7 September 2023: First Sentier Investors, a leading global investment manager, today launches a nature and biodiversity guide ("guide”) for institutional investors to identify, assess materiality and responses to nature and biodiversity risks in portfolio companies.
The guide, titled ‘Investors Can Assess Nature Now’ (ICANN), provides a step-by-step outline, including which resources can be used at each step, for investors to undertake nature-related company assessments and develop engagement approaches to biodiversity risks. Focusing specifically on freshwater and forests, two areas the firm views as fundamental to both the global economy and the fight against climate change, the guide will help bridge the gap between the framework outlined by the Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), and the practicalities of navigating the data available.
The guide maps a due diligence framework for appraising and engaging on three critical issues; firstly, identification of sector exposures and understanding of material nature pressure areas; secondly, prioritisation and assessments of companies, including due diligence, metrics to look for and country-level assessment; and thirdly, company engagement, outlining how to interpret the data and questions to ask.
The questions posed in the company engagement framework can also provide helpful insights for companies to better measure and disclose their nature-related risks, opportunities, dependencies and impacts, and to develop their own policy or position on nature.
Kate Turner, Global Head of Responsible Investment at First Sentier Investors, said: “There is growing global momentum to address nature and biodiversity risks, however the topic is still relatively new for many investors. While there is a data challenge, knowing what tools are available and when to use them can also be a roadblock. This guide provides an outline of the available resources for assessments, including raising alternate ways to navigate data issues.”
Joanne Lee, Responsible Investment Specialist at First Sentier Investors and author of the guide, said: “There are challenges with nature-related data and the unfamiliarity with the topic among the investor community, but we can’t let perfect be the enemy of good. Although many investors still don’t have easy access to asset-level location data or supply chain data of a company, there are other ways to conduct due diligence, enough for investors to start identifying areas material to their own risk management as well as the company’s business and its impact.
“In time, we will see data improving as more investors and companies begin to focus on biodiversity and nature. As allocators of capital, investors have the opportunity to help improve nature-related data and company practices,” said Lee.
This guide is the latest initiative from First Sentier Investors to deepen understanding of nature-related issues. Along with the First Sentier MUFG Sustainable Investment Institute, which it established in 2021, the firm will be evolving its work in nature and biodiversity by expanding into other drivers in this area.
“Addressing the complexities in nature and biodiversity is an ongoing journey for us. By working together, we believe capital allocators can address the challenges better. Investors can assess nature, despite not having the perfect tools, and it can start now,” concluded Turner.
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About First Sentier Investors
First Sentier Investors manages US$137.8 billion in assets (as at 30 September 2023) on behalf of institutional investors, pension funds, wholesale distributors, investment platforms, financial advisers and their clients worldwide.
The firm was acquired by Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc in August 2019, and operates as a standalone global investment management business with offices across Europe, the Americas, and Asia Pacific.
First Sentier Investors is a globally Certified B Corporation and signatory to the UK Stewardship Code. The firm’s investment expertise spans across a range of asset classes and specialist sectors focused on delivering sustainable investment success based on responsible investment principles.
For more information, visit www.firstsentierinvestors.com
This press release is intended for information only, aimed solely at the media and should not be further distributed to individual and/or corporate investors, and financial advisers and/or distributors. The information included within this press release and any supplemental documentation provided should not be copied, reproduced or redistributed without the prior written consent of First Sentier Investors.
In Hong Kong, this press release is issued by First Sentier Investors (Hong Kong) Limited and has not been reviewed by the Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong. In Singapore, this press release is issued by First Sentier Investors (Singapore) whose company registration number is 196900420D. This press release has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. First Sentier Investors is a business name of First Sentier Investors (Hong Kong) Limited. First Sentier Investors (registration number 53236800B) is a business division of First Sentier Investors (Singapore).
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