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How we've updated our Engagement Blueprint

Here's why and how Schroders has updated its inaugural Engagement Blueprint, which lays out our expectations of companies across six thematic areas.

24/01/2023
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Authors

Katie Green
Investment Director, Sustainability
Katie Frame
Active Ownership Manager ESG

In 2022, we released our inaugural Engagement Blueprint, setting out our ambitions and approach to active ownership at Schroders. The Blueprint lays out our long-term expectations of companies across six thematic areas. It aims to bring transparency to our investee companies and our clients around our expectations, while also giving our internal investment teams guidance for their engagements on the most material issues.

We are proud that the Engagement Blueprint was awarded ESG Engagement Initiative of the Year at Environmental Finance’s Sustainable Investment Awards 2022.

Sustainability is a complex and multi-faceted topic. It is also ever-changing, whether that be through new research, expanding data availability, regulation or government action. In this landscape, we cannot stand still and so have committed to update our Blueprint on an annual basis.

We will continue to review our priorities and expectations as our understanding of the issues and market best practice evolves to ensure we are pushing for change in the most effective way.

In summary, the main changes to the Blueprint for 2023 are:

A greater focus on the Just Transition

In an effort to better describe how we address the social implications of the net zero transition, we have added a section on the Just Transition. This sub-theme links to the other relevant themes (human rights, human capital management and diversity and inclusion).

Read more: What is the “just transition” and why does it matter for investors?

Expanding our natural capital and biodiversity expectations

Schroders is a member of the Natural Capital Investment Alliance and became signatories to the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge in 2022. Our Biodiversity and Natural Capital Position Statement sets out our approach to the investments we manage and our own operations when it comes to nature and biodiversity.

In this edition of the Blueprint we have expanded our expectations of companies, with a particular focus on deforestation. This reflects our proprietary research, evolving market guidance and our firm-wide commitment to this topic.

  • Read more in our Plan for Nature
  • Our Shareholder Resolution Framework

    Shareholder resolutions have seen a growing focus in recent years and we consider them an important tool for expressing our views and expectations to investee companies, especially for areas not covered in standard AGM votes. In this Blueprint we have outlined how we analyse shareholder resolutions in practice around four questions:

    Is the resolution aligned with our Blueprint?

    1. Is the resolution the best way to address the issue

    2. Does the resolution add value to what the company is already doing?

    3. Does the resolution have the potential to cause unintended consequences?

    Impact-focused engagements

    In September 2022, Schroders became signatories to the Operating Principles for Impact Management (OPIM). Active ownership is an important element to delivering impact, particularly in public markets. In this edition of the Blueprint we have outlined our approach to impact-driven engagements.

    The evolution of our Blueprint reflects the evolving landscape and feedback from investors and clients. Looking ahead, we will continue to review and evolve our expectations to ensure we are using our influence to push for progress on the most material risks and opportunities faced across our clients’ portfolios.

    This article is issued by Cazenove Capital which is part of the Schroders Group and a trading name of Schroder & Co. Limited, 1 London Wall Place, London EC2Y 5AU. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. 

    Nothing in this document should be deemed to constitute the provision of financial, investment or other professional advice in any way. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The value of an investment and the income from it may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the amount originally invested.

    This document may include forward-looking statements that are based upon our current opinions, expectations and projections. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements.

    All data contained within this document is sourced from Cazenove Capital unless otherwise stated.

    Authors

    Katie Green
    Investment Director, Sustainability
    Katie Frame
    Active Ownership Manager ESG

    Topics

    The value of your investments and the income received from them can fall as well as rise. You may not get back the amount you invested.