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Ethical Investment

Sustainability is a key priority for DMU and this extends to how it invests its funds. To ensure that its investments match those of its corporate priorities, including sustainability, the University has developed Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investment principles.

These ESG Principles are an element of the University’s Investment Policy which is reviewed on an annual basis by the University Finance and Performance Committee, a committee of the Board of Governors.

Within the DMU's Investment Policy, is a section entitled Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principle. It is here that De Montfort University outlines its responsibility to the environment and the need to act with integrity with investment decisions.

Investment Committee Members

A list of committee members that oversee DMU investments can be found under the ‘Finance and Performance Committee’ of the following link:

Sub-committees of the board (dmu.ac.uk)

Governors who overview and approve investment decisions made by the ‘Finance and Performance Committee’ can be access by clicking here.

Minutes of board meeting can be accessed on Board meetings and papers (dmu.ac.uk).


Student Representation

The Finance and Performance Committee has responsibility for approving the DMU Investment policy, this is a delegated responsibility from the Board of Governors.  The Board of Governors has a Student Governor present to represent the views of the student body, and the establishment of the Investment Policy was presented and agreed by the Board of Governors including support from the Student Governor.

 

 

Wider Engagement with the Policy

Staff and student input is crucial in ensuring our investment policy reflects the sustainability objectives of the whole university. It is for that reason that we encourage staff and students to engage and with the policy, sharing their thoughts and suggestions on how to shape the investment policy by contanting sustainability@dmu.ac.uk

 

Screening out Fossil Fuel Company’s and Arms Companies

Achieving net zero emissions means removing as many emissions as we produce. It also means the university needs to set highly ambitious targets to screen out specific sectors from its investments. The university has therefore set out a commitment to divest from any investment in fossil fuel extraction by 2023 as part of its Climate Emergency Declaration in 2019. A commitment made in the Sustainability Report 2018/2019  (page 42) and also on Carbon Management webpage.

Fossil Fuel Companies and Arms Companies are screened out from investments, as outlined in section 9.2 in the DMU Investment Policy:

“The university believes that, when investing its funds, a high priority must be placed on

promoting good standards of environmental, social, and governance (‘ESG’) behaviour.

Accordingly, it expects its appointed investment manager, when making investment decisions, to consider the following areas (this list should not be considered as exhaustive);

  • Protection of the global environment, its climate and its biodiversity including the reduction and future elimination of fossil fuel exploration and production;
  • Promotion of human rights, including but not limited to the equality of gender, race and sexuality;
  • Promotion of good business ethics and good employment practices;

In recognition of conflict with its objectives and these winder principles, the university will not invest directly or indirectly in producers of any fossil fuels including thermal coal, oil sands, shale oil and shale gas, manufacturers of weapons and will not invest directly and reasonably minimise indirect investments in;

  • tobacco manufacturers;
  • adult entertainment;
  • alcohol;
  • gambling;
  • companies to be found in violation of international law.

Any comments or suggestions regarding the University’s Ethical Investment Policy or how investments are made should be communicated to Karl Letten, Sustainability Manager for DMU (kletten@dmu.ac.uk).

 

University Investments

The University has a small number of endowments which are invested through an investment company. The investment company follows the structure and requirement’s of the university treasury policy as set out above. You can view a list of the companies which the investment company invested in on behalf of the university from July 2022 to June 2023 below:

  • ALPHABET
  • ADOBE INC
  • ADYEN NV
  • AGCO
  • AIA GROUP
  • AIR LIQUIDE
  • ALLIANZ REG
  • AMERICAN WATER WORKS
  • APTIV PLC
  • ASML HOLDING
  • BALL CORP
  • BRIGHT HORIZONS FAMILY SOLUTIONS
  • CHR HANSEN HOLDING A/S
  • COLOPLAST -B-
  • CREDIT AGRICOLE
  • DANAHER
  • DANONE
  • DEERE
  • EATON CORPORATION
  • EBAY
  • ECOLAB INC
  • EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES
  • ELI LILLY
  • ESSILORLUXOTTICA
  • ESTEE LAUDER -A-
  • GEBERIT AG-REG
  • IBERDROLA
  • INTUITIVE SURGICAL
  • JACKSON FINANCIAL INC-A
  • KBC GROUP NV
  • LEGAL & GENERAL GRP
  • MASTERCARD INC - A
  • MERCADOLIBRE
  • MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
  • MICROSOFT
  • NEXTERA ENERGY
  • NOVO-NORDISK
  • NVIDIA
  • ORACLE
  • ORPEA
  • ORSTED A/S
  • ROPER INDUSTRIES
  • SAP
  • SEKISUI HOUSE
  • SIGNATURE BANK
  • SUNRUN
  • SVB FINANCIAL GROUP IN BANKRUPTCY
  • SYMRISE
  • TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MAN. SPONS-ADR
  • TAKEDA PHARMACEUTICAL CO
  • TERUMO
  • THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC
  • UNILEVER PLC
  • VALEO
  • VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS
  • VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
  • VISA -A-
  • WATTS WATER TECH -A-
  • XYLEM