Fraud Warning
To reduce the likelihood of fraud always verify our company’s contact details (including telephone number) with those listed on the FCA’s online Financial Services Register. If you are approached by fraudsters please report to the FCA using their share fraud reporting form or call their consumer helpline on +44(0)800 111 6768. If you have already paid money to fraudsters, you should contact the police at Action Fraud on +44(0)300 123 2040.
Conflicts of Interest
In the event of a conflict of interest, or potential conflict of interest, we follow our Conflicts of Interest Policy, which can be found at the link below.
Engagement
Through engagement, we signal our intentions and expectations as a long-term shareholder, building strong relationships and achieving a more complete understanding of a company’s strategy and practices.
Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MIFID II)
In accordance with Article 65(6) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/565, please find below links to our disclosure on execution for the calendar years 2018, 2019 and 2020.
2020 – Top Five Brokers (CSV Format)
2020 – Quality of Execution Obtained
2019 – Top Five Brokers (CSV Format)
2019 – Quality of Execution Obtained
In accordance with the requirements of the FCA MIFIDPRU sourcebook for MiFID Investment Firms please find below the Walter Scott MIFIDPRU 8 Disclosure for 2022.
Modern Slavery Statement
As a firm, we are committed to preventing acts of modern slavery and human trafficking from within both its business and supply chains. Please find below a link to our annual statement.
Proxy Voting
Considered proxy voting helps us ensure strong corporate governance and protect long-term shareholder value. It allows us to express our views and initiate or contribute to positive change, and to protect and promote the interests of our clients. Our Proxy Voting Policy can be found below, along with details of our proxy voting activity.
Proxy Voting Disclosures
Responsible Investing Policy
We believe integrity, sustainability and governance factors are important in assessing a company’s ability to prosper over the long term. Because of this, we fully integrate our assessment of these factors into our investment process. More details can be found in the link to our Responsible Investing Policy below.
Shareholder Rights Directive II
The revised EU Shareholder Rights Directive II (SRD II) is designed to facilitate the exercise of shareholder rights, encourage shareholder engagement with companies and set out new requirements for companies. The emphasis is very much on encouraging long-term shareholder engagement which should improve investee companies’ corporate governance and performance.
Shareholder Rights Directive II – Our Approach
Shareholder Rights Directive II – Annual Report 2021
Shareholder Rights Directive II – Annual Report Addendum Q4 2020
Shareholder Rights Directive II – Annual Report Q4 2019 – Q3 2020
Stewardship Codes
We support the aims and ethos of the UK Stewardship Code and Japan’s Stewardship Code and our responses to both are linked below.
In 2020, the UK Financial Reporting Council issued an updated Stewardship Code building on the success of the 2012 Code and raising the bar in terms of activity and reporting. Following review of our submission, we were announced as being accepted as a Signatory to the 2020 UK Stewardship Code in September 2021.
Response to the UK Stewardship Code 2021
Response to the UK Stewardship Code 2020
Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR)
The European Union’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) aims for improved transparency and disclosure among EU financial market participants in respect of the integration of sustainability risks in their investment decision-making process. While SFDR has no direct impact on Walter Scott as a UK-regulated entity, we have chosen to make the following disclosures available on our website, in line with current SFDR requirements.
SFDR Article 3 – Sustainability Risks Policy