Our sustainable investing philosophy is guided by our:
Fiduciary Duty
We base our investment decisions on anticipated risk-adjusted performance, but we also consider the positive or negative impact that ESG factors are likely to have on long-term risk and return.
Long-Term Investment Horizon
We focus on the preservation of capital over the long term to enable our clients to meet their financial obligations.
Purpose & Core Values
Our purpose is to help our clients secure a better financial future for the Albertans they serve. Our core values are excellence, transparency, humility, integrity and collaboration.
Build
The governance of sustainable investing at AIMCo begins with our Board-approved Responsible Investment Policy which applies to all assets under management. The AIMCo Investment Committee oversees the sustainable investing strategy and approves all related guidelines.
Integrate
Consideration of material ESG factors such as greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, worker safety, human capital management, data security and board composition, enables better-informed investment decisions and supports the creation of long-term stakeholder value. The diversified nature of our portfolios calls for a tailored approach to manage ESG risks and opportunities.
Pre-Investment
We use an investment-focused lens to evaluate potential investments’ governance framework and ESG performance. This informs our voting stance at publicly traded companies and assists portfolio managers in their investment decision-making processes.
Post-Investment
We track ESG initiatives, risks and performance at investee companies over time and may follow up to engage on material ESG topics.
Stewardship
We are committed to acting as a responsible steward of our clients’ investments to promote sustainable, long-term value. Our stewardship activities include proxy voting and engagements. We are guided by our “voice over exit” philosophy — we prefer to exercise shareholder voice rather than divest from a company and unnecessarily reduce the investible universe.
Engagements
We prioritize engagement with investee companies and external managers on material ESG issues using an outcomes-based engagement approach. When investee companies and external managers better understand the views of investors and asset owners, they are more likely to drive positive change that enhances the long-term value of our clients’ investments, consistent with our fiduciary duty.
Proxy Voting
The proxy voting system is a fundamental tenet of shareholder rights, providing a mechanism for shareholders of publicly traded companies to exercise voice on important corporate governance and ESG matters at annual general meetings or special shareholder meetings. Our clients delegate proxy voting to AIMCo and our proxy voting records are publicly available.
Climate Approach
AIMCo’s Climate Approach is investment-driven and focused on meeting our clients’ objectives. It is centred on the areas we can have the most impact as a global, long-term investor.