Collaboration
When we work closely with other like-minded investors, we can maximize our impact in improving ESG-related disclosure and corporate practices. Our strategic collaborations allow us to address the issues that are becoming increasingly important to shareholders.
UN Principles for Responsible Investment
RBC GAM is a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). The PRI is a global network for investors committed to incorporating ESG considerations into their investment practices and ownership policies. We are committed to putting the PRI’s six Principles of Responsible Investment into practice and believe that they are aligned with our existing approach to responsible investment.*
* In 2023, RBC GAM consolidated the activities of two regulated legal entities in the United Kingdom (UK), RBC GAM-UK and BlueBay Asset Management LLP (BlueBay), into RBC GAM-UK. BlueBay was a signatory to the PRI until the consolidation and completed its own submission to the PRI during the last reporting cycle.
1. We will incorporate ESG issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes.
2. We will be active owners and incorporate ESG issues into our ownership policies and practices.
3. We will seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which we invest.
4. We will promote acceptance and implementation of the Principles within the investment industry.
5. We will work together to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the Principles.
6. We will each report on our activities and progress towards implementing the Principles.
Evaluations
The PRI evaluates signatories' approaches to the Principles based on its assessment methodology. Please see below for the results of our most recent Assessment Report. The group to calculate module medians includes all PRI signatories who submitted and were eligible to report on the module:
2023 PRI Assessment – Summary Scorecard
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As part of the paid annual membership services, the PRI evaluates signatories' approaches to the Principles based on its assessment methodology. Once the responses are assessed, all indicator scores are aggregated and modules are assigned a numerical score, converted from a points-based system ranging from 0 to 100. Our firm’s full transparency report as one of over 2,000 signatories can be found here: RBC GAM PRI Transparency Report. Our firm’s full private Assessment Report from the UN PRI is available upon request. Our firm’s full private Assessment Report from the PRI is available upon request.
Transparency Report
RBC GAM’s detailed responses to the UN PRI on our responsible investing activities for the most recent year.
We work closely with other like-minded investors and investor coalitions to improve the ESG-related disclosure and practices of our investee companies.
30% Club Canadian Investor Group
RBC GAM is a signatory to the 30% Club Canadian Investor Group. The 30% Club Canadian Investor Group is a coalition of Canada’s largest institutional investors, which calls on publicly-traded companies to take prompt and considered action to achieve and exceed the 30% gender diversity target and to enhance the presence of other underrepresented groups on their boards and at the executive management level. The coalition has instigated numerous engagements, for which RBC GAM may engage, provide inputs, and/or provide feedback.
Alternative Investment Management Association
We are a member of the Alternative Investment Manager Association (AIMA), the global representative of the alternative investment industry. AIMA draws upon the expertise and diversity of its membership to provide leadership in industry initiatives such as advocacy, policy and regulatory engagement, educational programs and sound practice guides. A member of RBC GAM’s RI team is on the Global Responsible Investment Committee.
Canadian Coalition for Good Governance
RBC GAM is a founding member of the Canadian Coalition for Good Governance (CCGG). CCGG promotes good governance practices in Canadian public companies and works to improve the regulatory environment to best align the interests of boards and management with their shareholders. Members of RBC GAM’s RI team serve on the Public Policy and Environmental & Social committees.
CDP
RBC GAM is signatory to CDP, formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project. CDP runs the global disclosure system that enables entities to measure and manage their environmental impacts and strives to advance environmental disclosure.
Climate Action 100+
RBC GAM is an investor participant and signatory to Climate Action 100+ (CA100+). CA100+ is an investor-led initiative that focuses on active engagement with the world’s largest publicly traded and systemically important carbon emitters, or companies with significant opportunity to drive the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Climate Engagement Canada
RBC GAM is a founding participant of Climate Engagement Canada (CEC). CEC is a finance-led initiative that drives dialogue between the financial community and corporate issuers to promote a just transition to a net-zero economy. This is a national engagement program in Canada, akin to Climate Action 100+. A member of RBC GAM’s RI team is Chair of the Technical Steering Committee.
Council of Institutional Investors
RBC GAM is an associate member of the Council of Institutional Investors (CII). CII aims to promote effective corporate governance, strong shareowner rights and vibrant, transparent and fair capital markets.
Emerging Markets Investors Alliance
We are a member of the Emerging Markets Investors Alliance (EMIA). EMIA aims to enable institutional emerging market investors to support good governance, promote sustainable development, and improve investment performance in the governments and companies in which they invest.
European Leveraged Finance Association
One of our investment teams is a member of the European Leveraged Finance Association (ELFA). ELFA aims to seek a more transparent, efficient, and resilient leveraged finance market.
Farm Animal Investment Risk & Return Initiative
We are a member of the Farm Animal Investment Risk & Return Initiative (FAIRR). FAIRR is a collaborative investor network that raises awareness of the ESG risks and opportunities brought about by intensive livestock production.
