German asset manager DWS has announced plans to change the index for two of its Asia-focused ETFs to one that benchmarks ESG factors. In a shareholder notice, DWS named the two funds as XRTrackers MSCI EM Asia Swap Ucits ETF (XMAS) and Xtrackers AC Asia ex Japan Swap (XAXJ). The indexes will still be provided by MSCI but XMAS will have an ESG screening while XAXJ will use a low carbon capped index. Both ETFs will now have ESG added to their names, although their respective tickers will remain unchanged, as will the total expense ratio of both funds. Both funds will be labelled as article 8 funds under the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regime. “The change to the new reference index is proposed as part of the company’s continuous review of its existing product range and due to increased demand for ESG compliant investments,” stated DWS. “Hence, the board of directors deems it to be in the best interests of the shareholders to restructure the sub-fund to reflect the new reference index.” © 2022 funds global asia