Minerva Money Management has been a member of PRI (Principles for Responsible Investment) for three years. The PRI is a United Nations not for profit organisation which is the world’s leading proponent of responsible investment https://www.unpri.org/
We are a signatory to the following six principles of PRI.
Principle 1: We will incorporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes.
Principle 2: We will be active owners and incorporate ESG issues into our ownership policies and practices.
Principle 3: We will seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which we invest.
Principle 4: We will promote acceptance and implementation of the Principles within the investment industry.
Principle 5: We will work together to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the Principles.
Principle 6: We will each report on our activities and progress towards implementing the Principles.
Our company recently attained a sustainability rating of four out of five from Morningstar Sustainalytics. This is a vindication of our sustainable investing philosophy because it demonstrates that we invest in businesses with good ESG credentials.
We have recently applied for B Corp (short for Certified B Corporation) status too. This involves a lengthy application and assessment process in order to achieve B Corp certification.
B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials.
B Corp is the term used for any for-profit entity that is certified by the nonprofit B Lab as voluntarily meeting higher standards of transparency, accountability, and performance.
A C corporation, under United States federal Income Tax law, is any corporation that is taxed separately from its owners. A C corporation is distinguished from an S corporation, which generally is not taxed separately.
Whilst B Corp status originated in the US it has become a worldwide business designation.
The combination of PRI membership, a Morningstar Sustainability rating and B Corp status is proof positive that Minerva Money Management is wholly committed to sustainability and to working collaboratively with all of its stakeholders. The companies it invests in must have a similar approach.
The reason why this is very important for investors is because companies that adopt such an approach tend to be the most successful businesses as expounded in the book Firms of Endearment. So by investing in our funds you benefit by investing in top-performing companies that do good and do no harm. You know it makes sense.*
*The value of investments and the income derived from them may fall as well as rise. You may not get back what you invest. This communication is for general information only and is not intended to be individual advice. You are recommended to seek competent professional advice before taking any action. All statements concerning the tax treatment of products and their benefits are based on our understanding of current tax law and HM Revenue and Customs practice. Levels and bases of tax relief are subject to change. This blog is based on my own observations and opinions.
