LSEG Lipper Fund Awards Methodology 2024

Criteria (Cumulative)

• Funds registered for sale in the respective country as of the end of the calendar year of the respective evaluation year
• At least 36 months of performance history as of the end of the calendar year of the respective evaluation year
• Lipper^® Global Classifications with at least 10 distinct portfolios based on the primary share class definition, excluding residual classifications; institutional and other non-retail funds; private, closed-end, exchange-traded, insurance and linked funds
• Asset classes: equity, bond, mixed-asset, commodity and alternatives. Absolute Return funds screen over all asset types except real estate

Fund classification awards

The currency for the calculation corresponds to the currency of the country for which the awards are calculated and relies on monthly data. Classification averages are calculated with all eligible share classes for each eligible classification. The calculation periods extend over 36, 60 and 120 months. The highest Lipper Leader® for Consistent Return (Effective Return) value within each eligible classification determines the fund classification winner over three, five or 10 years. For a detailed explanation, please review the Lipper Leader methodology document.

Asset class group awards

Asset class group awards will be given to the best large and small groups separately. Large fund family groups with at least five equity, five bond or three mixed-asset portfolios in the respective asset classes are eligible for a group award. Small fund family groups will need to have at least three distinct portfolios in one of the asset classes ‐ equity, bond or mixed-asset. The lowest average decile rank of the three years’ Consistent Return measure of the eligible funds per asset class and group will determine the asset class group award winner over the three-year period. In cases of identical results, the lower average percentile rank will determine the winner.

Overall group award

An overall group award will be given to the best large and small group separately. Large fund family groups with at least five equity, five bond and three mixed-asset portfolios are eligible for an overall group award. Small fund family groups will need to have at least three equity, three bond and three mixed-asset portfolios. An overall group award will be given to the group with the lowest average decile ranking of its respective asset class results based on the methodology described above. In cases of identical results, the lower average percentile rank will determine the winner. No asset class and/or overall group awards are handed out if there are less than three competing companies.

Asset class and overall group awards are given to the company that is responsible for establishing the fund by appointing the fund management company, and promoting and/or distributing the fund, the brand of the fund and the product range. This company is also referred to as promoter or sponsor company.

Assets under management breakpoint calculation

• Europe: In order to define the breakpoint between large and small companies, LSEG Lipper will calculate the sum of the single fund sizes of all funds (excluding closed-end funds) with sales permission in any European country per company and then sort the results in descending order. For each company, a percentage share value of the total assets under management will be calculated and accumulated to 100 percent. The assets under management breakpoint is found at 85 percent accumulated weight value
• United States: All eligible open-end funds (see Specific Methodology Issues for the US) with sales permission in the United States will be considered. The assets under management breakpoint is found at 85 percent accumulated weight value

Trophies and certificates

Generally, winning funds over three years within the 20 largest classifications per award universe according to assets under management will be awarded a trophy. Where appropriate, only funds domiciled in the respective country will be taken into consideration for determining the largest classifications. All winning groups will be awarded a trophy as well. However, the methodology for awarding physical trophies in various award universes is subject to change based on local market needs and will be communicated on the official winner notifications winners receive. Trophies will only be handed out at physical events. All winners will receive a certificate once award results go public, which can be downloaded by entering a fund name on lipperfundawards.com.

Naming

• Event: LSEG Lipper Fund Awards [Country] 2024
• Fund awards: LSEG Lipper Fund Awards [Country] 2024 Winner, [Fund Name], Best [Classification] Fund Over [Period] Years
• Group awards: LSEG Lipper Fund Awards Winner [Country] 2024, Best [Asset Class] [Size] Fund Family Group Over Three Years

Note: For regions where Lipper does not make a distinction between large and small group awards because of the small market size, no reference to ‘size’ in naming required.

Results publication

You will be able to search for winners on lipperfundawards.com. No raw data of the calculations will be published. No correspondence will be entered into.

Specific market and/or legal requirements

Amendments to the methodology can be implemented according to specific market and/or legal requirements, such as extended registration for sale, classification, limited duration of the funds, or other inclusion or exclusion criteria.

LSEG Lipper reserves the right to exclude any fund from the competition whereby the performance data is not sufficient or is deemed to be unverifiable. Furthermore, LSEG Lipper also reserves the right not to publish certain results if deemed appropriate.

United States

• US local classifications are used in the United States, rather than Lipper Global Classifications
• Institutional funds are included in the universe of eligible funds
• Since Lipper Leader scores are not calculated for money market funds, these classifications are excluded from all fund award calculations
• Additionally, S&P 500 Index funds, S&P Midcap 400 Index funds, equity leverage funds, specialty diversified equity funds, specialty fixed income funds, specialty/miscellaneous funds, other states municipal debt funds, other states intermediate municipal debt funds, and other states short/ intermediate municipal debt funds are not eligible to receive classification awards
• Only one share class (the one with the best Lipper Leader score) is used for each portfolio in determining asset class and overall awards
• Some funds may be excluded from award consideration if, in the opinion of LSEG Lipper’s Research staff, the portfolio has undergone too many classification changes or changed classifications recently
• The calculation periods are through the end of November of the respective evaluation year
• A physical trophy will be awarded to a fund that wins in at least two measurement periods for a given classification, that is, for the three- and five-year periods, three- and ten-year periods, five- and 10-year periods, or the three-, five- and 10-year periods

