Download the Responsible Investment Primer PowerPoint ...
-
Upload
khanyasmin -
Category
Documents
-
view
685 -
download
5
Transcript of Download the Responsible Investment Primer PowerPoint ...
PRIMER
COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS OF CANADA
PILOT PROJECT
JULY 2008
2
Table of ContentsI Introduction to Responsible Investment (p. 3)
- Jantzi Research
II Shareholder Action and Proxy Voting (p. 34)- The Ethical Funds Company
III Community Investment (p. 45)- Tides Canada Foundation and Vancity Community Foundation
IV Developing a Responsible Investment Policy (p. 79)- SHARE
V Bibliography (p. 95)
Note:The RIPP Primer is compiled from different source presentations. Originals are credited in detail in the Bibliography.
I
Introduction to Responsible Investment
4
What’s in a name?
• the integration of environmental, social and governance parameters into the investment decision making process
SRI
MBI
5
• the incorporation of an institution’s central purpose or calling into its investment decision making process.
Responsible Investment
6
Definition of RI
• There are many different names given to responsible investment, but one common definition:
“The integration of environmental, social and governance factors in the selection and management of investments.”
From Social Investment Organization
www.socialinvestment.ca
7
Four Approaches to RI
• ESG Integration – the integration of social, environmental and governance factors in stock selection
• Screening – selecting investments on the basis of pre-identified social, environmental and governance factors
• Shareholder action – exercising ownership rights such as proxy voting, management negotiations, shareholder resolutions
• Community investment – assets invested in local community development
Responsible investing is becoming mainstream…
9
Europe
• retail SRI in Europe totals more than €48.7 billion in assets – increase of 102% from year before
• institutional SRI in Europe totals about €2 trillion in assets under management
10
Government mandated disclosure: a catalyst for change
• July 2000 – UK Pensions Disclosure Regulation: “the extent (if at all) to which social, environmental or ethical considerations are taken into account in the selection, retention and realisation of investments”
• Australia– 2001 – Financial Services Reform Act
– Belgium, France, Germany, Italy• Pension funds acting on SRI
– Netherlands – ABP, PGGM– France - Fonds de Réserve Pour Les Retraites
– Scandinavia – Sweden, Denmark, Norway
11
United Kingdom• February 2001 - Trustee Act requires charity
trustees to make sure investments are suitable, not only financially but also with regard to the charity’s stated aims
• increasing number of charities and foundations embracing SRI
– Barnardo’s
12
Barnardo’s• UK charity focused on children - founded 1866
– companies considered to exploit children (usually in the Third World) in the manufacture of their products
• “…not to hold investments in companies whose activities are considered to be to the detriment of children and where we believe donor support might be adversely affected.”
– companies who derive significant income from the production or distribution of pornography or adult entertainment television
– companies which derive more than 10% of their turnover from the production or sale of tobacco products
13
SRI Assets in the U.S.
14
U.S. Foundations• interviewed 92 foundations – 64
private, 24 community and 4 corporate
• during the past ten years the number of U.S. foundations involved in SRI has doubled
• fastest growth in foundations with less than $200 million in assets under management
• F.B. Heron Foundation, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Vermont Community Foundation
15
U.S. Foundations• focuses on development
and implementation – “from idea to execution’
• 12 case studies highlighting a variety of experiences – Kalamazoo Community Foundation
• risk, return, and impact
16Jantzi Research Inc.
• $503 billion in SRI assets in 2006– increase from $65.5 billion over two years
$36.5 $18.1
$12.8
$433.1
$1.94Asset Managers
Retail Investment Funds
Invetsment Managersemploying ESG
Pension Plans employingESG
Socially ResponsibleLending
SRI Assets Under Management in Canada
17
The Legality of RI…
18
Harries vs. Church Commissioners
• Trustees may avoid investing in a company if it clearly conflicts with the aim or purpose of the organization, even though it may be the most prudent investment financially.
• In those circumstances where trustees are satisfied that investing in a company engaged in a particular type of business would conflict with the very objects their trust is seeking to achieve, then they’re duty bound not to invest.
19
Legal Perspective• October 2005 – Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
• leading international law firm, with over 2,400 lawyers in 28 offices in 18 countries across Europe, Asia and the U.S.
