Trusted Advisor to some of the World's Largest Companies
Our investor-focused advice, grounded in precedent and facts, facilitates a strategic and tactical approach to delivering an integrated "Equity Story" that resonates with all relevant stakeholders.
Independent Positioning to Align with Client Objectives
130
# of Markets We Advise
$1.5tn0
Market Cap of Clients Advised
#10
Ranked in Activism by Bloomberg
SquareWell’s unique positioning is defined by our independent focus on client objectives. This enables our approach to be agile to demand, and strategic to the needs of our clients.
Market-leading advice to active investors has complemented long-term trusted corporate relationships to carve out SquareWell’s key role in many successful activism defense situations.
Governance Advisory
Fit for Purpose Governance Structure
Environmental & Social Intelligence
Focus on Strategic Materiality
Shareholder Engagement
Enhancement Through Alignment
Activism – Corporate Transactions
Shareholder-first Approach
Strategic Communications
Build a Narrative with Impact
Companies must communicate an integrated “equity story” centered on the strength of their governance and addressing sustainability megatrends, with the aim of attracting strategically engaged investors.
Our Approach
Applied by our dedicated team, and underpinned by our values, SquareWell's approach is agile and strategic to clients.
The fundamental beginning of our approach is research and analysis. This initial phase serves as a framework to define focus and drive efficiency in decision-making. Providing the market view, SquareWell supports in effective communication of these decisions. It is our approach to solving problems, and our dedication, that defines us. We focus on what matters!
31 January 2024Institutional Views on DDL Capitali
Italy is one step closer to approving the new Capital Markets Bill (or DDL Capitali) which introduces a number of significant changes to the regulatory framework to improve the “competitiveness” of its capital markets. SquareWell reviews the three amendments that may be of most interest to the international governance community.
19 December 2023Activists Go BIG
Post-Pandemic Activism: Restrictions Lifted
15 November 2023Stewardship in AQTION
AQTION, a SquareWell brand, published its inaugural review of how the world's largest 65 investors are evaluating environmental, social, and governance issues and stewarding their porfolios. Together, these investors manage nearly $81 trillion in assets.
28 February 20232023 Client Memo: “ESG” in a Recession & Beyond
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
17 January 2023What’s Been Said on Climate and the Changing Climate on Investor Behavior
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.
25 October 20222022: The Playing Field
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.
31 May 2022Institutional Investors' Approach to Corporate Governance in Japan
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.
12 April 20222022 - Reframing ESG - Why "ESG" Needs a Rethink
In this memo, SquareWell Partners (“SquareWell”) looks to reframe the term Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”), which has recently become synonymous for sustainability, by putting the role of governance back in the the spotlight. Further to this, informed by our Investor Survey which includes responses from institutional investors representing approximately $25.2 trillion in assets under management, we deep-dive into important governance issues and analyse the “Environmental” and “Social” topics currently top of mind.
The Progress Group
Driving progress by sharing knowledge and experience with the market.
We believe that all stakeholders in the financial market can drive progress and positive change. In particular, we think that when diverse stakeholders participate in thoughtful discussion and debate, great ideas are generated. That is why we consider it imperative that stakeholders have opportunities to come together, discuss issues, and share their knowledge and experience with the market.