Our ESG Philosophy



Integrating ESG results in better investment decisions. We believe that incorporating material ESG considerations into the investment process can add value which can result in higher risk-adjusted returns for our clients over the long term.


Engaging with investee entities can be constructive. We recognise that responsible investing requires a patient approach with gradual changes in corporate behaviour over time. We firmly believe that companies that adopt sustainable business practices are more likely to deliver superior value that supports investor value in the long-term.

Active ownership is preferable to exclusion. We believe that hard exclusions from our investment universe should be utilised as a last resort, where ESG risks are insurmountable or where continued engagement is considered ineffective. Rather, seeking change in corporate behaviour through engagement is more likely to have real-world impacts.


Transparency to our clients is important. We believe that providing transparency on our ESG activities helps our clients understand our priorities and impact.

Our journey

We are well-positioned to provide sustainable solutions to our clients.


2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2015

2014


Jan 2022
Eastspring appoints Head of Sustainability
Mar 2022
Eastspring Singapore participates in CDP Non-Disclosure..
Eastspring Singapore participates in CDP Non-Disclosure Campaign
Apr 2022
Eastspring Singapore participates in CDP Transition Champions..
Eastspring Singapore participates in CDP Transition Champions Pilot Programme
Jun 2022
Eastspring Singapore appoints Director, ESG Specialist..
Eastspring Singapore appoints Director, ESG Specialist embedded in Investment function
Apr 2021
Eastspring formalises Sustainability Steering..
Eastspring formalises Sustainability Steering Committee; Eastspring Singapore adopts the SASB framework
May 2021
Prudential plc, parent company, announces 2050..
Prudential plc, parent company, announces 2050 net-zero targets
Jun 2021
Eastspring Singapore adopts ISS as a third-party vendor..
Eastspring Singapore adopts ISS as a third-party vendor for research on controversial weapons
Dec 2021
Eastspring Singapore launches Exclusions Policy..
Eastspring Singapore launches Exclusions Policy; 86% of SICAV funds achieve SFDR Article 8 status and are SFDR Level 2 compliant
Feb 2020
Eastspring Singapore becomes member of Climate Action 100+
Jun 2020
Eastspring Singapore becomes investor signatory of CDP
Aug 2020
Eastspring receives first official PRI Assessment Report
Nov 2020
Eastspring Malaysia and Eastspring Indonesia join the PRI Sustainable Commodities Programme
Jan 2019
Eastspring becomes member of AIGCC and ICGN
Dec 2019
Eastspring Singapore adopts MSCI ESG Research; launches the Eastspring Investments - Asia Sustainable Bond Fund2
Feb 2018
Eastspring becomes a PRI signatory
May 2018
Eastspring formalises firm-wide RI Framework and Governance Structure
Nov 2018
Eastspring Taiwan signs Taiwan Stewardship Principles
Dec 2018
Eastspring Korea signs Korea Stewardship Code
Apr 2017
Eastspring Singapore signs Singapore Stewardship Principles
Feb 2015
Eastspring Singapore forms Responsible Investment working group
Oct 2015
Eastspring Singapore appoints independent RI consultant to assist with introductory dialogue
Jul 2014
Eastspring Singapore and Eastspring Japan sign Japan Stewardship Code

Source: Eastspring Investments, as of 30 June 2022. Eastspring Investments has been a member of ACGA since November 2002.
 

ESG Integration

At Eastspring Investments, investment professionals are responsible for incorporating all factors deemed to materially impact the investment decision making process. ESG integration is an essential component of our investment analysis process. Our integration guidelines include a focus on materiality and active ownership.

Listed Companies and Corporates

We seek to identify, assess, and monitor material ESG risks and opportunities. Investment teams integrate ESG issues with material impact on a company’s valuation, credit worthiness, and license to operate within the investment analysis, investment decision, and active monitoring of holdings. Through the ESG integration process, investment teams develop an informed and holistic assessment of a company’s exposure to and management of ESG risks and opportunities.

Quantitative Strategies

ESG is incorporated as a formal stream in our research program, where we conduct significant research on alpha signals, including those related to material ESG issues, using available historical data. We look to identify and validate ESG alpha factors that improve the returns of our strategies and ESG risk factors that may mitigate risk in our strategies.

Private Assets

ESG factors are assessed during due diligence while considering any prospective investment and at each stage of the investment process, from origination to exit. It is the fiduciary duty of the alternative asset investment team to seek to maximise returns on investments, and ESG factors are intrinsic to that objective. The investment team engages with underlying managers to promote ESG best practice and address material ESG issues, to manage and monitor ESG risks in the post-investment phase and until exit.

Active Ownership

Our responsible investment approach is deeply aligned with active ownership activities for risk mitigation and value creation over the long term. As active owners, we leverage on our market exposures and expertise to foster long-term, collaborative relationships with investee companies to deepen collective understanding and tackle material issues including ESG risks and opportunities. We consider engagement and proxy voting as key drivers of active ownership.

  • 0
    Total Number of Votable Items
  • 0
    %
    Items Voted
  • 0
    %
    Votes with Management
  • 0
    %
    Votes against Management

Sources:
Eastspring Investments (Singapore) Limited’s proxy voting record for calendar year 2021.

Engagement

Engagement with investee companies is core to our active ownership responsibilities. We aim to encourage business and management practices that support positive enhancement of material ESG traits or mitigation of material ESG risks across our holdings through constructive engagement based on our in-depth knowledge of our investments in the context of their business environment. We also conduct thematic engagements via our Central Engagement programme, which serves as a platform to express our expectations on material ESG themes to targeted investee companies.

In addition, we believe that collaboration among investors is an effective way to address ESG issues and maximise investor influence. We are active members of collaborative organisations. From time-to-time, we may participate in collaborative engagement initiatives where we believe it to be in our client's best interests to do so.

Proxy Voting

An active and informed voting policy is an integral part of our direct equity investment philosophy and forms a core part of our approach to active ownership. As a starting point to this policy, we are supportive of the boards and management of the companies in which we invest. However, when companies consistently fail to achieve our reasonable expectations, we will consider actively promoting changes via proxy voting. By exercising our votes, we seek both to add value and to protect our clients’ interests as shareholders.

ESG Insights

Know more
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Charting sustainability pathways

07 Dec

More Asian corporates are making efforts to improve their sustainability roadmaps.

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COP27 to further boost Asia’s sustainable bond market

23 Nov

Asia’s supply of sustainable bonds is growing

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5 things to know about Asia’s sustainable bond market

14 Sep

Asia’s growing sustainable bond market presents diverse opportunities for investors.

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Tapping the opportunities in Asia’s growing sustainable bond market

17 Aug | Rong Ren Goh

Asia’s sustainable bond market bucked the global trend and issuance grew strongly in ...

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Shariah and ESG: A natural pair

20 Jul | Chow Kim Seng, CFA

The Islamic financial market is expected to play a huge role in helping the world to ...

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Not all carbon emissions are equal

10 Mar | Ben Dunn, CFA , Yee Kiat Chew

As low-carbon investing gains momentum, growing regulatory requirements will force ...

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Deriving value from Japan’s ESG potential

16 Feb | Samuel Hoang

Japan’s unique geography, culture and mixed ESG performance suggest there is room for ...

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ESG accelerated

25 Nov

Although investor optimism on the global economic recovery remains high, it is ...

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Continuous disruption

25 Nov

Although investor optimism on the global economic recovery remains high, it is ...

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Financing Asia’s sustainable future

13 Oct | Rong Ren Goh

The pressing need to build climate resilient infrastructure and the potential boost to ...