI Europe ex UK Ethical Equity | Adventurous | Considers | find out more | trade |
EdenTree Amity European Fund has been removed. Find out more
US equities
Name | Investment Category | ii ACE ethical style | Selection rationale | Invest now |
| iShares MSCI USA SRI ETF USD Acc GBP | Low cost | Avoids | find out more | trade |
| Brown Advisory US Sust Gr GBP B Inc | Core | Considers | find out more | trade |
ii ACE 40 Fixed Income
Global bonds
Name | Investment Category | ii ACE ethical style | Selection rationale | Invest now |
| Lyxor Green Bond | Low cost | Embraces | find out more | trade |
| PIMCO GIS Global Bond ESG Instl GBPH Inc | Core | Considers | find out more | trade |
Sterling bonds
Name | Investment Category | ii ACE ethical style | Selection rationale | Invest now |
| Liontrust Sust Fut Corp Bd 2 Grs Inc | Core | Considers | find out more | trade |
| Royal London Ethical Bond | Core | Avoids | find out more | trade |
| Rathbone Ethical Bond I Acc | Adventurous | Considers | find out more | trade |
| Threadneedle UK Social Bd Z Grs Acc£ | Adventurous | Embraces | find out more | trade |
The classification of Rathbone Ethical Bond has changed. Find out more
ii ACE 40 Alternatives
Specialist
Name | Investment Category | ii ACE ethical style | Selection rationale | Invest now |
| iShares Global Clean Energy ETF USD Dist GBP | Low cost | Embraces | find out more | trade |
| FP Foresight Global Real Infrastructure | Core | Embraces | find out more | trade |
| VT Gravis Clean Energy Income C GBP Acc | Income | Embraces | find out more | trade |
| Syncona Ord | Adventurous | Embraces | find out more | trade |
Formal review concluded. iShares Global Clean Energy ETF has been retained. Find out more
Syncona is under review. Find out more
Mixed asset
Name | Investment Category | ii ACE ethical style | Selection rationale | Invest now |
| BMO Sustainable Universal MAP Cautious | Low Cost | Considers | find out more | trade |
| BMO Sustainable Universal MAP Balanced | Low Cost | Considers | find out more | trade |
| BMO Sustainable Universal MAP Growth | Low Cost | Considers | find out more | trade |
| Royal London Sustainable Div C Acc | Core | Considers | find out more | trade |
| Royal London Sustainable World | Adventurous | Considers | find out more | trade |
| Climate Assets B GBP Acc | Adventurous | Considers | find out more | trade |
AXA Ethical Distribution Fund has been removed. Find out more
iShares Global Clean Energy ETF Retained
We have decided to remove iShares Global Clean Energy ETF from under formal review and retain its rating on our ACE 40 list following an extensive review of changes to its methodology. The exchange-traded fund (ETF) has increased the number of holdings of its clean energy index from 30 to 82, in a move designed to reduce constituent concentration, address liquidity risk and improve index replication.
We view the recent changes to the index as positive as they add diversification and improve the liquidity profile of the index portfolio. However, we note the index now includes companies which are not pure play clean energy stocks meaning there is a potential for exposure to be diluted. We reviewed other clean energy ETFs and concluded that iShares Global Clean Energy ETF remains the best option due to its broad, diversified exposure to the clean energy theme, improved underlying liquidity and its proven track record.
7 July 2021
Reclassification of Rathbone Ethical Bond Fund
We changed the category of Rathbone Ethical Bond Fund on the ACE 40 from ‘income’ to ‘adventurous’. The fund’s objective is to deliver a greater total return than the IA Sterling Corporate Bond sector, after fees, over any 5 year rolling period. Although the fund delivers reasonable level of income, this is not its primary objective and in certain circumstances it could be sacrificed to support total returns, meaning it is not truly align with our criteria for income strategies. Given its total return objective and risk characteristics, we believe the fund is more suitable to our adventurous category.
(26 February 2021)
Removal of L&G Ethical Trust Fund
We have decided to remove L&G Ethical Trust from our ACE 40 ethical rated list because the fund’s mandate that sets out how the money is to be invested is changing. Until now, the fund has tracked the FTSE 350 Index and is a UK Equity, Low Cost option within the ACE 40. On the 28 January 2021 changes will take effect for the fund to have a global mandate, track the MSCI World SRI Index and be renamed Legal & General MSCI World Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Index Fund. Following these changes the fund will no longer be appropriate for its current category within the ACE 40 and therefore removal from the list is appropriate.
