We aim to outperform by investing in companies succeeding in their core purpose: to generate value by creating positive and sustainable change. By meeting the underserved needs of society and the environment, these impactful businesses are directly exposed to sources of enduring demand – the beta of future growth.
A highly concentrated global equity strategy that targets companies that provide innovative solutions to society’s underserved needs, and thereby have strong growth potential.
Focused on companies exposed to the drivers of future growth, we aim to invest in future leaders rather than today’s index heavyweights.
As an essential part of the investment case for each portfolio stock, we connect their outputs with positive impacts on society and the planet, and return prospects for investors.
Our nine themes are aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals, providing exposure to sources of future growth and supporting greater prosperity.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), an ambitious set of global objectives aiming to create prosperity for all and safeguard the planet by 2030, were created from a development rather than investment perspective. However, believing they can be a powerful way of identifying impactful companies, we created the Hermes SDG Taxonomy to clearly demonstrate connections between the goals and investment opportunities. Both precise and flexible, the taxonomy is a living piece of research targeting impact leaders – today and tomorrow.
Each theme helps us to define, validate and report on positive corporate impacts. Together, they link with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), an ambitious and universal set of objectives agreed by UN member states. This enables us to focus on businesses whose positive impacts are aligned with the growth drivers of tomorrow – and therefore the interests of long-term investors.
The practice of impact measurement is not straightforward: it is a multidimensional and, at times, counterintuitive art that is still evolving. As such, it does not naturally lend itself to standardisation or quantification into a single, convenient metric. We treat impact measurement according to its complexities, using a framework that prioritises these complexities over simple numbers. For insights into our impact measurement philosophy, please read our commentary.
One of the most powerful forces in investment is the compounding of returns. It is why sustainability is the ultimate objective of business and forms the core of long-term value-creation processes within companies. Reporting and measuring on impacts achieved is essential to fostering strong relationships between companies and their investors. Active and collaborative corporate engagement, therefore, is an essential part of the approach and results in better alignment between all stakeholders in a business and encourages investors to take a truly long-term perspective.
Tim Crockford
Head of Impact Investing, Europe Ex-UK
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Tim Crockford joined Hermes in 2009 as a research analyst for the European Equities team covering the resources, oil & gas, agricultural chemicals, capital goods and the technology sector. He became lead portfolio manager of the Hermes Europe ex-UK Equity Fund in 2015 and joined Andrew Parry in forming the Impact team in August 2016, which launched the Hermes Impact Opportunities Fund in December 2017, which Tim also manages. Prior to joining Hermes, Tim worked at Execution Limited from July 2006 as a primary research analyst working on major projects in the consumer, retail and financial services sectors and then joined Sourcecap as an analyst in May 2008. Tim was raised and educated in Malta and graduated from the University of Malta in 2006 with a Bachelor of Accountancy (Hons) degree, as well as a Bachelor of Commerce degree. In 2016, Tim featured in Financial News’s ‘40 Under 40 Rising Stars of Asset Management’, an editorial selection pick of the brightest up-and-coming men and women in the industry.
Mohsin Ahmad CFA
Senior Investment Analyst
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Mohsin Ahmad joined Hermes as an investment analyst on the Hermes Impact Opportunities Fund, ahead of its launch in December 2017. Prior to joining Hermes, Mohsin was at Pictet Asset Management as an investment manager for the World Equities Fund and worked with thematic equity funds, including Water, Clean Energy and Agriculture. Mohsin graduated from the University of Cambridge with a BA in Land Economy in 2007 and is a CFA charterholder. Mohsin is working towards HSK Level 4 Mandarin proficiency and is a Co-opted School Governor.
Maxime Le Floch CFA
Investment Analyst
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Maxime Le Floch joined Hermes in 2015, initially to lead the ESG integration work across equities and credit strategies. In 2016 he transferred to the investment side as an analyst, where he helped develop the Hermes Impact Opportunities Fund, a high-conviction global equities strategy investing in companies making a positive impact on people and the planet, which launched in December 2017. Prior to joining Hermes, Maxime worked at AXA Investment Managers in London as a responsible investment analyst, covering the global energy and materials sectors, producing thematic research on sustainability trends and engaging with companies. Maxime graduated from Sciences Po Bordeaux in 2010 with a Master’s degree in politics and Master’s in economics. Maxime is a CFA charterholder and also speaks French and Turkish.
Maxine Wille CFA
Investment Analyst
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Maxine transferred to the Hermes Impact Opportunities team as an Investment Analyst in 2016, having initially joined the Hermes EOS team in 2014. At Hermes EOS, one of the leading providers of corporate engagement services, Maxine headed up the chemicals sector team, while also focusing on the financial services, industrials and technology sectors. She holds an MA in International Relations from Edinburgh University, an MPhil degree in Management from Cambridge University and is a CFA charterholder. She speaks French and fluent German.
