Guiding Principles and Strategy
The values of independence, expertise, commitment and integrity anchored in IST's mission statement form a solid foundation.
The active, forward-looking integration of sustainability criteria in asset management, aligned with market standards, is an elementary component of the strategy. Its principles are based on the core messages of Swiss Sustainable Finance (SSF) and aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
As a company, IST pursues two overarching goals that are part of its ESG framework. It acts as a not-for-profit company and actively looks after the interests of its investors. This includes the achievement of a sustainable return.
IST as a company
Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) factors have increasingly come into focus in recent years. From a risk perspective, they are gaining growing importance in investments alongside purely financial indicators.
IST successfully meets these challenges in the long term on two levels, as a company and as an investor on behalf of its clients. A separate report provides details to measures taken by IST as a company.
Stewardship
Exercise of voting rights
IST is an active investor and acts in the interest of its more than 460 investors. Each year, it exercises voting rights at a total of more than 1’200 general meetings of Swiss and foreign stock corporations and took a pioneering role in Switzerland long before the Minder initiative.
Engagement
IST pursues an engagement approach with the aim of effecting behavioral changes in companies rather than excluding them from investments. In cooperation with Sustainalytics, IST pursues two engagement strategies:
- Material Risk Engagement: for companies with high ESG risk ratings according to Sustainalytics' methodology, dialogue is sought and improvements are proposed and monitored.
- Thematic Engagement: IST supports the Sustainable Forests and Finance initiative. The aim is to convince producers (palm oil, soya, meat) in rainforest regions, intermediaries and the banks that finance these activities to adopt sustainable management through dialogue.
IST as an investor
The selection and monitoring of externally mandated asset managers are subject to our best-in-class criteria. In line with IST's strategic direction, the launch of a new investment group involves large investors as anchor investors.
IST's investment policy covers various levels:
- Consistent positioning, exclusion of sectors and countries using the SVVK recommendations as a last resort
- Use of ESG-specific benchmarks for investment groups with a strong focus on sustainability
- Complementing IST's ESG standards with those of external asset managers at investment group level
- Renovation of directly held real estate assets using best possible sustainability standards, installation of photovoltaic systems if possible
- Investments in infrastructure assets based on the UN SDGs and further exclusions (nuclear facilities, prisons, military)
Reporting
We communicate comprehensively and transparently about IST's measures and activities in the area of sustainability at foundation level and at investment group level.
Our reporting includes
- IST Sustainability Report
- Report on the exercise of voting rights of shares in Switzerland and abroad
- Report on the engagement of IST
- ESG factsheets per investment group and mandated manager
- ESG report incl. ESG rating (for traditional investments)
- Real estate direct investments: recording and reporting of consumption data (electricity, water, energy)
- Infrastructure investments: alignment with UN SDG
Memberships
As a member of ASIP (Swiss Pension Fund Association), IST supports its goals in the preservation and promotion of occupational pension provision.
Through its membership in SSF (Swiss Sustainable Finance), IST supports the promotion of Switzerland's position as a leading location for sustainable investing and accompanies regulatory developments in this area.
With its membership in the Foundation Eigenverantwortung in der beruflichen Vorsorge (Personal Responsibility in Occupational Pension Plans), IST is committed to the education and training of management bodies and to the continuous development of occupational pension plans.
The association BVG Auskünfte (BVG information) provides free information on questions about pension funds and pensions.
As a member of KGAST (Conference of Managing Directors of Investment Foundations), IST is committed to providing transparent and cost-effective services.
