Our Approach To Responsible Investment

Stafford integrates ESG considerations in all stages of its investment process. Concretely, this means that we assess sustainability risks which could have a material negative impact on the value of our investments and ESG factors both before and after every investment decision. In addition, as an investor in underlying funds, we perform the same analysis on underlying assets and investee companies. This means that we notably look at companies’ outcome on environmental, social and employee matters, respect for human rights, anti-corruption, and anti-bribery matters.

We work closely with our underlying managers to identify material sustainability risks and potential adverse impacts prior to any investment. We look to improve any potential negative sustainability risks and impact post-investment by working in conjunction with fund managers and portfolio company management teams.

Our overarching approach to ESG integration is guided by the six principles of the PRI framework which are integrated into our investment process as illustrated below.

PRI 1
Integrate ESG criteria

Explicit consideration of ESG risks and opportunities in screening, due diligence, closing and monitoring of investments

PRI
2 & 3
Be an active owner & seek ESG disclosure

Monitoring of fund managers' ESG performance and active engagement on ESG integration

PRI 4
Promote the PRI

Stafford is actively involved in different investor initiatives on responsible investment and promotes ESG principles at conferences and industry events

PRI 5
Share best practices

Stafford shares best ESG practices with fund managers in its portfolios, with its clients and within industry initiatives

PRI 6
Report on progress

Stafford reports annually to the PRI, publishes Stafford Sustainable Diaries and an annual Responsible Investment Report

More on our approach can be found in our Responsible Investment Policy.



Sustainability adverse impacts

Stafford Capital Partners (“Stafford”) is required to publish information on whether it considers the adverse impacts of investment decisions on sustainability factors (the “PAIs”) under the Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 (SFDR). Stafford does not currently* consider the PAIs of investment decisions on sustainability factors in connection with its products and services, as defined under the Regulation (EU) 2019/2088. As an investor in third-party funds, Stafford depends on external managers to provide the relevant data on PAI indicators applicable to their investee companies as proposed by the draft regulatory technical standards. This is because, for as long as external managers are not reporting data on the GHG emissions, biodiversity impacts, social and employee matters and other impacts of their portfolio companies, Stafford is not, in its view, in a position to obtain and/or assess all the data which it would be required by the SFDR to report, or to do so systematically, consistently and at a reasonable cost.

Stafford intends to keep the consideration of PAIs under review in the short to medium term.