Franklin Templeton has launched a Catholic principles ETF which aims to provide exposure to large and mid-cap stocks of companies considered to be environmentally and socially responsible.
Franklin MSCI World Catholic Principles UCITS ETF comes two years after the firm launched its Catholic Principles Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt UCITS ETF.
Caroline Baron, head of ETF distribution, EMEA, at the firm, said the latest range was in response to client interest.
To align with Catholic values it does not invest in abortion and contraceptives, animal testing and stem cell research.
She said: "With this new fund we wanted to offer investors an ESG-focused global equity strategy within an ETF structure that incorporates specific Catholic values but also provides a core equity article 8 compliant solution."
As well as the Catholic-focused exclusions, the index has a range of other exclusions including firearms, nuclear weapons, gambling tobacco and thermal coal.
The ETF will list on the London Stock Exchange on April 26.
It will be managed by Dina Ting, head of global index portfolio management, and Lorenzo Crosato, ETF portfolio manager, who between them have more than three decades of experience.
Rafaelle Lennox, head of UCITS ETF product strategy, added: “We are pleased to bring this tailor-made solution to investors.
"Investors can now participate in the performance of sustainable developed world equities that align with Catholic principles in one simple ETF."
tara.o'connor@ft.com
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