Fisher Investments (FI) considers environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues throughout our investment and portfolio construction process. The overall responsibility of implementation and fulfilment of the ESG policy rests with FI’s Investment Policy Committee (IPC). The IPC determines the materiality of the ESG considerations as they pertain to countries, industries or individual stocks with the assistance of FI’s Capital Markets and Securities Analysts.
ESG issues are among many drivers considered by FI’s Capital Markets Analysts and FI’s Investment Policy Committee when developing country, sector and thematic preferences. Governmental influence on public companies, environmental legislation, environmental issues, and market reforms impacting private property, labor and human rights are among multiple ESG factors considered for all of our clients when determining country and sector/industry allocations and shaping an initial prospect list of portfolio positions.
FI’s Securities Analysts perform fundamental analysis. The fundamental research process involves reviewing and evaluating a range of ESG factors with FI’s IPC prior to purchasing a security with the goals of identifying securities benefitting from ESG trends and avoiding those with underappreciated risks. These factors include, but are not limited to, shareholder concentration, corporate stewardship, environmental opportunities & liabilities, and human or labor rights controversies.