SJP Responsible Investing
Our world is changing faster than anyone predicted. We believe responsible investing has an important role to play in shaping a better world and building a sustainable future.
What is responsible investing?
Our approach to responsible investing – short version
Responsible investing is not about sacrificing returns on your money. Rather, it is a key metric when looking at a company's future potential. As shareholders demand action, the need for companies to consider their impact on the planet grows, as does the consequences for those companies that fail to adapt.
By thinking carefully about how and where we all invest our pensions and other savings, we can influence the strategy and direction of companies to evolve into better versions of themselves.
When putting responsible investing into practice, fund managers – the people that manage our funds - consider three key factors: environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG). Put simply: planet, people and fair play. These factors are used to assess how companies behave and manage the effects their actions have on the people and planet around them.
We believe that through responsible investing, we can help shape a better world and build a sustainable future.
The value of an investment with St. James's Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested.
Invest in a better future
Responsible investing doesn't have to be a trade-off between doing the right thing and achieving long-term returns.
Instead, we expect our fund managers to consider environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities as part of their investment decision making.
Our fund managers regularly engage with businesses to hold them to account and ensure they are making measurable strides towards sustainability.
Approaches to responsible investing
Responsible investing can include a number of approaches to investing, including screening and ESG integration.
- ESG integration
ESG integration
We believe through Responsible Investment we can understand future opportunities and risks.
Our fund managers enhance their decision-making process by considering environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors as part of their investment decision making. They assess which factors pose the greatest impact to a firm and then manage investment opportunity and risk accordingly.
Responsible investment is a key consideration in our selection process of new fund managers. They must have a clear responsible investing policy, individuals considering integrating ESG into their thinking and a clear commitment to further embed ESG factors.
All of our existing, and new fund managers, must be signatories of the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). The PRI is the industry standard for assessing a firm’s overall approach to responsible investment. Signatories are assessed and scored on their approach.
- Sustainability
Sustainability
Through sustainable investing, we can facilitate the change needed to be ready for the future, by investing in innovative solutions such as green infrastructure, sustainable agriculture and water efficiency, taking advantage of not only the potential investment returns, but also the opportunity to improve the prospect of a healthy planet.
- Engagement
Engagement
We expect all our fund managers to be responsible stewards on behalf of our clients and undertake an active engagement approach wherever possible.
Our fund managers regularly engage with businesses to hold them to account and ensure they are making measurable progression material environmental and social topics, including climate change.
Every fund manager is required to engage with their underlying investee companies on a priority basis, including all financially material ESG issues.
We recognise that engagement with investees can take many forms, including face-to-face shareholder meetings, industry-wide collective action, and exercising voting rights. All these aspects are part of our monitoring process.
In 2021, we partnered with global leaders in company engagement, Robeco, to work with our fund managers and the companies they choose to invest in, encouraging them to make positive change. Robeco produce Quarterly Active Ownership Reports. These reports provide a good overview of what engagement involves and the results it can achieve.
- Our Sustainable & Responsible Equity Fund
Our Sustainable & Responsible Equity Fund
Our Sustainable and Responsible Equity fund is focused on investing in the transition to a sustainable low-carbon economy. Managed by Impax Asset Management, the fund aims to benefit from opportunities arising from this shift to a more sustainable world, such as the clean energy transition, advancement in healthcare technology and the mitigation of climate change.
The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise.
You may get back less than the amount invested.
More information
ESG integration
We believe through Responsible Investment we can understand future opportunities and risks.
Our fund managers enhance their decision-making process by considering environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors as part of their investment decision making. They assess which factors pose the greatest impact to a firm and then manage investment opportunity and risk accordingly.
Responsible investment is a key consideration in our selection process of new fund managers. They must have a clear responsible investing policy, individuals considering integrating ESG into their thinking and a clear commitment to further embed ESG factors.
All of our existing, and new fund managers, must be signatories of the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). The PRI is the industry standard for assessing a firm’s overall approach to responsible investment. Signatories are assessed and scored on their approach.
Sustainability
Through sustainable investing, we can facilitate the change needed to be ready for the future, by investing in innovative solutions such as green infrastructure, sustainable agriculture and water efficiency, taking advantage of not only the potential investment returns, but also the opportunity to improve the prospect of a healthy planet.
Engagement
We expect all our fund managers to be responsible stewards on behalf of our clients and undertake an active engagement approach wherever possible.
Our fund managers regularly engage with businesses to hold them to account and ensure they are making measurable progression material environmental and social topics, including climate change.
Every fund manager is required to engage with their underlying investee companies on a priority basis, including all financially material ESG issues.
We recognise that engagement with investees can take many forms, including face-to-face shareholder meetings, industry-wide collective action, and exercising voting rights. All these aspects are part of our monitoring process.
In 2021, we partnered with global leaders in company engagement, Robeco, to work with our fund managers and the companies they choose to invest in, encouraging them to make positive change. Robeco produce Quarterly Active Ownership Reports. These reports provide a good overview of what engagement involves and the results it can achieve.
Our Sustainable & Responsible Equity Fund
Our Sustainable and Responsible Equity fund is focused on investing in the transition to a sustainable low-carbon economy. Managed by Impax Asset Management, the fund aims to benefit from opportunities arising from this shift to a more sustainable world, such as the clean energy transition, advancement in healthcare technology and the mitigation of climate change.
The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise.
You may get back less than the amount invested.
More information
The value of an investment with St. James's Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested.
How do we invest responsibly?
We approach responsible investing by aiming to embed it into what we do: our vision and strategy, our fund range and the ongoing monitoring of our fund managers.
Responsible investing is not just about the funds but involves having a ‘responsible’ mindset. This includes how we think, how we work and how we deliver great client outcomes. In our latest Stewardship and Engagement report we share our evaluation of our fund managers’ engagement with responsible investment processes.
The value of an investment with St. James's Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested.
Stewardship & Engagement Report
/sites/sjp-corp/files/SJP/product-and-services/investments/responsible-investin…
Our reports and policies
On our responsible investment journey, we want to share our progress, our current thinking and be clear on how we govern such an important topic.
Our approach to responsible investing guide
/sites/sjp-corp/files/SJP-Corp/documents/Approach_to_Responsible_Investing.pdf
Stewardship & Engagement Report
/sites/sjp-corp/files/SJP/product-and-services/investments/responsible-investin…
TCFD Product Report
/sites/sjp-corp/files/SJP/product-and-services/investments/responsible-investin…
Our Exclusions Policy
/sites/sjp-corp/files/SJP/product-and-services/investments/responsible-investin…
Robeco Engagement Report Q4 2023
/sites/sjp-corp/files/SJP/shareholders/esg-reporting-hub/Robeco_engagement_repo…
