Fund Name | SRI Style | Product | Region | Asset Type | Launch Date | |
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Montanaro Better World Fund | Sustainability Select | SICAV/Offshore* | Global | Equity | 10/04/2018 | |
Fund Size: £552.00m Total screened & themed / SRI assets: £3500.00 Total Responsible Ownership assets: £3500.00 Total assets under management: £3500.00 As at: 28/02/23 Contact: enquiries@montanaro.co.uk |
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OverviewThe Montanaro Better World Fund invests in quoted global-developed Small & Mid Cap companies that make a positive impact in the world.
Companies within the Fund must have at least 50% of revenue aligned to six impact themes which support the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Our impact themes are: Environmental Protection; Green Economy; Healthcare; Innovative Technology; Nutrition; and Well-being.
These themes help us to identify companies whose products or services can help to solve some of the major problems facing the world. We also analyse the wider operational footprint of companies which allows us to understand a company’s “net” impact.
To select “Better World” companies, we remain true to our heritage by only investing in high quality businesses. In our view, a company cannot make a long-term positive impact if it does not have a strong financial base and good management. |
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FiltersFund informationSustainabilityEnvironmental policy Sustainability policy Limits exposure to carbon intensive industries Resource efficiency policy or theme Sustainable transport policy or theme Sustainability theme or focus Environmental damage and pollution policy Favours cleaner, greener companies UN Global Compact linked exclusion policy Sustainability focus UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) focus Report against sustainability objectives Encourage more sustainable practices through stewardship Nature & BiodiversityNature / biodiversity protection policy Water stewardship policy Climate Change & EnergyCoal, oil & / or gas majors excluded Climate change / greenhouse gas emissions policy Fracking and tar sands excluded Clean / renewable energy theme or focus Arctic drilling exclusion Fossil fuel reserves exclusion Energy efficiency theme Require net zero action plan from all/most companies Paris aligned fund strategy Encourage transition to low carbon through stewardship activity Fossil fuel exploration exclusion - direct involvement Targeted Positive InvestmentsEU Sustainable Finance Taxonomy holdings 5-25% of fund assets Human RightsHuman rights policy Child labour exclusion Responsible supply chain policy or theme Modern slavery exclusion policy Social / EmploymentSocial policy Diversity, equality & inclusion Policy (fund level) Labour standards policy Favours companies with strong social policies Mining exclusion Meeting Peoples' Basic NeedsWater / sanitation policy or theme Demographic / ageing population theme Healthcare / medical theme Ethical Values Led ExclusionsEthical policies Animal welfare policy Animal testing exclusion policy Tobacco and related product manufacturers excluded Armaments manufacturers avoided Alcohol production excluded Gambling avoidance policy Pornography avoidance policy Civilian firearms production exclusion Banking & FinancialsPredatory lending exclusion Governance & ManagementGovernance policy Anti-bribery and corruption policy Avoids companies with poor governance Encourage board diversity e.g. gender UN sanctions exclusion Encourage higher ESG standards through stewardship activity Fund GovernanceESG integration strategy ESG factors included in Assessment of Value (AoV) report Asset Size & MetricsOver 50% small / mid cap companies How The Fund WorksStrictly screened ethical fund Positive selection bias Negative selection bias Combines norms based exclusions with other SRI criteria Combines ESG strategy with other SRI criteria Focus on ESG risk mitigation SRI / ESG / Ethical policies explained on website Assets mapped to SDGs All assets (except cash) meet published sustain'y criteria Impact MethodologiesAims to generate positive impacts (or 'outcomes') Measures positive impacts Positive environmental impact theme Positive social impact theme Invests in environmental solutions companies Invests in social solutions companies Invests in sustainability / ESG disruptors Described as an ‘impact investment fund’ Aim to deliver positive impacts through engagement Over 50% in assets providing environmental or social ‘solutions’ Labels & AccreditationsRSMR rated (OEIC funds only) SFDR Article 9 fund / product (EU) Intended Clients & Product OptionsFaith friendly Intended for investors interested in sustainability Available via an ISA (OEIC only) Intended for clients who want to have a positive impact Fund management company informationAbout The BusinessESG / SRI engagement (AFM company wide) Responsible ownership / stewardship policy or strategy (AFM company wide) Responsible ownership policy for non SRI funds (AFM company wide) Responsible ownership / ESG a key differentiator (AFM company wide) Vote all* shares at AGMs / EGMs (AFM company wide) Diversity, equality & inclusion engagement policy (AFM company wide) Specialist positive impact fund management company Boutique / specialist fund management company Integrates ESG factors into all / most fund research Offer structured intermediary training on sustainable investment Offer unstructured intermediary sustainable investment training ResourcesIn-house responsible ownership / voting expertise Employ specialist ESG / SRI / sustainability researchers Use specialist ESG / SRI / sustainability research companies ESG specialists on all investment desks (AFM company wide) Collaborations & AffiliationsPRI signatory UKSIF member UN