City of London Investment Trust | ESG

The Board believes that integrating environmental, social and governance factors or ”ESG” into investment decision-making and ownership practices is an important factor for delivering the investment outcomes our shareholders seek. ESG considerations are therefore a fully embedded component of the investment process employed by the Fund Manager, and the wider Janus Henderson investment teams. The Company integrates ESG but does not pursue a sustainable investment objective or otherwise take ESG factors into account in a binding manner. ESG integration is the practice of incorporating material environmental, social and governance (ESG) information or insights in a non-binding manner alongside traditional measures into the investment decision process to improve long-term financial outcomes of portfolios. ESG related research is one of many factors considered within the investment process.

Environmental factors include climate change, use of natural resources, pollution, waste management, water usage and deforestation

Social factors include corporate culture, diversity, health and safety, community relations and supply chain management

Governance factors include business ethics, board composition, remuneration and shareholder rights.

Resilience of business models is crucial to the Company’s investment strategy. The Company’s investment philosophy is valuation driven, with a dividend yield considered the most important measure of value. As such, a considerable amount of time is spent by the Fund Manager identifying fundamental factors, including ESG factors which may impact profits, cash flow and dividends and ensuring that investee companies have robust policies and processes in place to manage these. 

While the Fund Manager does not specifically exclude any company based on ESG considerations, the Fund Manager would seek to avoid companies where ESG risks are not sufficiently considered or managed. As the Fund Manager strives to understand all drivers of company performance, he also strives to understand the risks. An evaluation of ESG factors is integral to this. 

Governance is a key part of fundamental factor analysis with good corporate governance supportive of long-term decision-making and investment returns. The significance of environmental and social factors can vary depending on the sector and the region in which a company operates. Nonetheless, each ESG factor, in addition to the quantitative and qualitative assessments, is an important consideration when evaluating the opportunity in an equity investment. 

Fundamental factors considered vary, but may include:

Stewardship is a fundamental part of the Manager’s long-term, active approach to investment management. Strong ownership practices, including engagement with management and boards, can help protect and enhance long-term shareholder value. Janus Henderson supports the UK Stewardship Code and is a founding member of the UN Principles of Responsible Investment (“UN PRI”). Additionally, Janus Henderson is a supporter of a number of broader ESG initiatives such as the Access to Medicine Index which aims to improve availability of healthcare in developed and emerging markets and Climate Action 100+, an investor-led initiative to engage with heavily emitting companies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. 

As a part of the research process, portfolio managers and analysts meet frequently with company management, senior executives and boards, with Janus Henderson conducting thousands of meetings per year. These meetings typically occur prior to initiating a position and throughout the holding period. The portfolio managers develop long-term relationships with the management of firms in which they invest. Should concerns arise over a firm’s practices or performance, they would seek to leverage these constructive relationships by engaging with company management or express their views through voting on management or shareholder proposals. Escalation of engagement activities depends upon a company’s individual circumstances.

The Board believes that voting at general meetings is an important aspect of corporate stewardship, and a means of signalling shareholder views on board policy, practices and performance. The Board has delegated responsibility for voting the rights attached to the shares held in the Company’s portfolio to the Manager, who actively votes at shareholder meetings and engages with companies as part of the voting process. 

Voting decisions are guided by the best interests of the investee companies’ shareholders and made in consultation with the Fund Manager, who has an in-depth understanding of the respective company’s operations. Voting decisions are taken in keeping with the provisions of the Manager’s Responsible Investment Policy, which set out the Manager’s approach to corporate governance, corporate responsibility and compliance with the Stewardship Code, and are publicly available on the Manager’s website at www.janushenderson.com. To retain oversight of the process, the Directors regularly receive reports on how the Manager has voted the shares held in the Company’s portfolio, and they review the Responsible Investment Policy at least annually. 

As an active manager, Janus Henderson’s preference is to engage with management and boards to resolve issues of concern rather than to vote against shareholder meeting proposals. This approach is more likely to be effective in influencing company behaviour. The Fund Manager therefore actively seeks to engage with companies throughout the year and in the lead up to the annual shareholder meeting to discuss any potentially controversial agenda items. However, where he believes proposals are not in shareholder interests or where engagement proves unsuccessful, he will vote against.