Athelney Trust | ESG

Athelney Trust Plc is committed to responsible investment and we believe that Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors have a material impact on long-term investment outcomes. The consideration of ESG factors is an integral part of our decision-making process and is fully integrated into our asset selection and portfolio management procedures. ESG issues are central to understanding and framing the contextual, systematic and idiosyncratic considerations in investment analysis.

When assessing companies to determine their worth as investments, it is important not to single out one stakeholder as more important than another — this is a fine balancing act for any investor. Understanding ESG-issues, whether historical or current, needs to be understood as interrelated and interdependent to the broader investment thesis. At Athelney, our investment process aims to mitigate our portfolio against ESG and sustainability risks through placing a material emphasis on sustainability and the stewardship of companies.

Athelney excludes a number of industries including weapons, tobacco, gambling, thermal coal, petroleum, old-forest logging, palm oil, and pesticides - these exclusions are reviewed annually. Our investment philosophy and corporate values steer us away from companies that have the potential to harm our communities, and moreover, help us avoid companies where there is a risk to the sustainability of their business operations.