Our approach to ESG.
We integrate ESG into our investment approach as a way to preserve and grow your capital.
Long-Term Investing & ESG
Assessing environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors helps us to make better investment decisions. We focus on quality companies led by outstanding business leaders who are acutely aware of all factors, including ESG, that could materially impact their businesses. These considerations are critical when investing for the long term.
ESG Integration
As quality-value investors, Burgundy’s disciplined, bottom-up approach allows ESG factors to be evaluated at the onset of the investment process. We integrate them into our investment research to assess whether they have the potential to impact the value of our investment. These include:
Environmental Factors
Companies that are acutely aware of their impact on the environment and their contribution to climate change.
Social Factors
Companies that exhibit a culture of due process, honest dealing and fairness, and display awareness of social obligation in the communities in which they operate.
Governance Factors
Companies that are well managed and have strong, focused governance processes. We do not engage with companies whose governance practices are deficient, whose compensation policies are excessive and whose management incentives are flawed.
Single Approach to ESG
We employ the same integrated ESG approach across the firm. It can be seen in our investment team’s rigorous, fundamental research activities, which include engaging with management teams, fact checking through expert opinions, and advocating by proxy voting.
We are constantly considering ESG-related issues and how they might impact a company’s intrinsic value and future outlook.
Our ESG initiatives are governed by our internal Sustainability Advisory Council and supported by our Sustainability Team.
Affiliations & Advocacy
At Burgundy, we are affiliated with particular coalitions that align with our values as well as our clients. We also participate in various industry associations whose mandates include advocating to policymakers on behalf of investment managers and the investment industry. The following are some examples:
Socially Responsible Investing
While our approach to ESG is generally more focused on the operation of the company and its financial performance, socially responsible investing (SRI) goes one step further by incorporating ethical and social concerns into portfolio management and selecting (or eliminating) certain investments according to specific ethical guidelines.
In addition to managing many of our clients’ portfolios with SRI considerations, Burgundy offers dedicated SRI and Foundation investment strategies. They are managed in accordance with our Responsible Investment Policy.
2022 ESG Report
Explore our 2022 report that showcases our focus on integrating ESG in our investment process through company engagement, expert opinions, and proxy voting.
PAST ESG Reports
2021
Read our 2021 report to find regional case studies that showcase our commitment to research and our attention to current trends during a pandemic year.
2020
Take a deep dive into our 2020 report to see how we made further strides into integrating ESG into our overall investment process as well as highlighting our corporate ESG initiatives.
2019
Review our 2019 report where we highlight regional case studies as well as featured discussions on gender diversity and cybersecurity.