How we fulfill our responsibility
As an active asset manager, we demand and promote sustainable business practices as well as adherence to recognised international principles and ESG best practice standards. To this end, we exercise voting rights in line with our sustainable thinking and strategy.
How you benefit from investment stewardship
Our understanding of sustainability is based on the holistic approach of investment stewardship, ESG integration (Environmental, Social and Governance), the avoidance of controversies and reduction of CO2e emissions. As an active asset manager, we strive to consider social and environmental values alongside risk and return in our investments. We use ESG integration to minimise ESG risks, abstain from critical investments based on exclusion criteria, aim to reduce the portfolio's CO2e intensity over time, and identify emerging opportunities.
Proxy voting: we vote responsibly
For the shares of our active and passive investment funds, Swisscanto Fund Management actively exercises the voting rights. We have a sustainable voting rights policy that is updated annually. For instance, this includes supporting relevant shareholder proposals at general meetings and promoting ESG best practice standards. We publish our voting guidelines and voting behaviour online because transparency is important to us.
Engagement: we demand and promote change
Our engagement is built on three pillars, regardless of whether we have invested in equities or fixed income securities:
- Dialogue: We promote responsible corporate governance, particularly in companies in which we have made significant investments.
- Collaboration: We contribute to industry initiatives that support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Global engagement: We are committed to the UN Global Compact Principles and significant sustainability themes.
Our commitment to sustainability themes
With our active investment solutions in the traditional asset classes, we align ourselves with the Paris Agreement – and for the sustainability funds, we also focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Climate change, biodiversity decline, circular economy regulation, and population health challenges have consequences for the economy and companies. We therefore try to identify the consequences and possible solutions at an early stage, and try to avoid the risk of asset losses.
