Border to Coast appoints Robeco to continue voting and engagement support
Posted on December 7th, 2022
Border to Coast Pensions Partnership, one of the UK’s largest pension pools, has re-appointed Robeco to support its voting and engagement work on behalf of its 11 LGPS Partner Funds.
As an active steward, Border to Coast’s ongoing partnership with Robeco will provide the support needed to implement its voting and engagement policies, ensuring that the pool can continue to effectively use its collective voice to influence companies and drive positive, real-world change as an active steward.
First appointed in July 2018, Robeco provides deep active ownership expertise and tailor-made support for Border to Coast’s specific voting and engagement priorities. The ability to leverage Robeco’s proprietary voting assessment framework, client portal, voting research and the ability to effectively measure the impact of voting and engagement practices were key factors in their reappointment.
A thorough public procurement process took place inviting eligible providers of voting and engagement services to take part.
Border to Coast’s engagement work has grown significantly in the past four years. Since 2018, the number of voting resolutions increased from 3,000 in 2018/19 to over 12,000 in 2021/22. Border to Coast is responsible for £38.3bn of assets (as at 31 March 2022).
Back to all News & InsightsRachel Elwell, CEO, Border to Coast said: “As a long-term, responsible investor working on behalf of asset owners, it is vital that we make the most of the collective scale we have gained by pooling to use our stronger voice through engagement and to have greater influence as an active owner of the companies in which we invest.
“Robeco’s expertise helps us ensure that we can proactively implement our specific voting and engagement policies and link engagement to the investment process. Together with Robeco, we will continue to collaborate to establish successful voting and engagement practices across multiple sectors, asset classes and countries, vital for delivering on our purpose to make a difference for the LGPS.”
Peter Walsh, Head of Robeco UK added: “Following the rigorous tender process, we are extremely pleased to have been re-selected by Border to Coast to continue our voting and engagement partnership with them and support them in holding companies to account on environmental, social and governance issues. The UK Government’s concept behind LGPS Pooling was to give these significant asset owners a growing and important voice, and we’re pleased to be in a true partnership with Border to Coast in helping to deliver this vison.
“Border to Coast shares our belief that being active owners of the companies in which asset owners and asset managers invests, contributes substantially to both investment results and broader positive societal impact. We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with them in the next stage of our journey.”
About Robeco
Robeco is an international asset manager founded in 1929 with headquarters in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and 16 offices worldwide. A global leader in sustainable investing since 1995, its integration of sustainable as well as fundamental and quantitative research enables the company to offer institutional and private investors an extensive selection of active investment strategies, for a broad range of asset classes. As at 30 June 2022, Robeco had EUR 178 billion in assets under management, of which EUR 171 billion is committed to ESG integration. Robeco is a subsidiary of ORIX Corporation Europe N.V. More information is available at www.robeco.com