– A legal framework for the integration of environmental, social and governance issues into institutional investment
• “…integrating ESG considerations into an investment analysis so as to more reliably predict financial performance is clearly permissible and is arguably required in all jurisdictions.”
20
Evidence that it is possible to implement RI and generate a competitive rate of return…
21
Mainstream Investment Initiatives and Investors
• Multilateral mainstream SRI initiatives
• UN Principles of Responsible Investment
• Pension Funds who have endorsed UNPRI- Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
- British Columbia Investment Management Corp.
- Caisse de dépot
– CICA - MD&A Disclosure About the Financial Impact of Climate Change and other Environmental Issues
– Carbon Disclosure Project
22
What’s the Opportunity?• generation of alpha
• growing body of research highlighting link between superior sustainability performance and enhanced share value
23
Materiality studies demonstrate value of ESG
• 10 sell-side brokerage houses invited to undertake reports across sectors/ themes to evaluate the materiality of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues
• ESG issues are material – there is robust evidence that ESG issues affect shareholder value in both the short- and long-term
• the impact of ESG issues on share price can be valued and quantified
• materiality varies across sector and themes
24
Materiality Studies
• 10 academic/20 sell-side brokerage studies
• evidence suggests that there appears to be no performance penalty from taking ESG factors into account in the investment management process
• 10 studies are positive, 7 neutral, and 3 negative
• SRI leading to underperformance is a misconception
25
Positive Performance of Sustainability Indexes
e.g. Jantzi Social Index®
26
80.00
100.00
120.00
140.00
160.00
180.00
200.00
220.00
240.00
260.00
De
c-9
4
Ma
r-9
5
Ju
n-9
5
Se
p-9
5
De
c-9
5
Ma
r-9
6
Ju
n-9
6
Se
p-9
6
De
c-9
6
Ma
r-9
7
Ju
n-9
7
Se
p-9
7
De
c-9
7
Ma
r-9
8
Ju
n-9
8
Se
p-9
8
De
c-9
8
Ma
r-9
9
Ju
n-9
9
Se
p-9
9
De
c-9
9
Va
lue
of
$1
00
in
ves
ted
JSI Index TSE 100 Index TSE 300 Index
Jantzi Social Index® - Backtest
27
JSI TSE 100 TSE 300Annualized Return 18.93% 18.11% 17.35%Std Dev (Risk) 16.12% 16.04% 15.76%Sharpe Ratio* 0.802 0.755 0.720* (Return-RiskfreeReturn)/StdDev [Assumed Rf=6%]
Jantzi Social Index® - Backtest
28
JSI® - Comparative Values (through April, 2008)
RETURNS Apr 2008 3 mths 6 mths 1 yr 3 yr* 5 yr* Inception* Inception**
JSI 5.90% 7.60% -3.90% 5.45% 16.21% 17.80% 8.32% 94.71%
S&P/TSX COMPOSITE
4.60% 6.66% -3.42% 6.58% 16.837% 18.65% 8.19% 92.71%
S&P/TSX 60 5.42% 7.36% -1.73% 10.15% 18.80% 19.47% 8.16% 92.23%
Source: State Street Global Advisors (SSgA) * Annualized ** Cumulative(since 01/01/2000)
29
JSI® - Comparative Returns (through April 30, 2008)
Comparative Returns: Dec 1999 - April 2008
70.00
80.00
90.00
100.00
110.00
120.00
130.00
140.00
150.00
160.00
170.00
180.00
190.00
200.00
210.00
Val
ue
of
$100
inve
sted
JSIS&P/TSX Comp
S&P/TSX 60
30
Why Mission-Based Organizations Invest in RI
• Advance organizational mission• Align investments with values• Enhance shareholder value• Reduce reputational risk• Provide marketplace differentiation• Provide universal investors with investment
options• May be legally required
31
Different Screening Approaches
1. Negative screens – also referred to as exclusionary screens
2. Best-of-sector approach – allows investment in, e.g., the top 20% to 35% of companies in every sector, ranked on sustainability performance grounds. This can allow funds to invest in companies from every industry, as long as they rank the companies chosen comparatively well for environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria
3. Positive screens - usually used to described thematic focus such as cleantech/renewable energy
32
Companies are Rated for their ESG Performance
33
Standards for determining social/environmental performance
• Strengthening Communities
• Environment
– community consultation
• Human Rights
– aboriginal relationships– charitable giving
– UN Declaration of Human Rights– United Nations Global Compact
– UNEP: The Hazardous Chemicals and Wastes Conventions (e.g. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants)
34
II
Shareholder Action and Proxy Voting
35
The Name Game
Shareholder Action
Shareholder EngagementCorporate Engagement
Corporate DialogueShareholder Activism
36
Shifting perceptions
10%
29%
26%
35%
Over next 1-2 yearsOver next 3-5 yearsOver next 6-10 yearsNever
Screening
Source: 2005 Fearless Forecast, ©2005 Mercer Human Resource Consulting LLC and Mercer Investment Consulting, Inc.
