The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a universal set of goals, targets and indicators for global development. There are 17 SDGs, and within these goals there are 169 targets and 230 indicators, which seek to realise the human rights of all and achieve gender equality, among other issues. They serve as a blueprint for significantly changing the world – by ending global poverty, safeguarding the planet and aiming for prosperity for all – by 2030. Established by the UN in September 2015, the SDGs were adopted by the international community, including 193 governments.
Engaging for positive outcomes by aligning corporate outputs with the SDGs, rather than investing in already impactful businesses
As experienced stock-pickers, we have a strong 30-year track record in small - and mid-cap equities - an asset class ripe for improvement through engagement
Companies focused on the SDGs meet society's enduring needs - sources of persistent demand that provide long-term growth opportunities
The Hermes SDG Engagement Equity Strategy aims to generate attractive investment returns and positive social and environmental impacts – particularly in emerging markets – through engagements focused on the SDGs. The SDGs are an ambitious, universal set of objectives agreed by UN member states. We believe that there are compelling opportunities to create such change and long-term value among small- and mid-cap businesses, many of which are not typical engagement targets of either shareholders or NGOs, yet whose operations and supply chains provide rich potential for improvement and the direct access required for successful engagement.
These case studies are examples of companies we have either held or engaged with.
