Stewardship Code 2022
Under Rule 2.2.3R of the FCA’s Conduct of Business Sourcebook, Acer Tree Investment Management LLP (“Acer IM” or the “Firm”) is required to include on this website a disclosure about the nature of its commitment to the UK Financial Reporting Council’s Stewardship Code (the “Code”) or, where it does not commit to the Code, its alternative investment strategy. The Code sets out several principles relating to engagement by asset managers or asset owners across all asset classes including, for example, listed equity, fixed income, private equity, infrastructure investment and in investments outside the UK.
The twelve principles of the Code for Asset owners and Asset Managers (in our case, Asset Managers) are as follows:
| Purpose and Governance: | 1. Purpose, strategy, and culture
Asset Managers’ investment beliefs, strategy, and culture to facilitate long term value, via stewardship, for clients and beneficiaries leading to sustainable benefits for the economy, the environment and society. |
| 2. Governance, resources, and incentives
Asset Managers’ governance, resources, and incentives support stewardship. |
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| 3. Conflicts of Interest
Asset Managers should manage conflicts of interest to put the best interests of clients and beneficiaries first. |
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| 4. Promoting well-functioning markets
Asset Managers should identify and respond to market-wide and systemic risks to promote a well-functioning financial system. |
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| 5. Review and assurance
Asset Managers should review their policies, assure their processes, and assess the effectiveness of their activities. |
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| Investment Approach: | 6. Client and beneficiary needs
Asset Managers should take account of client and beneficiary needs and communicate the activities and outcomes of their stewardship and investment to them. |
| 7. Stewardship, investment and ESG integration
Asset Managers should systematically integrate stewardship and investment, including material environmental, social and governance issues, and climate change, to fulfil their responsibilities. |
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| 8. Monitoring managers and service providers
Asset Managers should monitor and hold to account third-party managers/proxy advisors/research or other service providers. |
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| Engagement: | 9. Engagement
Asset Managers should engage with issuers to maintain or enhance the value of assets. |
| 10. Collaboration
Asset Managers, where necessary, should participate in collaborative engagement to influence issuers. |
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| 11. Escalation
Asset Managers, where necessary, should escalate stewardship activities to influence issuers.
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| Exercising rights and responsibilities: | 12. Exercising rights and responsibilities
Asset Managers should actively exercise their rights and responsibilities across all asset classes. |
Whilst the Firm fully supports the general objectives that underlie the Code and observes high standards of corporate governance and due diligence in respect of its investments, upon consideration, it believes that the principles are not currently applicable to its investment activities. The Firm will review this position annually and update this disclosure accordingly if the provisions of the Code become relevant.
The Shareholder Rights Directive II (“SRDII”)
The Directive took effect in June 2019 and falls under COBS 2.2B in the UK. It applies, broadly, to Portfolio Managers, UCITS Management Companies and Full Scope AIFMs. SRD requires Firms that invest in shares that trade on an UK/EU regulated market, in addition to ‘comparable’ markets outside the UK/EU, to develop and publicly disclose an engagement policy or publicly disclose a clear and reasoned explanation of why it has chosen not to comply with this requirement.
Given the similarity with the UK Stewardship Code, which is at present not deemed relevant to the type of activity undertaken by the Firm, it has been decided not to comply with SRD at the current time. However, this position is subject to annual review, in conjunction with the Stewardship Code, and any change to the current strategy of the Firm will be taken into account.
For further information on the Firm’s approach please contact the Firm at robert.galione@acerim.com.