Canada

• CIFSC classifications are used in Canada, rather than Lipper Global Classifications
• Pooled funds, non-prospectus and offering memorandum funds, and funds not domiciled in Canada are excluded from the eligible universe
• The calculation periods are through the end of July of the respective evaluation year
• The calculations are based on the best performing share class within eligible portfolios amongst eligible share classes
• Additional group and classification awards will be handed out to exchange-traded funds registered for sale in Canada
• No distinction between large a small groups for the single asset class and overall group awards
• To be eligible for an asset class group award, the groups will need to have at least three distinct portfolios in one of the asset classes: equity, bond, or mixed-asset
• To be eligible for an overall group award, the groups will need to have at least three equity, three bond, and three mixed-asset funds
• Classification awards will be handed out to classifications with at least ten distinct portfolios

Europe

European fund awards

• Funds with UCITS status
• Funds registered for sale in at least three out of 30 EEA Member States and United Kingdom and Switzerland

Nordic fund awards

• Funds registered for sale in at least one out of the following four northern European countries: Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden

UK

• Exempt funds and IMA classifications, Pensions or Unauthorised are excluded from the eligible universe

France

• Legal structure is FCP or SICAV. Insurance funds are included into the eligible universe

Asia

• Because of the small market size, the Asian countries will not make a distinction between large and small groups for the single asset class and overall group awards
• To be eligible for an asset class group award, the groups will need to have at least three distinct portfolios in one of the asset classes: equity, bond or mixed-asset
• To be eligible for an overall group award, the groups will need to have at least three equity, three bond and three mixed- asset funds
• Classification awards will be handed out to classifications with at least five distinct portfolios
• Hong Kong: The awards are based on the Hong Kong primary share class definition. Additional classification and group awards will be handed out to Hong Kong pension funds (MPF). The Hong Kong pension funds universe is including linked funds
• Japan: Funds within the Japanese ITA Broad classifications Bond Open, Bond Spot, and Equity Spot are excluded from the eligible universe
• Additional classification awards will be handed out to Japan DC funds
• Malaysia: The regular universe excludes Islamic Funds and Employees’ Provident Funds (EPF). Separate classification and group awards will be handed out to Islamic-flagged Sharia- compliant funds and to Employees’ Provident Funds within classifications meeting the aforementioned criteria
• Singapore: Funds flagged Singapore Sophisticated Fund are excluded from the eligible universe. The awards are based on the Singapore primary share class definition
• Taiwan: The awards are based on the Taiwan primary share class definition
• Japan, Japan DC Funds, Hong Kong Mutual Funds, Singapore, Taiwan: Classification awards will be handed out to classifications with at least 10 distinct portfolios. Fund groups with at least five equity, five bond or three mixed-asset portfolios in the respective asset classes are eligible for a group award. To be eligible for an overall group award, the groups will need to have at least five equity, five bond and three mixed-asset funds

Arabian Markets

• Because of the small market size, the Arabian Markets region will not make a distinction between large and small groups for the single asset class and overall group awards
• To be eligible for an asset class group award, the groups will need to have at least three distinct portfolios in one of the asset classes: equity, bond or mixed-asset
• To be eligible for an overall group award, the groups will need to have at least three equity, three bond and three mixed- asset funds
• Classification awards will be handed out to classifications with at least five distinct portfolios
• Funds registered for sale in at least one of the following Arabian market countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates
• Additional classification and group awards will be handed out to funds domiciled in at least one of the aforementioned countries within classifications and asset types meeting the aforementioned criteria
• The calculation periods are through the end of November of the respective evaluation year

Global Islamic

• All Islamic-flagged Sharia-compliant mutual funds globally within Lipper Global Classifications with at least five distinct mutual funds over the respective time frame
• Calculation currency is the U.S. dollar
• No distinction between large and small groups for the single asset class and overall group awards
• To be eligible for an asset class group award, the groups will need to have at least three distinct portfolios in one of the asset classes: equity, bond or mixed-asset
• To be eligible for an overall group award, the groups will need to have at least three equity, three bond and three mixed- asset funds
• The calculation periods are through the end of November of the respective evaluation year

The essence of the LSEG Lipper Fund Awards is to reward consistent out-performance of individual funds and of fund companies. Winning funds have demonstrated consistently strong risk-adjusted returns compared with peers.

One of the benefits of being awarded a LSEG Lipper Fund Award is the ability to license the logo for use in advertising and marketing materials. This logo allows the winner to highlight its unique strengths and help distinguish the company or the individual funds from the competition.

Please see lipperfundawards.com/License-Marketing for more details.

The LSEG Lipper Fund Awards, granted annually, highlight funds and fund companies that have excelled in delivering consistently strong risk-adjusted performance relative to their peers.

The LSEG Lipper Fund Awards are based on the Lipper Leader for Consistent Return rating, which is a risk-adjusted performance measure calculated over 36, 60 and 120 months. The fund with the highest Lipper Leader for Consistent Return (Effective Return) value in each eligible classification wins the LSEG Lipper Fund Award. For more information, see lipperfundawards.com. Although LSEG Lipper makes reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained herein, the accuracy is not guaranteed by LSEG Lipper.