Net Zero Asset Owners / Managers Alliance member GFANZ member (AFM company wide) AccreditationsUK Stewardship Code signatory (AFM company wide) B Corp certified (AFM company wide) Engagement ApproachRegularly lead collaborative ESG initiatives (AFM company wide) Encourage responsible corporate taxation (AFM company wide) Engaging on climate change issues Engaging to reduce plastics pollution / waste Engaging on biodiversity / nature issues Engaging to encourage a Just Transition Engaging on human rights issues Engaging on labour / employment issues Engaging on diversity, equality and / or inclusion issues Engaging on governance issues Engaging on responsible supply chain issues Company Wide ExclusionsReview(ing)carbon / fossil fuel exposure for all funds (AFM company wide) Coal exclusion policy (group wide coal mining exclusion policy) Controversial weapons avoidance policy (AFM company wide) Tobacco avoidance policy (AFM company wide) Fossil fuel exclusion policy (AFM company wide) Do not invest in companies with fossil fuel reserves Climate & Net Zero TransitionEncourage carbon / greenhouse gas reduction (AFM company wide) Net Zero commitment (AFM company wide) Carbon transition plan published (AFM company wide) ‘Forward Looking Climate Metrics’ published / ITR (AFM company wide) Carbon offsetting - offset carbon as part of our net zero plan (AFM company wide) In-house carbon / GHG reduction policy (AFM company wide) Publish 'CEO owned' Climate Risk policy (AFM company wide) Net Zero - have set a Net Zero target date (AFM company wide) Voting policy includes net zero targets (AFM company wide) TransparencyPublish full voting record (AFM company wide) Publish responsible ownership / stewardship report (AFM company wide) Full SRI policy information on company website Full SRI policy information available on request Paris Alignment plan publicly available (AFM company wide) Net Zero transition plan publicly available (AFM company wide) Sustainability transition plan publicly available (AFM company wide) |
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PolicyCompanies within the Fund must have at least 50% of revenue aligned to six impact themes which support the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Our impact themes are: Environmental Protection; Green Economy; Healthcare; Innovative Technology; Nutrition; and Well-being.
Alongside ensuring that companies meet our requirements to contribute to our six impact themes, we also assess the wider “ESG” footprint of our companies via our bespoke Ethical and ESG Checklists:
Ethics Checklist: We do not invest in: exploration & production fossil fuel companies; tobacco producers & distributors; alcohol producers & distributors; weapons manufacturers; gambling companies; adult entertainment; high interest rate lending companies; animal testing (ex-healthcare related companies). We exclude from investment any company with 10% or more revenue exposure to these restricted business areas. A company will either “pass” or “fail” the Ethics Checklist.
Environmental Checklist: We use MSCI data to measure the environmental intensity of our companies across carbon, water and waste. We also assess their carbon transition risk (how exposed a company is to stranded assets). We assess the environmental management culture, supply chain management and assess to what extent a company’s products/services are a positive influence on the environment. Finally, we consider the quality of a company’s environmental reporting and if they have a Net Zero Carbon target or other environmental targets in place. Companies are scored out of 10 for their environmental profile.
Social Checklist: Our Social Checklist is designed in line with the UN Global Compact. We analyse data relating to a company’s workforce including: staff turnover; % of women in the workforce; % of women in management; and gender pay gap. We also assess a company’s tax profile as well as human rights, labour practices, HR management/training, and the social value add of their products/services. Companies are scored out of 10 for their social profile.
Corporate Governance Checklist: This is broken down into three sections: Remuneration of the Executive Board; Capital Allocation Record; and Board Independence & Insider Ownership (which includes the % of women on the Board); and Other Corporate Governance Issues. Companies are scored out of 10 for their governance profile.
Scores for each ESG area weighted and then aggregated to produce a final ESG score out of 10. The conclusions are presented to the Investment Committee who discuss any issues with the Analyst. The Committee will decide to continue with, or discard, a new idea based on the Analyst’s findings. The Sustainability Committee monitors the ESG scores of companies on our Approved List. Companies deemed “outliers” are candidates for engagement.
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ProcessThere are three stages to the investment process for the Better World Fund. Analysts conduct all the work themselves.
Stage 1: Impact assessment The first step in our investment process is the assessment of positive impact, which is done via the completion of an “Impact Report” by the Analyst responsible for covering the stock (Analysts are organised on a sector basis). This stage focuses solely on the products and services of the company and the potential for positive impact in support of the UN SDGs and out impact themes. Our Sustainability Committee votes on whether a stock passes or fails for impact. The following key impact criteria are required fields in our Impact Report:
Since launch, the Sustainability Committee has failed 20% of the ideas it has been asked to consider. It is a tough hurdle. If the Sustainability Committee pass the stock for impact, the investment team will undertake further analysis.
