Sustainability

Whitehelm is committed to conducting itself in accordance with the highest legal, ethical and professional standards throughout our business and investment operations

Throughout our history of infrastructure investing, Whitehelm’s investment philosophy has consistently focused on sustainable and customised investment strategies for our clients.

This is underpinned by an active approach to Sustainability and addressing Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) issues in all our investment activities.

The long-term, capital intensive nature of infrastructure assets means that the incorporation of ESG considerations is a critical component of protecting and increasing value.  Whitehelm’s focus on these issues permeates each step of our investment process from acquisition through to divestment and includes actively working with our portfolio companies to disseminate these beliefs.

Our Responsible Investment Code defines seven principles that Whitehelm abides by.  These include that Whitehelm will:

  • Strengthen awareness of environmental, social and governance issues in its culture and process, investment analyses and activities, aiming at reinforcing the practice of responsible investment.
  • Ensure that ESG issues are, prior to the investment being undertaken, manageable through adequate procedures and, after the investment, monitored to reduce risks and maximize compliance with Whitehelm’s standards.
  • Employ an integrated approach to ESG risk evaluation and management, which considers multiples risks through the entire investment process, from investment origination to exit.
  • Choose investment partners with a proven track record of high ethical and business integrity standards and alignment with Whitehelm’s views on ESG matters.
  • Only invest in countries and businesses that meet Whitehelm’s requirements on specific ethical issues.
  • Promote the respect of high standards of integrity, honesty and business conduct by portfolio companies.
  • Foster ESG awareness in the industry, stimulating competitors and peers to embrace responsible investment practises.

Whitehelm is proud to be a signatory to the United Nations backed Principles for Responsible Investing (UNPRI) and a member of GRESB infrastructure, and  supporter of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). In addition, Whitehelm supports the Paris Agreement and UN Global Compact.

During the last year Whitehelm has continued adapting its Sustainability Strategy and amending its Sustainability Policy ensuring it meets the shifting ESG environment. As a result, Whitehelm has recently expanded its sustainable due diligence questionnaire to reflect more material issues deemed important by our stakeholders. Additionally, Whitehelm continued to focus on ensuring climate-change related risks and opportunities are integrated in a holistic manner throughout our sustainability strategy, assessing transition and physical risk, and implementing mitigation and adaptation plans where necessary.

Our recent signing of the 2021 Global Investor Statement to Government on the climate crisis is further testament to our drive to consider sustainability items across all of our investment activities.

Further information on Whitehelm’s sustainability initiatives can be downloaded below:
Disclosures in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 Sustainable Finance Disclosures Regulation (the “SFDR”)

The Whitehelm remuneration policy outlines the importance of the consideration of ESG risks in the advancement of a career at Whitehelm. It is important to Whitehelm that all employees are fully aligned with the Responsible Investment Policy and adherence to such policy will be considered in every individual’s performance assessments. Such performance assessments will be linked to and impact the remuneration of employees.

Where required, fund specific disclosures required in accordance with the SFDR will be made available in the data room and the investor portal for the relevant fund, as applicable.

Consideration of Principle Adverse Impacts

Whitehelm do not currently consider the adverse impacts of investment decisions on sustainability factors within the meaning of the SFDR. While ESG considerations are integrated into Whitehelm’s investment process as outlined in Responsible Investment Policy the detailed rules underlying the SFDR will require Whitehelm to ascertain the availability of the data expected to be reported under the new requirements of the SFDR.  As such, the position will continue to be monitored and reviewed by Whitehelm as the underlying rules are finalised.