Smaller Companies

We believe that ESG factors are financially material and can impact a company’s performance – either positively or negatively. Understanding ESG risks and opportunities, alongside other financial metrics, is therefore an intrinsic part of our research process.

The world is evolving rapidly in the current Covid-19 crisis and ESG factors will be more important than ever. We believe companies that take a wider view of their responsibilities, including all stakeholders – such as employees, customers and suppliers – are more likely to succeed.

We actively engage with the companies in which we invest, sharing insights and encouraging best practice where possible. We combine information from these meetings with the insights of our investment managers, ESG equity analysts and central ESG Investment team. This comprehensive approach means we can build a richer, more holistic view of each company. It also means we can consistently evaluate one company against another.

This approach is all part of our responsible stewardship of our clients’ assets – helping us mitigate risks, unlock opportunities and enhance long-term returns.