Sustainable investing involves an analysis beyond short-term profits, favoring instead factors that support long-term value creation. Consistent with our investment philosophy as long-term investors in high-quality businesses, we integrate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors into fundamental investment analysis. We believe a company’s ESG policies and track record are likely to be a helpful lens through which to gauge quality, furthering our ability to invest in the most sound companies.
Sustainable investing at Jarislowsky Fraser involves the following:
• Integrating ESG risks and opportunities into investment decisions;
• Taking a long-term view;
• Being engaged investors and demanding high-quality business practices.
Our approach is pragmatic and ultimately about identifying and investing in high quality businesses, which is core to our mission of delivering low risk growth of capital.
Download “ESG Investing: Increasingly a Mainstream Investment Practice” to learn more.
As the world around us changes and issues that impact it continue to evolve, we use the following principles to guide our investment process:
#1 - Integrate the analysis of material ESG factors in our investment decisions. At Jarislowsky Fraser, ESG information is integrated into our bottom up fundamental analysis. ESG factors that are material to the investment prospects are discussed in industry reviews, as well as covered in individual company reports. Proprietary tools, such as our Business Practice Scorecard and Portfolio ESG Scorecard, ensure this is done systematically.
#2 – Take an engaged ownership approach. Acting as long-term stewards is our fiduciary duty and can be an opportunity to add value for shareholders. We seek constructive engagement with company management, and in some cases with Boards of Directors, on material business concerns including ESG issues. We believe that Jarislowsky Fraser has historically been viewed as a credible shareholder from whom managements seek counsel. This is further reinforced in our proxy voting decision-making:
Proxy voting is fully integrated into our investment process;
Our global investment team meets to consider each proxy;
Decisions are made in-house by the investment professionals.
#3 - Encourage disclosure of information that is relevant to the analysis of material ESG factors by companies and stakeholders where commercially reasonable. We value management candor and believe that transparency and accountability contributes to the quality and ethics of a company and can drive excellence.
#4 - Collaborate with other organizations in order to advance sustainable investment practices for the benefit of all stakeholders. See below for a listing of key associations.
Click here for a copy of our Sustainable Investment Policy.
We incorporate ESG considerations into quality assessments across all of our mandates. For clients with specific values-based restrictions, or other investment policy considerations, Jarislowsky Fraser offers a tailored approach to meet their needs. We manage approximately $3 billion on behalf of clients with a variety of unique values based restrictions. Illustrative mandates include “low carbon” and “religious values”.
Core to our approach is a belief that accountability and transparency drive outperformance. Consistent with that philosophy, we would highlight the following:
Our new Climate-Related Financial Disclosures report: Introducing Jarislowsky Fraser's first Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) report, to provide a deeper understanding of how we are monitoring and managing climate risk.
You may also access our Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures.
We will work with clients to develop reporting according to their needs, which may include carbon footprint analysis as well as other ESG elements.
The firm has a Sustainable Investment Committee to assist with the coordination of sustainable investing activities and the development of ESG tools across the firm.
Principles for Responsible Investment – We are signatory to the PRI, an international network of investors working together to put the six Principles of Responsible Investment into practice. We were a featured speaker at the PRI 10-year Anniversary Series: Innovations for a Sustainable Financial System.
Canadian Coalition for Good Governance – In 2002, Stephen Jarislowsky co-founded the CCGG to promote good governance practices in the companies owned by its members. Currently, CCGG members together manage more than $3 trillion in assets on behalf of Canadian investors. Jarislowsky Fraser endorses the CCGG’s Stewardship Principles.
CDP (Formerly Carbon Disclosure Project) – In 2007, Jarislowsky Fraser became a CDP signatory to show support for increased corporate environmental public disclosure and behavior change. We believe that measuring, managing, and disclosing environmental indicators is essential to a company’s management of these as both material risks and opportunities.
International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN) – We are a member of the ICGN, an investor-led organisation that was founded in 1995 with the mission to promote effective standards of corporate governance and investor stewardship to advance efficient markets and sustainable economies worldwide.
Institute for Governance of Public and Private Organizations – In 2005, Jarislowsky Fraser was a founding member of the IGOPP. The IGOPP is committed to improving governance in the private and public sectors.
Sustainability Accounting Standards Board - Jarislowsky Fraser is a founding member of SASB's Investor Advisory Group. SASB’s objective is to establish industry-specific accounting standards for material sustainability issues for use by U.S. publicly listed corporations and their investors.
The Farm Animal Investment Risk & Return (FAIRR) Initiative - Jarislowsky Fraser became a member of the FAIRR Initiative in 2020. FAIRR’s mission is to build a global network of investors who are focused and engaged on the risks linked to intensive animal production within the broader food system.
Canada Contact: Mark Fattedad, CFA
Director & Portfolio Manager, Institutional Management
Tel: 604.676.3612 | mfattedad@jflglobal.com
US Contact: Dario Mazzarello, CFA
Managing Director, Head, Institutional Management – US & International
Tel: 514.842.2727 | dmazzarello@jflglobal.com
Insights & Articles
The ESG Files: Sustainable Finance Bonds
Sustainable finance bonds (SF bonds) are a mechanism for financing the achievement of social or environmental goals, allowing individuals and institutions to invest in sustainable development and close this financing gap. The market for SF bonds has developed rapidly in Canada, with annual issuance growing from $1.2 billion in 2014 to $12.2 billion in 2019. The innovation of green, sustainability and social bond labels make the fixed income component of a portfolio a natural starting point for impact-oriented investors.
The ESG Files: Redefining the Purpose of a Corporation
In August 2019, 181 members of the Business Roundtable – a Washington, D.C.-based lobby group consisting of CEOs of the world’s most influential corporations – updated its Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation, for the first time acknowledging that business decisions should deliver value not just for shareholders, but for all stakeholders, including customers, employees, suppliers, communities and the environment.
Valuing Decent Work – How Do Canadian Consumer Goods Manufacturing Companies Measure Up? The goal of this report is to increase the visibility of human capital as an investor consideration and identify possible areas where Canadian companies can improve their disclosure practices to better communicate how they are valuing this important asset.
The Future of Sustainability Reporting. Final installment of the Canada 2030 Series. This report elucidates issues and considerations for reporting sustainability (published by The Conference Board of Canada).
The Defining Forces Disrupting Business. Part 2 of the Canada 2030 Series. Disruption is the overarching trend, with trend lines pointing to greater and more diverse disruption across all sectors. The ten key forces that will have profound implications for investors and businesses operating in Canada have been identified (published by the Conference Board of Canada).
Embedding Sustainability Into Corporate Governance. First installment of the Canada 2030 Series. This research lays out the emerging toolkit that Board of Directors can use to adopt best practices in sustainability governance (published by The Conference Board of Canada).
Videos
Speaking Engagements
ESG in Financial Analysis Part Two: Master Class, Virtual Conference | June 11, 2020
Assembly of First Nations National Climate Gathering, Whitehorse, Yukon | March 3, 2020
Cercle finance du Québec - Colloque Annuel - Investissement responsable, Montreal, Quebec | March 31, 2020
SASB Webinar - The role of corporate Boards in ESG integration, Montreal, Quebec | April 7, 2020
ICD Toronto - Directors' Symposium on Climate Change and Competitiveness in Canada, Toronto, Ontario | June 4, 2020
Additional Articles
Ceres Blueprint for Sustainable Investing This article aims to guide the institutional investor along the path of sustainable investing.
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