Sustainable value
We consider every way a company creates and delivers value for its stakeholders both now, and long into the future. For us, this means looking beyond conventional notions of company performance.
Embedding ESG
By fully integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) analysis into the investment process we can better understand the non-financial, or more accurately, the ‘not-yet-financial’ factors that can impact a company’s ability to generate long-term, sustainable returns.
In our view there are three core strands to ESG analysis:
Identification
Using our in-house industry frameworks, we identify material ESG factors to understand the potential impact on returns.
Integration
We incorporate key ESG factors into the investment case, considering business aspects likely to be impacted. Financial modelling and portfolio construction are then undertaken.
Active Ownership
We monitor and engage with investee companies both privately and collaboratively. We participate in proxy voting and disclose and report on our views.
Our ESG vision
As references to sustainability issues become increasingly commonplace within the investment industry, Martin Currie can quite rightly claim genuine leadership in this space.
Knowing how a company identifies and manages potential environmental issues such as climate change and water scarcity helps us understand how it is preparing for changes to regulation and disclosure requirements, as well as its ability to operate in changing conditions.
Pollution
Water usage
Resource management
Climate change (emissions)
Energy efficiency
How a company treats its people, customers and wider stakeholders, can give valuable insight into its culture – a good proxy for long-term business success.
Data protection and privacy
Equality and diversity
Community relations
Human capital management
Product safety and liability
Supply-chain management
Human rights
We value transparency and clear accountable governance structures, paying considerable attention to the extent to which a company demonstrates alignment with the interests of long-term investors.
Board leadership and independence
Management remuneration
Shareholder rights
Succession planning
Accounting and audit standards
The Power of Engagement
At the heart of each stage of our ESG process is engagement. Led by our portfolio managers and analysts with day-to-day responsibility for investment decisions, we engage through a range of interactions: one-to-one with individual firms; in collaboration with other investors (through initiatives such as those run by the Principles for Responsible Investment [PRI]); with outside bodies, including government departments or non-governmental organisations (NGOs); and with other relevant stakeholders.
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Stewardship Annual Report 2020
The Power of Engagement
Active ownership with an integrated ESG-focus delivering sustainable outcomes for our clients.
Latest insights
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Latest Stewardship Activity: December
The latest update from David Sheasby, Head of Stewardship & ESG..
- Date published
- 21 Jan 2021
- Tag
- Stewardship & ESG
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Stewardship Matters - Edition 2
Our regular update of Martin Currie’s work in the stewardship and ESG space and our insights into future ESG trends. EDITION 2 focusses on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
- Date published
- 20 Jan 2021
- Tag
- Stewardship & ESG
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Latest Stewardship Activity: November
The latest update from David Sheasby, Head of Stewardship & ESG..
- Date published
- 16 Dec 2020
- Tag
- Stewardship & ESG