37
Shifting perceptions
7%
30%
36%
27%
Over next 1-2 yearsOver next 3-5 yearsOver next 6-10 yearsNever
ESG evaluations
Source: 2005 Fearless Forecast, ©2005 Mercer Human Resource Consulting LLC and Mercer Investment Consulting, Inc.
38
Shifting perceptions
48%
29%
12%
11%
Over next 1-2 yearsOver next 3-5 yearsOver next 6-10 yearsNever
Active ownership
Source: 2005 Fearless Forecast, ©2005 Mercer Human Resource Consulting LLC and Mercer Investment Consulting, Inc.
39
Shareholder Action Definitions
• Shareholder action– Monitoring corporate performance– Seeking changes in corporate practice through dialogue – May involve the use of shareholder proposals
• Shareholder proposal– Request that a company undertake specific action– Companies are legally obliged to include proposals in
management proxy circular – Voted on at annual general meeting
40
Value• Engage to acquire an informational advantage• Engage to encourage long term value creation• Engagement to control risk and boost
performance
Values• Engage to make companies more sustainable • Engage to better fulfill your mission
Why Conduct Shareholder Action?
41
Shareholder Action ApproachIdentify Candidates and
Establish Goals
Establish Stakeholder Coalition
Communicate Concerns to Company and Offer Dialogue
Company Acknowledges Concerns and Agrees to Dialogue
Company Agrees to Dialogue
Meet with Company
Establish Course of Action
Follow-up and Monitor Company Progress
Company Fails to Acknowledge Concerns
File Shareholder Proposal
Company Opposes Proposal in Proxy Circular
Solicit Support and Move Proposal at AGM
Assess Results and Establish Next Steps
42
Proxy Voting Definitions
• Proxy voting– Owners of common stock have the right to vote on a variety of
company policies and practices– Opportunity to vote comes in advance of annual meeting– Voting items from management and shareholders– Published in Management Information Circular
• Proxy voting guidelines – Establish proxy voting positions and decision rules on corporate
governance and social issues
• Proxy voting services– Assist investors with the proxy management, analysis, voting, and
disclosure process
43
Proxy Voting Disclosure
44
Proxy Voting Current Web Disclosure
45
III
Community Investing
46
Social Finance
Program Related Investment (PRI)
Mission Related Investing (MRI)
Mission Based Investing (MBI)
Community Economic Development (CED)
Social Enterprise
Social Economy
Social Investing
Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) Environment Social Governance
(ESG)
Triple Bottom Line (TBL)
Social Purpose Business
Social Venture Fund
Different Names for Community Investing…
47
Context Driving Financial Innovation
• New perspectives on “theory of change” beyond “grantsmanship”
• Leveraging more assets: convening capability, networks, long term capital, leadership, etc
• Recognizing urgency and scale of enviro-social challenges; new rules of the game (e.g. carbon’s impact)
• Rise of social entrepreneurship
• Search for social innovation’s scaled impact
• Moving beyond sectoral silos (government, voluntary, business): role of hybrid space & relationship to social innovation
• Recognizing value of community asset building and social enterprise
• Benefiting from international lessons & best practices (UK, US, etc.)
