As a centralized function, the RBC GAM Responsible Investment team's (RI team) primary responsibility is to lead responsible investment strategies and initiatives across the firm. We develop cohesive RI strategies and policies for Leadership Committee approval, including Our Approach to Responsible Investment (RI).
ESG integration
- Supports ESG integration by providing investment teams with ESG-related research and education, maintaining vendor relationships, and updating teams on new tools, evolving trends, and best practices related to ESG integration.
- Reviews ESG integration processes across investment teams and supports the continuous improvement of practices, technology, and data. Our investment teams have developed their own methods to integrate material ESG factors into their respective investment analyses and decision-making processes, for applicable types of investments.
Active stewardship
- Executing and managing RBC GAM’s proxy voting activities, including voting proxies and leading the annual review and update of the Proxy Voting Guidelines. The RI team reviews each vote individually and seeks input from investment teams on specific issues, with an aim to enhance the long-term value of securities held.
- Participating in industry initiatives and national or international organizations/coalitions on ESG-related issues, where appropriate.
- The RI team also supports direct engagement by liaising with investee companies and investment teams, where appropriate.
Client-driven solutions and reporting
- Maintaining expertise on emerging ESG trends and material ESG factors, and supporting appropriate internal teams in the preparation of RI-, ESG-, and climate-related regulatory disclosures, client reporting, and insight pieces, as appropriate.
- Considering opportunities for publications, research, or other initiatives that advance RBC GAM’s responsible investment objectives.
This webpage and embedded links include information related to RBC GAM’s approach to responsible investment, which does not apply to certain funds, investment strategies, asset classes, exposure or security types that do not integrate ESG factors. Examples of what would not integrate ESG factors include, but are not limited to, money market, buy and maintain, passive, and certain third-party sub-advised funds/strategies or certain currency or derivative instruments. ESG factors are considered by our investment teams to varying degrees and weights, depending on the investment team’s assessment of that ESG factor’s potential impact on the risk-adjusted, long-term performance of the security and/or the fund. For funds where ESG factors do not form a part of their investment objective, ESG factors are generally not likely to drive investment decisions on their own, and in some cases, may not impact an investment decision at all. RBC GAM has a general approach to active stewardship, proxy voting, and engagement that addresses ESG matters among other matters. References to active stewardship do not apply to certain investment strategies where proxy voting and/or engagement are not used. Examples of what would not conduct certain active stewardship activities include, but are not limited to, quantitative investment strategies that do not conduct engagements, passive, and certain third-party sub-advised strategies. RBC GAM does not manage proxy voting for certain third-party sub-advised strategies. For clarity, RBC Indigo Asset Management Inc. and its fund products are not covered by the information presented on this webpage, unless otherwise indicated.