Environmental, Social and Governance Statement

This Environmental, Social and Governance Statement sets out how the GWM Group incorporates environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) considerations into our investment approach and processes.

GWM acknowledges its responsibilities to contribute to a sustainable future. As such, it is our aim to ensure that we can continuously improve the environmental impact of our business as well as the impact on our community and on society at large, and that our commitment to sound and ethical business conduct is delivered.

Our investment team always strives to promote, where applicable and appropriate, awareness and understanding of ESG considerations and integrate the same into the investment decision making process and engagement efforts. As a result, where material and relevant, ESG perspectives are taken into account when assessing the risk-reward profile of potential investments. Furthermore, our investment team aspires to engage with companies when seeking to positively influence business practices.

As institutional investors signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (“UNPRI”), we have a duty to act in the best long-term interests of our beneficiaries. In this fiduciary role, we believe that ESG issues can affect the performance of investment portfolios (to varying degrees across companies, sectors, regions, asset classes and through time). We also recognise that applying these Principles may better align investors with broader objectives of society. Therefore, where consistent with our fiduciary responsibilities, we commit to the following:

Principle 1
Awareness

We will incorporate ESG issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes.

Principle 2
Ownership

We will be active owners and incorporate ESG issues into our ownership policies and practices.

Principle 3
Disclosure

We will seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which we invest.

Principle 4
Promotion

We will promote acceptance and implementation of the Principles within the investment industry.

Principle 5
Effectiveness

We will work together to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the Principles.

Principle 6
Communication

We will report on our activities and progress towards implementing the Principles.

When undertaking the ESG analysis, we will seek to obtain information from a variety of sources, including, but not limited to:

  • the target company or asset itself;
  • third party specialist data providers;
  • brokers;
  • academics.

We integrate the consideration of ESG factors into different stages of our investment decision-making process:

  • Ethical Screening;
  • ESG Integration;
  • ESG Engagement and Voting.

GWM is committed to continuously improving its policies to meet or exceed evolving standards and expectations of our shareholders, investors, customers, employees and communities.