48
Foundations Involved Already
• Active foundations in MRI/MBI/CI field (partial list):– JW McConnell Family Foundation (Qwest U loan); – Ivey, Metcalfe: NCC Revolving Fund with RBC (in formation) with
foundation loan guarantees – Edmonton Community Foundation (Social Enterprise)– Vancity Community Foundation (Groans: grant/loans)– Vancouver Foundation (SRI, SVF) – Endswell Foundation (non profit building)– Tides Canada Foundation (social enterprise)– Ilahie Foundation (non profit building) – Bealight Fdn/Social Capital Partners (social enterprise) – Muttart Foundation (non profit building)– CAIC (Canadian Alternative Investment Co-op) handling CI
investments for religious charities; [Jubilee Fund]
49
How Do Social Entrepreneurs Finance Their Great Ideas?
• Social entrepreneurs are seeking: Scale, Durability, Impact
• That requires resilient, sustainable financing
• Traditional nonprofit external funding sources – charitable donations and Gs+Cs – face challenges
• More likely option is “business model”: social enterprise or hybrid (part nonprofit, part enterprise)
50
Challenge becomes: How to finance social entrepreneurs’ enterprises?
→ Moving from grants to other forms of finance…
51
NONPROFITS DEPEND ONFEW SOURCES OF INCOME
All Organizations
3%13%
35%
49%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
40% provincial, 9% federal
Government
Earned Income
Donations and Grants
Other
52
Growing Donations But Declining Donors:
1984 to 2005
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
22%
23%
24%
25%
26%
27%
28%
29%
30%
Donations % of Taxfilers
Donors as a %of Taxfilers
Average Donation ($)
Source: CRA compiled by Imagine Canada
53
Social finance is…
finance with a social or environmental mission
OrSocial finance is a sustainable
approach to managing money that delivers social, environmental dividends
and economic return through social enterprises operating in the non-profit
or public benefit universe.
54
Social Finance Exists Across A Broad Continuum…
HIGH INVOLVEMENT
LOW INVOLVEMENT
CH
AR
ITA
BLE
CO
MM
ER
CIA
LVenture philanthropy
Traditional grant making
Venture capital
Bank lending
Adapted from Margaret Bolton, 2003
55
Social finance’s most visible example is MICROFINANCE…
56
Social enterprise is…
A business with primarily social (and/or environmental) objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners...
57
Social finance for public benefit
• The flow of financial capital to human need uses:
– Affordable Housing
– Social Enterprise
– Support for working families
– Health & Home Care
– Community Development
– Social Economy
– Clean Technology
– Microfinance
– Fair Trade
– Green Building
– Education
– Bottom of the Pyramid
(source: market sector listing adapted from www.xigi.net)
Sources
Intermediaries
Mechanisms
Recipients
Uses
58
Social Finance Examples• Local community development
– The Columbus Foundation used $2 million PRI to seed an $18 million low-cost housing fund to build 1,600 new units of affordable housing.
– The Social Enterprise Fund (SEF) is designed to fuel the social economy by providing alternative financing, leveraging mainstream funding, and providing technical assistance to social entrepreneurs. The SEF will be capitalized in the amount of $10.5M over five years. Key financial partners are likely to include the City of Edmonton, the Edmonton Community Foundation, other levels of government and private donations.
• Startup or expansion capital in underserved communities– Deutsche Bank created an innovative $20 million investment fund to finance the
expansion of eye care hospitals in developing countries. The Eye Fund I will provide loans and guarantees to support the development of affordable, sustainable and accessible eye care for the world's poor while providing a near-market return
• Debt mechanisms– Millions in loans to community finance institutions and social enterprises by
Vancity, Citizens Bank and Calvert Foundation’s Community Investment Note, • Using public policy & tax system
– PLAN (Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network) promoted Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP), families are incentivized to save for disabled children who will survive them
59
Collaborative approaches and blended returns
• Growing social and environmental pressures + government and market failure = the conditions for social innovation
Government Business
Charity & Non-profit
Hybrid Space
Projected Income
New
Social Finance
Expanding Earned Income
Existing
Earned Income
Gvrnt Gs & Cs
Charitable Donations
60
Social Finance Supports Businesses in the Public Benefit Universe
Social
Commercial
Adapted from: John Kingston, Venturesome
Community Interest Companies
Low Profit Limited Liability Companies (L3C)
61
Financial Entities- managing other’s money
How does capital flow?
