CCLA Better World Global Equity

CCLA believe that over the long-term, share prices are driven by fundamentals: growth in earnings and cash flows. They aim to look beyond the short-term noise in the market – to buy and hold quality companies at attractive valuations, which can grow and compound their cash flows at high rates of return over the long-term (defined as any rolling period over five years).

Their philosophy is to find these companies by looking for four different characteristics. Firstly, they want companies that have enduring competitive advantages, as these companies will likely benefit from cost advantages and have brand power. They also want companies that have multiple sources of growth which can be resilient through the economic cycle; and companies that have a track record of using their capital efficiently. Finally, CCLA look for companies that have stringent ESG standards.

They start their screen with a universe of 8,000 names. CCLA believe that legislation, regulation and changing societal preferences will impact negatively on the most unsustainable business models. As a result, the team will screen companies that score poorly on financial and ESG standards which reduces investment universe to between 150-200 names. They then analyse each business by assessing their fundamentals and risk and return potential. They will buy a stock only when they have established a clear investment case and can justify the upside from the current share price with a ‘margin of safety’. This typically leaves them with a portfolio of 70-90 names.

The firm perceive risk as the potential to fail in meeting investors requirements. A variety of analytical and control approaches are used to manage risk, including due diligence, probabilities-based risk analysis and non-financial risk analysis. CCLA seeks a culture of challenge and collegial behaviour within the investment team to address both quantifiable and qualitative risks efficiently.
Risk analysis and controls are continuously applied to live portfolios, and they are modelled for potential transactions. Pre-trade compliance systems ensure adherence to constraints and controls, while daily post-trade checks are also conducted.

ESG - Explicit  

The Better World Global Equity Fund focuses on achieving real-world sustainability outcomes through active ownership. Their approach involves assessing companies based on their financial viability and their impact on the world.

To assess financial viability, they consider sector-specific sustainability issues defined by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and use the CCLA Corporate Governance Rating to evaluate board structure, accounting practices, ownership, and capital stewardship. Additionally, they consider any sustainability controversies a company may be involved in. This assessment can influence their perception of a company's value.

Recognising that not all sustainability issues have an immediate financial impact, they also evaluate companies' real-world impact, particularly in the areas of labour standards, human rights, health and wellbeing, and climate change. Companies with unsustainable practices are excluded from their investment universe, and engagement plans are developed for others to facilitate positive change.