(28 January 2021)
Removal of AXA Ethical Distribution Fund
Following our annual review, we have decided to remove the fund from our ACE 40 List. The fund has had a disappointing period of performance relative to its peers and we, unfortunately, have lost conviction in its ability to meet its long-term performance objective. The portfolio only allocates between UK Gilts and UK equities with a bias to mid and small-cap stocks, which will significantly impact the fund’s absolute and relative performance.
(26 October 2020)
Impax Environmental Markets Trust
The decision to reclassify Impax Environmental Markets Trust from Global Equity/Smaller Company to Global Equity/Adventurous is in-line with our stated methodology. We have conducted a careful review of the risks associated with the trust, including the style of the manager and portfolio positioning as well as assessment of the sector. We maintain our conviction in the manager and his approach focusing on companies delivering environmental solutions but due to the specialist nature of the strategy Adventurous risk category is more appropriate.
(26 October 2020)
Removal of EdenTree Amity European Fund
While we continue to have a high regard for the firm and the team, the fund has been struggling to achieve its performance objectives in recent years, and we have therefore decided to remove it from our ACE 40 List. The contrarian and value style of the fund has contributed to the fund’s comparatively disappointing performance against peers. We are also conscious of the possibility of longer recovery periods for value investing.
(26 October 2020)
Reclassification of Syncona Limited
The decision to reclassify Syncona Limited from Specialist/Smaller Company to Specialist /Adventurous is in-line with our stated methodology. We have conducted a careful review of the risks associated with the trust, including the style of the manager and portfolio positioning as well as assessment of the sector. We maintain our conviction in the manager and his approach focusing on life science companies but due to the specialist nature of the strategy Adventurous risk category is more appropriate.
(26 October 2020)
Syncona Limited under review
In line with our stated methodology Syncona, a member of the ii ACE 40 list, has been put under review due to concerns regarding the trust’s performance. The investment trust, which aims to achieve superior long-term capital appreciation from investing in life science companies, has been very volatile in share price terms and posted negative returns year to date which has damaged its long-term track record. As a result of the pandemic, two of the trusts listed holdings’ (Freeline and Autolus) drug trials have been pushed back which has contributed to the portfolio underperformance. We will be investigating its performance and assess whether the trust continues to be appropriate for our investors and be included in the ii ACE 40 best ideas list.
(11th August 2021)
Risk warnings
The information we provide in the ACE 40 investments list does not constitute a "personal recommendation". You should ensure that any investment decisions you make are suitable for your personal circumstances and that the ethical style of the investment reflects your personal beliefs.
Past performance of the underlying constituents is not a guarantee of future performance. Remember, the value of investments, and any income from them, can fall as well as rise so you could get back less than you invest.
Annual performance can be found on the factsheet of each fund, trust or ETF. Simply click on the asset’s name and then the performance tab.
If you are unsure about the suitability of a particular investment or think that you need a personal recommendation, you should speak to a suitably qualified financial advisor.
Any changes to the ii ACE 40 investments list and the rationale behind those decisions will be communicated through the Quarterly Investment Review.
Details of all recommendations issued by ii during the previous 12 month period can be found here.
ii adheres to a strict code of conduct. Members of ii staff may hold shares in companies mentioned in the ii ACE 40 investments list, which could create a conflict of interest. Any member of staff intending to complete some research about any financial instrument in which they have an interest are required to disclose such interest to ii. We will at all times consider whether such interest impairs the objectivity of the recommendation.
In addition, staff involved in the production of this ii ACE 40 list are subject to a personal account dealing restriction. This prevents them from placing a transaction in the specified instrument(s) for five working days before and after an investment is included or amended and made public within the list. This is to avoid personal interests conflicting with the interests of the recipients of this ii ACE 40 investments list.
Not yet an ii customer?
You can buy the ii ACE 40 investments in any of the accounts we offer.
£9.99 a month covers you for multiple accounts (open a SIPP by 31 October and pay no SIPP fee until May 2022. Then just £10 a month extra).