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Ethical Investment Policy

Kingston Unity Friendly Society recognises its responsibility to operate in an ethical manner, and believe that the successful management of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues is fundamental to creating value for our Members.

What is our ESG approach?
We will not directly invest into companies who main business focus includes:

  • selling (or servicing) weapons, weapon systems or weapon components to (or for) oppressive regimes;
  • manufacturing or distributing nuclear weapons, landmines, cluster bombs/munitions and biological and chemical weapons;
  • manufacturing, creating or distributing pornography;
  • offering high-interest loans to those in financial difficulties; and
  • rearing animals for their fur or testing products on animals for non-medical purposes.

We may also exclude companies on other environmental, social or governance grounds such as excessive and prolonged breaches of Human Rights, promoting alcohol or gambling irresponsibly or where they adopt an irresponsible approach to environmental issues.

It should be noted that where the Society holds externally managed or tracker (which replicate the performance of an index) funds, the Society will be unable to apply its ESG approach.

How will we manage this policy?
This policy will be owned by our Investment Committee and implemented by LGT Vestra, our Investment Manager.

LGT Vestra will screen out investments into firms where their main business includes any of the above elements and monitor the current Investment Portfolio against our approach. Should one of our investments fail to meet our ESG approach, the Investment Committee will decide on how to remove the Society’s holding in that stock whilst considering the merits of the company and the rationale for the stock being highlighted.

LGT Vestra uses an independent, external firm “Ethical Screening” which undertakes research and analysis into those non-financial aspects of corporate activity and highlights any environmental, social or governance breaches that have occurred on the stocks within the Society’s portfolio and on any stock that may be added.

The ethical investment policy will be the subject of an annual review by the Investment Committee and Kingston Unity Board to ensure it remains fit for purpose.

Additional Information

Please Note: You must confirm you have read the key facts, before downloading this document.

Key Facts about our services and costs

1. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

The FCA is the independent watchdog that regulates financial services. This document is designed by the FCA to be given to consumers buying certain financial products. You need to read this important document. It explains the service you are being offered and how you will pay for it.

2. Whose products do we offer?

We offer products from the whole market

We only offer products from a limited number of companies

We only offer our own products

3. Which service will we provide you with?

We will advise and make a recommendation for you after we have assessed your needs.

You will not receive advice or a recommendation from us. We may ask some questions to narrow down the selection of products that we will provide details on. You will then need to make your own choice about how to proceed.

We will provide basic advice on a limited range of stakeholder products and in order to do this we will ask some questions about your income, savings and other circumstances but we will not:

  • conduct a full assessment of your needs;
  • offer advice on whether a non-stakeholder product may be more suitable.

We can only offer products from Kingston Unity Friendly Society. These products will enable you to:

  • protect yourself and your loved ones in the event of death
  • save and invest with the added benefit of protecting yourself and your loved ones in the event of death
  • provide benefit cover in the event of sickness

4. What will you have to pay us for our services?

Normally, if you buy a financial product direct from us, there will be no payments such as commission or fees payable. If there are any commission or fees payable, we will tell you how we get paid and the amount before we carry out any business for you.

5. Who regulates us?

Kingston Unity Friendly Society, 9 Navigation Court, Calder Park, Wakefield, WF2 7BJ is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and .the Prudential Regulation Authority. Kingston Unity Friendly Society’s FCA Registered Number is 110056.

Kingston Unity Friendly Society permitted business is advising and arranging life assurance and pensions business.

You can check this on the FCA’s Register by visiting the FCA’s website www.fsa.gov.uk/register or by contacting the FCA on 0845 606 1234.

6. What to do if you have a complaint

If you wish to register a complaint, please contact us:
…in writing Write to Kingston Unity Friendly Society, Complaints Department, 9 Navigation Court, Calder Park, Wakefield, WF2 7BJ. …by phoneTelephone (01924) 240164

If you cannot settle your complaint with us, you may be entitled to refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

7. Are we covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)?

We are covered by the FSCS. You may be entitled to compensation from the scheme if we cannot meet our obligations. This depends on the type of business and the circumstances of the claim.

Most types of insurance business are covered for 90% of the claim with no upper limit.

I have read the above

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