At Bedrock, we endeavour to be responsible stakeholders in the global financial community and for our corporate activities to reflect our values and those of our clients. An important milestone in such endeavour was our decision to join the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in January 2021.
The PRI is an independent investor network supported by the UN that seeks to promote responsible investment among its members, the wider investment community, and society at large. Having been founded in 2005, the PRI has since become the leading proponent of incorporating ESG factors into investment and asset ownership decisions globally. The organisation is non-prescriptive in its approach to responsible investment, given that how such terms are understood around the world and from person to person varies widely while best practice is a moving target. However, all investors who join the PRI must sign up to its six core principles which underscore their commitment to engage with and report on ESG matters; namely:
We will incorporate ESG issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes.
We will be active owners and incorporate ESG issues into our ownership policies and practices.
We will seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which we invest.
We will promote acceptance and implementation of the Principles within the investment industry.
We will work together to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the Principles.
We will each report on our activities and progress towards implementing the Principles.
To help signatories live up to these principles and embed ESG in their investment decision-making processes, the PRI provides its members with access to high quality SRI research and forums, a vast network of ESG-conscious investors with whom to converse, and a comprehensive framework for reporting on the ESG characteristics of investment portfolios.
In this article Neil Benjelloun, Bedrock’s Head of Private Markets, sheds some light on the growth of VC-funded purpose-driven businesses in solving the world's most pressing challenges. Sharing key insights and takeaways from a live Q&A session he hosted with Cameron McLain, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Giant Ventures.
It is common to see members of the next generation in their 30s occupy a seat on the board of directors. This is desirable as it’s a very important interaction point with the business or the family’s assets, where they learn about strategy and create the family’s vision for the future. But as with most things, there is a good and a bad way to go about it. In this article, Maria Villax, Head of Family Strategy & Governance at Bedrock explores how next gens can prepare for a seat on the board.