Insights
Read the latest investor-focused insights from our team on a broad range of topics ranging from activism to sustainability. Please note that we share our Insights only with companies, investors, and law firms.
In last year’s Client Memo, titled “Reframing ESG”, SquareWell Partners (“SquareWell”) looked to reframe the term Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) by putting the role of governance back in the spotlight and dissociating it from the two megatrend “Environmental” and “Social” issues. We argued that “Governance” should be viewed as the means of facing environmental and social risks and opportunities, not as an isolated element from this effort. This push was widely welcomed by the various market players ranging from academia to institutional investor
Despite the politicization of the topic in certain jurisdictions, investors have played a key role in ensuring that portfolio companies focus on tackling challenges presented by climate change. To this end, investors have been using different tools to enact change at portfolio companies, including engaging with investee companies, divesting from certain companies or sectors; submitting climate-related shareholder proposals; and incorporating climate change considerations in voting decisions at shareholder meetings.
A look at how the world's largest asset managers (collectively managing close to $60 trillion) approach ESG, engagement with companies and activist campaigns from hedge funds.
Institutional investment strategies in global markets are categorized increasingly in a binary fashion: active and passive. These terms reveal the underlying attributes of an investment to the market and to portfolio companies, including how a shareholder will manage its stake, and therefore how it is likely to engage with companies on important strategic matters.