1. From the source
2. Into an organization
3. For use in either
Soc. P
urpo
se B
us.
Social
Ent
erpr
ise
Bus. A
rm o
f Cha
rity
Charit
y
Soc. R
esp.
Bus
iness
Busine
ss
Social
Commercial
Adapted from: John Kingston, Venturesome
Community Interest Companies
Government Organizations
Individuals
Operations
Programs
Assets
INVESTTAX
DIRECT
62
Foundation MBI, MRI, PRI
• PRIs are a new tool for philanthropy
• Employ an investment approach
• What’s the rationale?– New arena for impact – Leverage potential: partnerships (business, non-profit,
government) and hybrids– Supports new trend of SE organizational profile– Embraces the financial sustainability & financial
resiliency agenda– Diversifies asset management
63
Canada Revenue Agency Rules
• CRA includes CI in its 1999 Community Economic Development (CED) policy, referring to PRIs
• Two frameworks applicable:
– PRIs (Program Related Investments) with charities
– Regular Investing
• CRA Off-the Record Policy Consultation (2008)
64
Envisioning Canada’s Social Finance Marketplace
• NONPROFITS: Accessing social finance for financially self-sustaining & asset building enterprises tackling social & environmental needs (e.g. economic opportunity for disadvantaged populations, homecare infrastructure, disability agenda/RDSP, market shifting, community-based renewal energy, etc.)
• MAINSTREAM CAPITAL: Offering range of RDSPs, “Community Venture Funds”, “Green Venture Funds”, “Local Employment Venture Funds”, “Conservation Economy Investment Funds”, “Social Housing”, etc.
• GOVERNMENT: Providing enabling policy (Municipal, Provincial & Federal)
– Special tax credits for social enterprise investing, enabling private capital. Income at lowered tax rate, or receive refundable tax credit.
– Regulatory changes to simplify how charities and non-profits can directly operate or control social enterprises in the new hybrid space.
– Capacity building support for the evolving non-profit sector through dedicated funding mechanisms targeting key constituencies and social policy goals (e.g. for business plan development of social sector social enterprises, for technical training for financial and business managers in the emerging social-business hybrid sector, etc.)
• INVESTING PUBLIC: Expanding ownership of “social finance” asset class products in addition to equities and fixed income securities
• USER PUBLIC: Benefiting from emergence of innovative new systems of delivery and support for public benefit services and sustainability services.
65
Social Finance Poised To Grow Quickly Since…
• Canada can borrow proven models from US and UK• We can make the transition to a robust social finance
marketplace with:- New conversation among finance, government, foundations
and nonprofits about the potential to scale up innovative social enterprise and social finance
- New capital market instruments involving the range of financial institutions: banks, credit unions, pension funds, mutual funds, etc.
- Public policy that a) creates incentives for capital to expand into social finance, b) borrows international best practices in charity regulations that enable foundations and nonprofits to operate successfully in the growing hybrid space
- Strengthening the capacity of nonprofits, their social enterprises, and intermediary institutions
66
Causeway New national collaboration accelerating a social finance market place for financing social innovation serving public benefit
SiG@MaRS
67
BUILDING BUZZ& LEVERAGING
NETWORKS
SUPPORT LEADERSHIPPARTNRSHIP
& SHARED OWNERSHIP
MOBILIZE KNOWLEDGE & CAPACITY
BUILDING
ENGAGE MAINSTREAM
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
SUPPORT MOVEMENT OF SOCIAL FINANCE STAKE-
HOLDERS
SHOWCASE DEAL
MECHANISMS
POLICY CHANGE
CAUSEWAY
For more information about CAUSEWAYhttp://causeway-sff.wikispaces.com/
and Social Finance visit:
www.tidescanada.org
For more information on the charity sector visit:www.imaginecanada.ca
69
Community Investing in Practice:
A Vancity Case Study
70
Role of Community Investing at Vancity Community Foundation
• Community investing as part of our objectives since inception
• Our bylaws refer to “investments which are prudent” rather than those “in which trustees are authorized by law to invest”
• Part of strategy for using all our assets toward mission
• Fit with Vancity Credit Union as a key partner and with existing capacity
• CI increasingly a fit with donors and other partners (and growing demand from community organizations)
71
CI at Vancity Community Foundation
• A range of different transactions, including individual micro-credit loans, social enterprise, arts, social housing, asset building for non-profits, bridge loans, etc.
