Stewardship

Engagement

As a responsible investor Quilter Cheviot is committed to its role as a steward of clients’ assets to protect and enhance long-term returns. This encompasses our engagement with investee companies by considering environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors which could impact shareholder returns.

Engagement policy

Voting

This policy outlines Quilter Cheviot’s voting approach, in line with our commitments made to the UN supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), the UK Stewardship Code and Shareholder Rights Directive II (SRD II). As responsible investors we use our voting activities to fulfil our role as a steward of our clients’ assets, working to protect and enhance long-term returns.

Voting principles

Stewardship priorities 2024

Stewardship is a central pillar of Quilter Cheviot's approach to responsible investment. Our three thematic priorities are: climate change, human rights and natural capital. Here we outline our priorities for the year ahead.

Stewardship priorities

Stewardship report

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) have reviewed our 2023 Stewardship Code Report and confirmed that we have retained our signatory status of the Code. In order to maintain our signatory status, we submit our annual Stewardship Code Report to the FRC every April.

2023 Stewardship Code report

Voting disclosure

In line with the requirements of the Shareholder Rights Directive II, we share all our voting on behalf of our discretionary clients for the past twelve months and will continue to add quarterly reports of our voting activity. This does not include client-instructed voting.

Voting and Engagement

Collaboration

As part of Quilter plc, Quilter Cheviot is a signatory of the United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Investment, which is a global, investor led, initiative to promote and support the integration of ESG considerations into investment research and ownership practices. As part of Quilter plc, we are a signatory to the UK Stewardship Code 2020.

We are also members either through Quilter plc, or in our own right of several formal or informal groups which may facilitate collaboration with other investors, including:

Thematic engagement

We have three themes which help inform our thematic engagement work: climate change, human rights and natural capital. Additionally, we undertake thematic engagements focused on governance matters.