Stage 2: Quality assessment Once a company has passed Stage 1, we assess the Quality of a company, considering the financial profile, ESG and management. Analysts complete our Ethical & ESG Checklists. ESG forms an intrinsic part of how we define the Quality of a company. Our Ethical & ESG Checklists consider the following areas:
Ethical Policy: On ethical grounds, we do not invest in the following areas of the economy. We exclude from investment any company which derives 10% or more revenue from these areas:
Environmental Policy: Our Environmental Policy allows us to assess the risks and opportunities that our companies face from an environmental perspective. We believe that Climate Change is a threat that every business must mitigate and adapt to. We engage extensively with management teams on environmental matters. We consider specific areas of environmental exposure in our analysis:
We use MSCI, Bloomberg and company sourced data to measure the environmental intensity of our companies across carbon, water and waste. Where available, we record the carbon intensity of companies across Scopes 1, 2 and 3 on the basis of tonnes of carbon used per million US Dollars of sales generated. We do the same for water and waste. This allows us to compare the carbon intensity of companies across our Approved List.
We also monitor MSCI’s Low Carbon Transition score. This combines Management assessments for the following issues: Carbon Emission for all companies; Product Carbon Footprint; Financing Environmental Impact; Opportunities in Clean Tech; and Opportunities in Renewable Energy where available. A score is given from 0-10. Higher scores indicate greater capacity to manage risk.
In addition to the above, we record MSCI’s Low Carbon Transition score. Companies with higher Low Carbon Transition score are more aligned with the Low Carbon Transition compared to the companies with lower scores. A score is given from 0-10.
We also assess environmental management culture (in accordance with UN Global Compact Principles 7-9); supply chain management; and the extent to which a company’s products/services are a positive influence on the environment. We also record whether a company’s operations are certified by a national or global standard (e.g. ISO 14001).
Finally, we consider the quality of a company’s environmental reporting and if they have a Net Zero Carbon target or other environmental targets in place. Companies are scored out of 10 for their environmental profile.
Social Policy: Our Social Policy allows us to analyse specific social factors, leading to more accurate risk analysis of investment opportunities. We engage with companies on social issues – by doing so, we believe that we can help to encourage management teams to contribute to a more sustainable world, which will ultimately lead to more sustainable investment returns.
We use MSCI, Bloomberg and company sourced data to measure and record the following:
Additional areas that we focus on are influenced by the UN Global Compact: Human rights; Bribery & Corruption; Equal Opportunities; Labour Practices; Human resources management; Supply chain management.
Companies are scored out of 10 for their social profile.
Corporate Governance Policy: We wish to align the interests of company management teams with the interests of long-term shareholders. Ensuring high standards of corporate governance forms an important part of this. Our logic here is simple: good corporate governance increases the quality of a business; the higher the quality of a business, the greater the sustainability of returns.
Our Checklist considers:
Companies are scored out of 10 for their governance profile.
Scores for each ESG area weighted and then aggregated to produce a final ESG score out of 10. The conclusions are presented to the Investment Committee who discuss any issues with the Analyst. The Committee will decide to continue with, or discard, a new idea based on the Analyst’s findings. The Sustainability Committee monitors the ESG scores of companies on our Approved List. Companies deemed “outliers” are candidates for engagement.
The conclusions of our Quality assessment are presented to the Investment Committee who discuss any issues with the Analyst. The Committee will decide to continue with, or discard, a new idea based on the Analyst’s findings.
Only companies that pass the scrutiny of the Sustainability Committee and the Investment Committee are added to the Impact Approved List and are eligible for inclusion in the Better World Fund.
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Resources, Affiliations & Corporate StrategiesESG is fully integrated into the Montanaro Investment Process. ESG analysis is conducted by our Research Analysts alongside fundamental analysis. The result is that our investment decisions makers “do” ESG”. Companies that we consider for investment must pass the criteria set out in the following Ethical and ESG policies. Each policy has a corresponding checklist which our Analysts complete during the research process.
Our Investment Team consists of 11 Investment Analysts who conduct ESG and impact analysis on the companies under their coverage; the Head of Sustainable Investment who helps to coordinate our approach to sustainable investing; and an ESG and Impact Specialist who supports the research analysts on certain research and engagement topics.
In addition, we have an internal Sustainability Committee who ensures that our approach to ESG and impact remains consistent across the house.
We are signatories to a number of industry codes, policies and disclosures:
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DialshifterThis fund is helping to ‘shift the dial from brown to green’ by… Environmental Protection and the Green Economy are two of the six investment themes that support the overarching framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We seek out companies that are contributing to the transition to a low carbon economy and are developing solutions to limit pressure on natural resources.
Our organisation is helping to support the Paris Climate Agreement and the Race to Net Zero by… At COP 25, we joined fellow B Corporations to announce that Montanaro would achieve Net Zero by 2030. We have partnered with Climate Care to offset the impact of our business travel and we work hard to preserve and use our resources efficiently. We conserve electricity, use sustainable suppliers and manage our office waste responsibly. We do this because we expect high ESG standards from the companies in which we invest, and we aim to practice what we preach.
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Literature
Last amended: 03/01/24 01:37 |
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05/07/2024