Responsible Investing
By considering long-term environmental, social, governance and ethical issues, we believe we are better placed to match our clients’ investment goals with what they value. For more than 30 years, our responsible investment approach has driven the creation of investment solutions and funds across sectors and geographies.
“People are understanding that what they do with their savings, with their pension money, is not disconnected from the real world. Their money means something and they want it to reflect their values and concerns.”
Alice Evans, Co-head, Responsible Investment team
In-house expertise
Separate teams focus on sustainable screening and portfolio management with extensive research capabilities and risk management.
Global coverage
Environmental, social & governance (ESG) analysis on hundreds of global companies to support Responsible Investment strategies.
Engagement
Responsible engagement and voting program led by our in-house analysts.
Responsible investment policy
At BMO Global Asset Management, portfolio investment decisions are always made in the best interests of our clients. Supporting these investment decisions is the belief that prudent management of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues can have an important impact on the creation of long-term investor value. Companies that successfully manage their ESG risks, and proactively follow ESG best practices, may experience risk-adjusted outperformance over the longer-term. This belief underpins our commitment to being a responsible investor.
Material ESG considerations are integrated into our overall investment process. Our research analysts and portfolio managers follow a process that considers the potential impact of ESG issues related to investments in our internally managed portfolios, and we seek partners that do the same. This analysis informs our asset allocation, stock selection, portfolio construction, shareholder engagement and voting.
This approach does not apply to non-discretionary accounts where clients make their own investment choices or investments where we replicate an index.
Awards and recognition
BMO Named One of the 2018 World’s Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute*
Signatory of UN supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) since 2014
PRI’s mission: “We believe that an economically efficient, sustainable global financial system is a necessity for long-term value creation. Such a system will reward long-term, responsible investment and benefit the environment and society as a whole.”
* The World’s Most Ethical Companies assessment is based upon the Ethisphere Institute’s Ethics Quotient® (EQ) framework. Scores are generated in five key categories: ethics and compliance program (35
percent), corporate citizenship and responsibility (20 percent), culture of ethics (20 percent), governance (15 percent) and leadership, innovation and reputation (10 percent). In 2018, 135 companies were honored
from 23 countries and 57 industries.
17
The number of professionals on our Responsible Investing team
A+
Our rating from the UN Principles for Responsible Investment for our overall strategy and governance
1984
Launched Europe’s first social and environmentally screened fund
675+
The number of companies we engaged with in 2017
