Our Approach to Responsible Investing

At ClearBridge Investments, ESG is not merely a screen or an overlay; it is part of how we conduct fundamental research and it defines how we think about all companies considered for investment in all client portfolios. 

 
At ClearBridge Investments, we believe that ESG is the future of investing and that someday it won't even be called "ESG" or designated as a separate discipline; it will become an integral part of the way investors analyse companies. 
We believe that companies who care about the environment, their employees, their customers and their community, are more likely to provide the kind of performance our clients need to meet their long-term goals.
There are many different ways to describe strategies that invest with a view to achieving environmental, social and governance best practices. These include "sustainable investing," "socially responsible investing" and more recently "impact investing". The term "ESG" represents the latest stage in the evolution away from merely screening out certain industries or companies.
Our portfolios do not simply avoid certain industries; we integrate industry-specific ESG factors into our fundamental research process.

 

Learn how we incorporate sustainability in the infrastructure investment process

 

PRI Scorecard 2023

Policy Governance
& Strategy

5 stars

Direct Listed Equity
Active Fundamental

5 stars

Confidence Building
Measures

5 stars

We are proud to have achieved high scores for our investment practices from the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investing (“PRI”) in 2023.

ClearBridge Investments has been a signatory since 2008. 

The PRI is a voluntary framework for financial institutions who commit to integrate ESG factors into their investment analysis and decision-making practices.

We take our participation in the PRI very seriously and have implemented methodologies that enable us to monitor our adherence.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Having regard to social and environmental considerations is part of our investment process. We understand that while the SDGs are thematic rather than company-specific, they do help align sector and company-specific ESG considerations with broader societal goals. We therefore map issuers against each one of the SDGs as a proxy for determining a positive Environmental or Social contribution.

Our ESG stakeholders

 
 

FAQs for ClearBridge in Australia

Yes, our current policy is the 'Responsible Investment Policy'.

ClearBridge Investments believes that integrating sustainability into the investment process supports our responsibility to our clients in achieving their investment goals. This policy conveys our approach and methodologies in support of the commitment to responsible investment across the ClearBridge Australia business.

Yes. Our current policy can be accessed here.

In voting proxies, we are guided by general fiduciary principles. Our goal is to act prudently, solely in the best interest of the beneficial owners of the accounts we manage. We attempt to provide for the consideration of all factors that could affect the value of the investment and will vote proxies in the manner that we believe will be consistent with efforts to maximise shareholder values.

We use the opportunity to engage with the management, boards and other shareholders on sustainability issues and actively use our voting rights (where practicable) to reinforce our and our client’s views on sustainability issues. We take an active interest in casting votes at annual general meetings and extraordinary general meetings. Our investment team reviews resolutions, taking into account sustainability issues where appropriate.

Although each vote is assessed on a case-by-case basis, the portfolio managers generally support shareholder proposals that promote good governance, greater corporate transparency, accountability and ethical practices. For further information please refer to our Proxy Voting Policy which sets forth certain stated positions, including in relation to ESG proposals.

Yes, our voluntary Modern Slavery Statement is available here, and our Third-Party Supplier Code of Conduct is available here.

Yes - as a signatory, we support the following six Principles:

  • Principle 1: incorporate ESG issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes.
  • Principle 2: be active owners and incorporate ESG issues into our ownership policies and practices.
  • Principle 3: seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which we invest.
  • Principle 4: promote acceptance and implementation of the Principles within the investment industry.
  • Principle 5: work together to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the Principles.
  • Principle 6: each report on our activities and progress towards implementing the Principles.

When we determine to invest in a company, we expect to do so for some years, and our relationship with the company’s board is an important part of our process. The investment team engages with company management on sustainability and related issues in regular meetings with key management and non-executive directors. These discussions also seek to provide feedback to companies on:

  • Corporate strategy, encouraging consideration of long-term value creation and long-term risk management including sustainability issues;
  • Capital management and structure; and
  • Executive remuneration and incentive schemes, ensuring that executive remuneration is both appropriate for the asset and incentives are aligned with the interest of long-term shareholders.

In addition to executive management, the investment team engages with non-executive directors such as the chair, where this is separate, and the supervisory board in a two-tier structure. Discussion topics include, among other issues:

  • Remuneration policy of the board, in particular decisions around incentive pay;
  • Succession plans for the senior leadership team and the next level of executives;
  • Governance structure; and
  • Sustainability strategy.

The investment team is primarily responsible for responsible investing at the firm. For infrastructure strategies, we do not defer sustainability analysis to a dedicated ESG analyst, rather it is a responsibility of all investment team members.

Oversight of the sustainability components of the investment process is provided by the Sustainability Committee. The Committee includes the infrastructure Portfolio Managers as well as members of the global ESG strategy team.

ClearBridge has continually evolved its sustainability processes and methodologies, since initially incorporating a governance factor at inception in 2006, expanding this to ESG factors as Sustainalytics first Australian client in 2012 and continuing to evolve the process to the current ERM. We will continue to enhance the process as information, opportunities and risks associated with sustainability change.

Since 2013, ClearBridge in Australia has partnered with WaterAid to fund sustainable infrastructure projects that bring safe water, sanitation and hygiene education to villages in Timor-Leste. During 2019, ClearBridge Investments broadened this corporate partnership to underwrite a critical project in Colombia to bring water to the village of La Guajira.

Discover more

Our Partnership with WaterAid