Sustainability
The fund has a comprehensive sustainability programme combining proprietary ESG goals, processes and metrics with alignment to key global initiatives.
The day-to-day responsibility for and application of sustainability in practice has been delegated to SEQI’s Investment Adviser, SIMCo, along with other portfolio management services. SIMCo has a longstanding framework for assessing, measuring and driving ESG performance and integrating sustainability into the investment process, which is described in more detail here.
The firm also has dedicated personnel working full time on delivering fund sustainability strategies and ensuring continuous improvement and progress, with their Sustainability Manager winning IJGlobal’s ESG Rising Star Award 2024. SIMCo was also awarded the 2022 Global Award for Best ESG Infrastructure Investment Strategy by Capital Finance International (CFI) in recognition of its progress against its ESG commitments and framework.
Board oversight
SEQI is governed by a Board comprised entirely of independent Directors, as defined by the AIC Code. The Board meets formally at least once a quarter, where ESG is a standing agenda item. The Board of SEQI is ultimately responsible for the implementation of the Sustainability Policy and the sustainability of the Fund.
The Board has a Sustainability and Stakeholder Engagement Committee that comprises at least three members, all of whom shall be independent non-executive Directors. The role of the Committee is to support the Board in monitoring the effectiveness of the Company’s means of engagement with key stakeholders and in setting the ESG objectives and reviewing the performance of the Company against such objectives.
Amongst other things, the Committee’s duties include guiding, supervising and supporting the Investment Adviser in drafting and periodically reviewing the Sustainability and ESG strategy, which sets out the guiding principles, objectives, strategic actions and policies with respect to ESG matters and screening criteria applied in relation to SEQI’s investment portfolio.
The Committee also has oversight of the overall ESG strategy of the Company, including agreeing SEQI’s key ESG objectives, to be set out in the Company’s Annual Report or separately in a Sustainability Report.
Global Initiatives
In May 2019, SIMCo signed up to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment. These cover six high‑level principles which we are fully incorporating in our investment processes and decisions.
SEQI operates its business and its investment activities in accordance with the UN Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative.
Additionally, the fund’s Management Company encourages sustainability in the workplace through a range of initiatives. You can read more about Sequoia’s internal CSR efforts.
This product is based overseas and is not subject to UK sustainable investment labelling and disclosure requirements. For more information, retail clients can see ESG 4 and ESG 5 at FCA Handbook.