FX Global Code
RBC GAM is signatory to the FX Global Code July 2021 (FX Global Code). The FX Global Code is a set of global principles of good practice in the foreign exchange market, developed to provide a common set of guidelines to promote the integrity and effective functioning of the wholesale foreign exchange market. It was developed by a partnership between central banks and Market Participants from 20 jurisdictions around the globe. The Global Foreign Exchange Committee promotes, maintains and updates the Code regularly. RBC GAM’s Head of Global Fixed Income & Currencies is a member of the Canadian Foreign Exchange Committee. Link.
Global Impact Investing Network
RBC GAM is a member of the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN). The GIIN is the global champion of impact investing, dedicated to increasing the scale and effectiveness of impact investing around the world.
Green Bond Transparency Platform
We are a supporter of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)’s Green Bond Transparency Platform (GBTP). The GBTP is an innovative open access digital tool that brings greater transparency to the Latin American and Caribbean green bond market and aims to provide a benchmark for best practice disclosure and support to all market actors.
International Corporate Governance Network
RBC GAM is a member of the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN). ICGN aims to promote effective standards of corporate governance and investor stewardship to advance efficient markets and sustainable economies worldwide. A member of RBC GAM’s RI team is on ICGN’s Global Governance Committee.
IFRS Sustainability Alliance
We are a member of the IFRS Sustainability Alliance, a global membership program for sustainability standards, integrated reporting, and integrated thinking. Upon the Value Reporting Foundation’s consolidation into the IFRS Foundation, the IFRS Foundation’s International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) assumed responsibility for the SASB Standards. The ISSB has committed to build on the industry-based SASB Standards and leverage SASB’s industry-based approach to standards development. The ISSB encourages preparers and investors to continue to use SASB Standards. A member of RBC GAM’s RI team is on the ISSB Investor Advisory Group (IIAG).
RBC GAM is also a signatory to the COP28 Declaration of Support for the ISSB’s Climate Standard. As such, we support the establishment of market infrastructure to enable consistent, comparable climate-related disclosures at a global level. RBC GAM has published a climate-related report guided by the recommendations of the TCFD since 2020. The TCFD recommendations are now incorporated into the ISSB’s Standards (see more here).
Investor Stewardship Group
RBC GAM is a founding member of the Investor Stewardship Group (ISG). The ISG is a collective of institutional investors brought together to establish a framework of basic standards of investment stewardship for institutional investors and corporate governance principles for U.S. listed companies. A member of RBC GAM’s RI team is on the ISG board.
Investment Association
We are a member of the Investment Association (IA). The IA is the United Kingdom’s membership association for investment managers.
Investor Policy Dialogue on Deforestation
RBC GAM is a supporting investor of the Investor Policy Dialogue on Deforestation (IPDD). The IPDD aims to coordinate a public policy dialogue with authorities and monitor developments to assess exposure to financial risks arising from deforestation. One of our investment teams co-chairs the IPDD Management Committee and the IPDD Brazil workstream, and is a participant in the IPDD Indonesia workstream.
Japan's Stewardship Code
RBC GAM is a signatory to Japan's Stewardship Code (The Code). The Code sets out the principles that institutional investors should adhere to in order to fulfill their stewardship responsibilities to clients, beneficiaries and investee companies.
Mission Investors Exchange
RBC GAM is a member of Mission Investors Exchange (MIE). MIE is the leading impact investing network for foundations dedicated to deploying capital for social and environmental change.
Responsible Investment Association
RBC GAM is a sustaining member of the Responsible Investment Association (RIA). The RIA is Canada’s membership association for responsible investment. A member of RBC GAM’s RI team is the Chair of the RIA board. RBC GAM is a proud signatory to the Canadian Investor Statement on Diversity and Inclusion (read the full statement) and the Canadian Investor Statement on Climate Change (read the full statement)
Standards Board for Alternative Investments
We are a signatory of the Standards Board for Alternative Investments (SBAI). The SBAI aims to help institutional investors and alternative investment managers better understand how responsible investment can be applied in different alternative investment strategies, as well as the specific challenges and questions that arise in these contexts.
UK Stewardship Code
RBC GAM is a signatory to the UK Stewardship Code 2020 (The Code). The Code aims to enhance the quality of engagement between asset managers and companies to help improve long-term risk-adjusted returns to shareholders. RBC GAM’s 2022 Annual Stewardship Report met the expected standard of reporting of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC). RBC GAM’s 2023 Annual Stewardship Report is currently under review by FRC.*
UN Principles for Responsible Investment
RBC GAM is a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). The PRI is a global network for investors committed to incorporating ESG considerations into their investment practices and ownership policies. We are committed to putting the PRI’s six Principles of Responsible Investment into practice and believe that they are aligned with our existing approach to responsible investment. A member of RBC GAM’s Responsible Investment team sits on the Policy Committee. We are also a signatory to the PRI Statement on ESG in Credit Ratings, which encourages credit rating agencies to proactively take ESG factors into consideration for relevant issuers.
US SIF: The Sustainable Investment Forum
RBC GAM is an institutional member of US SIF: The Sustainable Investment Forum (US SIF). US SIF is the leading voice advancing sustainable, responsible and impact investing across all asset classes. Its mission is to rapidly shift investment practices toward sustainability, focusing on long-term investment and the generation of positive social and environmental impacts. Source.
