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First Sentier Investors appoints Sudip Hazra, Director of the First Sentier MUFG Sustainable Investment Institute

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First Sentier Investors launches investor guide to assess and engage on nature

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.

 

-ENDS-

 

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About First Sentier Investors

First Sentier Investors manages A$213.5 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 material has been prepared and issued by First Sentier Investors (Australia) IM Ltd (ABN 89 114 194 311, AFSL 289017) (FSI AIM).

This material contains general information only. It is not intended to provide you with financial product advice and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should consider, with a financial advisor, whether this information is appropriate in light of your investment needs, objectives and financial situation.

Any opinions expressed in this material are the opinions of the individual author at the time of publication only and are subject to change without notice. Such opinions: (i) are not a recommendation to hold, purchase or sell a particular financial product; (ii) may not include all of the information needed to make an investment decision in relation to such a financial product; and (iii) may substantially differ from other individual authors within First Sentier Investors.