Responsible Investment Policy
Scope & Background
It is important to acknowledge upfront the limitations to our responsible investment policy. In particular:
– Obert Global Capital operates nominee entities that make investments under instruction from individual investors or external parties, such as the investments made by members of OGC Angels. As Obert Global Capital does not control these investment decisions, we do not enforce their compliance with our Responsible Investment Policy. This policy will apply to all funds controlled and managed by Obert Global Capital. We reserve the right, however, to refuse to administer investments through Obert Global Capital nominee entities on the basis of ESG considerations.
Obert Global Capital investments are predominantly minority stakes in illiquid, early-stage ventures. We do not control the management and governance decisions of these ventures and it is common for their businesses to pivot and evolve over time. This means that our screening and exclusion decisions are applied at the time of making an investment and we may not be able to liquidate positions that after the time of investment subsequently become subject to one of our exclusions.
Responsible Investment Policy
We are committed to the UN six Principles for Responsible Investment and adopt them as follows.
Principle 1: We will incorporate Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes.
We will not invest in ventures with significant involvement in the following activities:
Fossil fuel exploration and extraction
– Alcohol
– Tobacco
– Gambling
– Military Weapons
– Civilian firearms
– Nuclear power
– Adult entertainment
We will also avoid investments that have contravened the ten principles of the UN Global Compact relating to Human Rights, Labour, Anti-Corruption and the Environment.
It is possible that we may make investments that develop technologies related to these activities, however, we will only do so if they are developing solutions that reduce the harm of these activities. For example, a venture that develops technology to reduce the environmental impact of fossil fuel exploration and extraction would not be excluded from consideration.
In addition to excluding ventures in the above fields, we will actively consider ESG issues in our investment selection and due diligence processes to adequately consider the risks presented by ESG issues. In doing so, we will consider the nonfinancial impact of ventures in our investment decisions, favouring investments that demonstrate ability to deliver tangible, measurable positive impact.
Principle 2: We will be active owners and incorporate ESG issues into our ownership policies and practices.
We will develop, maintain and incorporate standard terms for the investments we lead requiring the consideration of ESG issues by the board of ventures in which we invest. We will encourage these terms inclusion in all investments we make, whether we lead or not, but acknowledge we may not be able to require them in the investments we do not lead.
We will exercise our governance and voting rights with consideration of ESG issues and to encourage high governance standards. We will engage actively and regularly with the ventures in which we invest on ESG issues to ensure monitoring of potential issues or breaches of ESG standards and to encourage the pursuit of best practices.
We will focus our engagement efforts taking into account (1) the significance of any breach or deviation from best practice, (2) strength of grounds upon which to believe a breach or deviation from best practice has or may occur, (3) the significance of our holding in the venture, (4) our ability to collaborate with other investors or engage directly with the venture, (5) the potential effectiveness of engagement, and (6) the resources required to engage.
Principle 3: We will seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which we invest.
The standard terms referenced in Principle 2 with respect to requiring board consideration of ESG issues will include provision for reporting and communication on ESG issues with shareholders. We will periodically query ventures in which we invest regarding compliance with such terms and their initiatives to integrate ESG considerations into their business.
Where ventures attract our engagement on ESG issues in accordance with Principle 2, we will monitor their progress on an ongoing basis until such time as we are satisfied with progress made in response to engagement. Where ventures have not responded to engagement, or we consider engagement is unlikely to be effective, we may consider whether exclusion from future investment or divestment is an appropriate response.
Principle 4: We will promote acceptance and implementation of the Principles within the investment industry.
We will publish our Responsible Investment Policy publicly and make it freely available for other investors or investor groups to adapt and apply to guide their investment policies. We will encourage the adoption of these or similar principles by all individual investors associated with ObertGlobal Capital, such as members of OGC Angels.
Principle 5: We will work together to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the Principles.
We will freely share any resources, templates and lessons learned or developed by ourselves or the ventures we back (with their permission) with our investors and other ventures we back. We will engage with other investors and groups active in New Zealand Venture Investment to encourage adoption of best practices. We will collaborate with other investors where appropriate to enhance the likelihood of success of engagement with our mutual portfolio ventures.
Principle 6: We will each report on our activities and progress towards implementing the Principles.
We will include reports on ESG issues and activities in the annual reports of our investment funds and in our annual report to shareholders of Obert Global Capital. We will include more frequent reporting to our board, internal committees and team. On request, we will make available details of our ESG considerations in investment decisions to our investors and shareholders and/or will make reasonable availability of our management to discuss such ESG considerations.
We will seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which we invest.
The standard terms referenced in Principle 2 with respect to requiring board consideration of ESG issues will include provision for reporting and communication on ESG issues with shareholders. We will periodically query ventures in which we invest regarding compliance with such terms and their initiatives to integrate ESG considerations into their business.
Where ventures attract our engagement on ESG issues in accordance with Principle 2, we will monitor their progress on an ongoing basis until such time as we are satisfied with progress made in response to engagement. Where ventures have not responded to engagement, or we consider engagement is unlikely to be effective, we may consider whether exclusion from future investment or divestment is an appropriate response.
Principle 4: We will promote acceptance and implementation of the Principles within the investment industry.
We will publish our Responsible Investment Policy publicly and make it freely available for other investors or investor groups to adapt and apply to guide their investment policies. We will encourage the adoption of these or similar principles by all individual investors associated with ObertGlobal Capital, such as members of OGC Angels.
Principle 5: We will work together to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the Principles.
We will freely share any resources, templates and lessons learned or developed by ourselves or the ventures we back (with their permission) with our investors and other ventures we back. We will engage with other investors and groups active in New Zealand Venture Investment to encourage adoption of best practices. We will collaborate with other investors where appropriate to enhance the likelihood of success of engagement with our mutual portfolio ventures.
Principle 6: We will each report on our activities and progress towards implementing the Principles.
We will include reports on ESG issues and activities in the annual reports of our investment funds and in our annual report to shareholders of Obert Global Capital. We will include more frequent reporting to our board, internal committees and team. On request, we will make available details of our ESG considerations in investment decisions to our investors and shareholders and/or will make reasonable availability of our management to discuss such ESG considerations.