Approach to Responsible Investment

We partner with our clients to provide solutions that maximise the probability that they will achieve their investment objectives. We assess our client needs based on three key criteria: risk tolerance, investment horizon and return ambition level. We utilise third party monitoring services for our direct holdings. 

We have a stake in the effective operation and sustainability of the broader economy, society, the integrity and transparency of markets, good governance and business conduct. Given the size, geographical coverage, (multi) asset class mix, and variety of client mandates, we need to be flexible in the way we approach responsible investment and the integration of material ESG factors.

We employ a top-down investment process to efficiently allocate to broad asset classes. We utilise direct access to ESG ratings and data, which provides us with a comprehensive database of ESG scores for global companies. This allows us to directly replicate equity and bond market exposures. If deemed necessary, this allows us to remove poorly rated ESG companies within their sector classifications. Over time this is expected to add value to the portfolio by avoiding negative investment outcomes.

Team Climate Change Statement

Through the MSCI Carbon Footprint calculator we can monitor and manage the exposure to carbon emissions within the portfolio. We plan to do further analysis on the impact of climate risk on the portfolio in the coming twelve months. Due to the top-down investment process we do not directly meet with company management.

The team believes that voting on company resolutions is an important responsibility of any equity holder and votes on company resolutions using the services of CGI Glass Lewis. The team votes in line with CGI Glass Lewis recommendations, which have been formulated to promote high standards of corporate governance. In certain circumstances the team may override CGI Glass Lewis' recommendations where they believe it is in their clients’ interest to do so. Due to the systematic nature of their investment approach, the team maintains a separate proxy voting policy which is available on our website.

Proxy voting by region

The chart below shows the number of times the team voted in each reason and the percentage of votes against management recommendations, against our proxy advisors' recommendation, or against both. The purpose of this table is to show the regional difference in voting patterns and governance concerns.

^{_{Proxy voting information is as at 31/12/2019
Source: First State Investments / CGI Glass Lewis}}