• Fits within CRA guidelines as Program Related Investment (especially with respect charities), or as part of overall investment strategy
• Most often done as part of a much larger financial package, leveraged as high as 10:1
72
CI at Vancity Community Foundation
• During some down market cycles, the community investment holdings have been the strongest part of our portfolio
• Still working on articulating an effective framework for measuring non-financial returns
73
CI at Vancity Capital Corporation
• Significant amount of community investing experience through Vancity Capital Corporation (venture capital subsidiary of Vancity Credit Union)
• More than $15MM, 50 transactions and sizes, $25K to $1.5MM, areas including education, arts, employment training, housing, transportation, natural resource management, social services, health, sports, food, alternative energy, aboriginal communities, etc.
74
CI at Vancity Capital Corporation
• Losses less than 2%, including some additional risk mitigation in place from Federal Government, average returns of 10% (before operating cost allocations) – return on assets somewhere between 6% - 12% depending on leverage and allocation assumptions in model
• Non-profit organization represent 15% of the overall portfolio at Vancity Capital, as high as 25% when including sustainability businesses
75
Lessons learned in CI• It starts with a willingness to engage in this activity
(some tolerance for risk taking and a view to how this fits the mandate of the organization) – often learning by doing and seeing value in lessons
• Need to set boundaries and objectives for this (often in policy, or a shared understanding
• Balance the need for structure and boundaries with flexibility (often through processes – using committees or individuals with delegated authority or using the entire Board within tolerances for risk and based on investment size
76
Lessons Learned in CI• Capacity is a key challenge (both the capacity of your
organization to structure transactions and lend, and the capacity of investees to effectively use repayable capital)
• Relationships are key. It often comes down to trust, and community investments often emerge from existing relationships within organizations
• Investment partners help to spread risk and can complement the due diligence process
• Additional risk mitigation tools or “credit enhancements” can be useful (additional loss reserves, risk sharing agreements, rate buy downs, insurance, priority agreements, etc…)
77
Lessons Learned in CI
• A portfolio approach helps ensure broader blended returns and helps avoid concentration risk with too few transactions in too few sectors
• A long time frame is important, together with a set of financial and non-financial objectives (including appropriate milestones for development)
• To achieve scale, it will likely be necessary to seek intermediaries with specific expertise and to package transactions for multiple investors
78
IV
Developing A Responsible Investment Policy
79
The Policy Development Roadmap
“Should a foundation be more than a private investment company that uses some of its excess cash flow for charitable purposes?”
F.B Heron Foundation Board of Directors
Yes – but how
80
The Policy Development Roadmap
“We want to implement responsible investment…now what?”
81
The Policy Development RoadmapInitiate Discussion at Board Level
• Identify the informational needs for your board. (i.e. How does RI affect returns? Are other foundations implementing RI strategies)
• Identify and participate in educational opportunities• Identify mentors and/or other external experts• Build your RI team to include staff, board and investment
committee members• The role of the investment committee is critical – need to
understand their perspectives and constraints and they need to be involved throughout the process
82
The Policy Development RoadmapSet Policy Objectives
• What does responsible investment mean for your foundation?• What are the key triggers that led your organization to consider
responsible investment?• How can a responsible investment policy be grounded within
the values and mission of the foundation?• Survey stakeholders to better understand priorities in order to
reflect these in the responsible investment policy• How does responsible investment fit within your existing
program priorities and activities?
83
The Policy Development RoadmapDevelop Policy and Integrate
• Start with an overarching policy statement or philosophy• Look at sample and model policies to act as a guide• How does responsible investment fit within your existing
investment strategies? (i.e. asset allocation strategy, performance guidelines, investment manager review criteria)
• Talk to your investment managers and ask them questions about responsible investment
• Integrate responsible investment principals into your investment policies or guidelines
84
The Policy Development RoadmapIdentify Implementation Strategy• Choosing your pathway • Identify the strategies that make the most sense and
meet the priorities and objectives you have laid out• Incremental approaches allow decision-makers to
educate themselves about each strategy, consider their value and monitor the results over time
• Pathways could include entering the market opportunistically or allocating a certain portion of the endowment for RI strategies
• Some organizations start with proxy voting because it works with their existing portfolio
• EVERY STEP COUNTS!
