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Working to change the investment landscape in order to allocate capital more efficiently

Addenda Capital plays an active role in promoting sustainable financial markets with the ultimate goal of further optimizing long-term investment returns for our clients. We support the integrity and sustainability of financial markets through collaborative investor initiatives and public policy, regulatory and standards submissions.

Consult our article on how Sustainable Investing will Emerge Stronger and Better from greenwashing turmoil

Submissions and Statements

DateDetails
June 15, 2022 Letter to the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Climate Change Disclosures

Addenda submitted a comment letter to the SEC supporting their proposed new rules standardizing and enhancing disclosure of climate and carbon emissions data. More consistently reported climate and carbon emissions from companies we believe will provide investors more decision-useful and comparable data leading to a significant improvement from currently available disclosures.   
November 1, 2021 Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative

We became a signatory to the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative, an international group of asset managers committed to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner, in line with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius; and to working with clients to align investing with this goal.
October 25, 2021 Canadian Investor Statement on Climate Change

We joined 35 institutional investors with $5.5 trillion in assets under management in signing the Canadian Investor Statement on Climate Change. We were also a contributor to drafting the statement. Through the statement, investor signatories commit to actions to support net zero emissions by 2050 and set out expectations for investee companies to address their own climate risks, opportunities and impacts.
October 1, 2020 Canadian Investor Statement on Diversity and Inclusion

We were a founding signatory to the Canadian Investor Statement on Diversity & Inclusion, which the Responsible Investment Association (RiA) prepared with the input of the Sustaining Members. The Statement is focused on the role we can play, as an institutional investor, in addressing the inequities and discrimination that exist in Canada by taking intentional steps to promote diversity and inclusion across our portfolios and within our organization.
September 7, 2020 Investor Letter to Ontario Capital Markets Modernization Taskforce

We, along with institutional investor peers, wrote to the Ontario Capital Markets Modernization Taskforce to respond to their draft recommendations. In particular, we addressed:

  • Board and executive diversity disclosure and target-setting for the inclusion of women, as well as Black, Indigenous  and People of Colour (BIPOC)
  • Regulation of proxy advisory firms  
  • Annual advisory vote on executive compensation  
  • Shareholder proposal appeals process  
  • ESG disclosure for listed companies
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Collaborative Investor Initiatives
 

Joining forces with other like-minded investors and stakeholders can significantly enhance our effectiveness in the promotion of sustainable financial markets. We have joined the investor initiatives below, as they allow us to:

  • Leverage our internal resources
  • Lend our credibility and gravitas to the good work of others
  • Share tools and pool resources
  • Gain access to enhanced sustainability related data and insight

Initiatives

Initiative Benefits

Initiatives

INCR Logo
  • Regular communications on US and global climate change and sustainability issues relevant to investors.
  • Access to stakeholder engagement meetings with large publicly traded companies. Opportunities to provide input to the working groups that advance members’ priorities like enhanced sustainability disclosure and improved public policy.
Canadian Bond Investors' Association / Association canadienne des investisseurs obligataires
  • Market information and expertise for fixed income investors.
  • A forum for discussion of key issues and ideas relevant to the Canadian fixed income market.
  • Access to educational opportunities on important fixed income issues.
  • Opportunities to provide input on position statements regarding developments in the Canadian fixed income market.
CDP Driving Sustainable Economies
  • Access to all corporate responses to CDP that detail information on the risks and opportunities that companies face and management discussion and analysis on strategies to address climate change, water-related issues, deforestation related issues and emissions-reduction performance.
PRI
  • Access to implementation tools and capacity building offered by the PRI Secretariat including listed equities and fixed income work streams.
  • Annual benchmarking of implementation of sustainable investing activities.
  • Access to webinars and seminars on important ESG issues provided by investment specialists.
PRI
  • Promotes the practice of sustainable investing in Canada.
  • Opportunities to interact with like-minded investors regarding important sustainable impact investing issues.
  • Support for initiatives like the Toronto Responsible Investing Working Group that promote and enhance sustainable investing practices in Canada.
PRI
  • Signatories pledge to measure and disclose the carbon footprint of the investments they make
  • Played a crucial role in underpinning importance of carbon disclosure. Was followed by the launch of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosure (TCFD).
PRI
  • Promote availability of information necessary to evaluate the environmental impact of Green Bond investments.
  • Contribute to the integrity of markets.
  • Raises awareness of the importance of environmental impacts among financial market participants, which aims to attract more capital to support sustainable development.
PRI
  • Aligns capital with objective of reaching net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner, in line with efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
  • Sets an interim target for the proportion of assets to be managed in line with the attainment of net zero. Interim target is reviewed at least every five years.
  • Provides asset owners with information and analytics on net zero investing, as well as TCFD disclosures.
Climate Engagement Canada
  • Drives dialogue between the financial community and corporate issuers to promote a just transition to a net zero economy
  • Inspired by Canada’s Expert Panel on Sustainable Finance, which in 2019 recommended the creation of a national investor-led engagement program similar to Climate Action 100+
Confluence Philantropy
  • Translates learning and connection into concrete action through annual conferences, webinars, and trainings.
  • Organizes working groups that focus on specific investment themes including climate solutions, racial equity, investing in partnership with Native communities, and active ownership.
  • Promotes values alignment across asset classes, investment vehicles, and advocacy strategies. This includes cash, proxy voting, shareholder engagement, program-related investing, screening public equities, and private equity.

Public Policy, Regulatory and Standards Submissions
 

We also try to improve the methods, structures and regulations that hinder the performance of the entities we invest in. As a result, we actively participate in the development of policies, regulations and standards that support sustainable financial markets and help our clients meet their objectives. Our submissions ultimately help the companies we invest in to strengthen their financial performance over the long term and remain competitive.

Consult our most recent submissions to regulators