Responsible investing

Our purpose is to create enduring worth - living in society, not off it. Creating enduring worth means more than just creating wealth for our clients. We’re committed to making a positive contribution to the charities we work with, as well as investing in a way that is aligned to a more sustainable future for all.

We take our role as stewards of your charity’s capital seriously. We understand that you are entrusting us to invest responsibly on your behalf. Our approach involves ESG integration and engagement as standard. Environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations have long been embedded into our investment processes.

We use external rating systems to delve deeply into companies’ ESG credentials. Issues identified by such systems act as the starting point for our own proprietary ESG research work.

Stewardship

We exercise voting rights on behalf of our clients and engage with the boards of companies and Investor Relations teams where appropriate. These activities are overseen by our Corporate Governance Committees

Voting

We exercise our fiduciary voting responsibilities on financial and ESG issues. When doing so, we take advice from Institutional Shareholder Services, a leading provider of corporate governance research and recommendations, as an input into our decision making.

Active engagement

Our analysts meet frequently with company management teams to discuss issues of governance. Where we have concern that a company isnot being managed in the interests of our clients, we will decide how best to engage. We raise concerns we have with companies around their ESG risk exposures and strategic directions.

Webinar: Butler-Sloss Vs Charity Commission Q&A

Catch up on our most recent webinar in the Charity Expert Series. Sarah Butler-Sloss, Chair of Trustees at Ashden Trust and Luke Fletcher, Partner at Bates Wells join us as we explore the long-term implications of the Butler-Sloss vs Charity Commission Case and how it might impact your future investment decisions.

Our responsible investing networks

Signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment

Signatory of the revised UK Stewardship Code

Member of Climate Action 100+

Member of the Investor Forum

Tailoring your portfolio

We can tailor your investment portfolio to reflect your preferences in several different ways.

Sustainability focus

We can concentrate your direct holdings towards those with higher ESG ratings, invest in specialist sustainable funds or look to buy direct holdings where the companies’ products and services are aligned to the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Ethical focus

We can identify companies that may conflict with your values and exclude direct holdings of these from your portfolio.

Specialist focus

We can increase your exposure to areas that align with your mission, buying investments such as environmental funds or social housing investment trusts.

It is important to note that investments in companies with strong ESG credentials, or which seek to have a positive impact on the environment or society are also exposed to investment risk. You may not recover the full amount of your investment. Your capital is at risk.

Start a conversation

If you’d like to know more about our approach to responsible investing or how we can help your charity to invest in line with its values, get in touch.

Sustainability at Investec

Investec’s culture of care has always placed a high value on business practices that create enduring worth for all stakeholders. As an Investec client, you will be dealing with a financially resilient business, which is here for the long term.