85
The Atkinson Foundation: A Case Study
Why Responsible Investment
MISSION…to promote social and economic justice in the tradition of Joseph E. Atkinson.
INVESTMENT PHILOSOPHYThe Foundation believes that it should implement its mission not only through the ideas people, organizations and projects it supports, but also by how it invests and otherwise uses its assets. Ensuring that its deeds match its words, the Foundation seeks to ensure that its grant making and investment practices all align with its mission.
86
The Atkinson FoundationOvercoming Hesitancy
KEY CATALYSTS • Champions at the staff, board and investment committee level• Broad ‘theoretical’ support for the need to align grant-making and investing with mission
KEY STEPS• Building the collective knowledge of the Board•Asking questions…over and over again• Identifying and working with mentors• Utilizing grant capital to foster a greater understanding of RI and MBI• And finally…developing the policy
87
The Atkinson FoundationMission Based Investment Policy
The Foundation is committed to its fiduciary responsibilities and recognizes that this responsibility does not end with maximizing return and minimizing risks. The Foundation believes its fiduciary responsibility includes the consideration of its investment decisions on corporate conduct, and broader social concerns. The Foundation will pursue MBI with the following assumptions in mind:• Evidence demonstrates that MBI does not have to have a negative effect on financial returns;• There are no perfect companies; and• MBI can positively influence corporate conduct, improve stakeholder relations and ultimately maximize profits.
88
The Atkinson FoundationMission Based Investment Policy cont’d
The Foundation will work with its fund managers to develop positive and negative screens, and to be an active shareholder. The Foundation will further its mission through investments that:
• Promote high quality, fair and just employment opportunities;• Support young children and their caregivers;• Reduce poverty and improve quality of life for the poor;• Support such other granting themes as the Foundation may determine from time to time.The Foundation favours companies that support and advocate for a strong and effective public sector.
89
The Atkinson FoundationImplementation…With Some Help from Friends
• Portfolio audit conducted by Jantzi Research Associates
• ACF holdings moved to a segregated fund to allow the Foundation to direct proxy voting and shareholder engagement activities
• A set of customized proxy voting guidelines were developed with support of SHARE
• Moira Hutchinson joined the investment committee in 2006
• The Foundation hired SHARE to facilitate a shareholder engagement program focusing on precarious employment practices
90
The Atkinson FoundationIdentifying a Focus
• Decided to focus their efforts initially on shareholder engagement for two main reasons:
• FIRST, the investment committee was comfortable with shareholder engagement as an initial strategy
• SECOND, they felt that shareholder engagement could be a complimentary strategy to the efforts of grassroots organizations that they were providing grants to
• Developed a shareholder engagement program focused on precarious employment practices in the commercial real estate sector
91
The Atkinson FoundationTime for Action – Shareholder Engagement Strategy
• Engagement dialogues underway with two publicly traded companies
• Management meetings with companies to get more information on contracting practices
• Multi-stakeholder roundtable to consider the merit of devising a labour code of conduct or policy
• Working Group drafting a model labour code of conduct for the commercial property sector in Canada
• Research commissioned that will examine the business case for good labour practices in commercial property management
93
The Atkinson FoundationKey Lessons…so far
• This takes time – moving from the theoretical to the practical proved to take several years in the realm of RI
• Working with the investment committee from the beginning is crucial and empathizing with their apprehensions
• There are many paths – need to find strategies that meet your foundations needs and work at a pace that decision-makers are comfortable with
• Small funds can make a difference• Change is slow but every step counts• “We are not done yet”
94
V
Bibliography
95
Bibliography• Michael Jantzi, Responsible Investing for Foundations – An
Introduction, June 5/08
• Bob Walker, Shareholder Action, June 5/08
• Tim Draimin, Foundations’ Financial Innovation and Community Investing, June 5/08
• Derek Gent, Community Investing: A Practitioners Perspective, June 5/08
• Peter Chapman and Shannon Rohan, Responsible Investment Policy Development, June 5/08
• GEM, Sustainable Investing Handbook for Mission-Based Organizations, June 2008.