UK-listed wealth manager Brewin Dolphin has selected BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM) as its engagement partner on around £11.6bn of its directly held equities.
BMO GAM, through its dedicated corporate engagement and proxy voting service ‘reo’, will engage with Brewin Dolphin’s investee companies on ESG issues and sustainability risks and opportunities. The £11.6bn mandate is a portion of the £46.7bn Brewin Dolphin currently invests in direct equities.
See also: – ESG engagement – the client perspective
Guy Foster, head of research at Brewin Dolphin, explained: “As long-term investors it is important to us, and our clients, that investee companies balance the interests of their stakeholders. That is what our stewardship approach aims for and we view collaborative engagement as amongst the most powerful tools we have in achieving it. BMO GAM has the expertise and scale to help us drive companies to address the most important issues they face, and we look forward to working with them in the future.”
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BMO GAM’s reo has a 20-year track record and assets under engagement amount to £170bn, representing a client base of pension funds, insurers, asset managers, fiduciary managers, charities and family offices. Last year, BMO GAM engaged with 765 companies across 44 countries and voted at 11,131 company meetings. Over the past 20 years it has recorded more than 5,588 company engagements, across 87 countries.
Rob Thorpe (pictured), head of distribution – intermediary, UK and Europe at BMO GAM, commented: “Our reo® service will provide Brewin Dolphin with considered engagement and voting services across its direct equity holdings, supporting the business in its stewardship and responsible investment activities. We have a long-standing relationship with Brewin Dolphin, with many of our funds, including those in our responsible range, forming part of its discretionary fund manager models and advisory panels.
“We’re always looking for ways to further add value to clients and are delighted that our relationship has been extended to include this mandate as their engagement partner.”
