Information Statement on How Our Remuneration Policy is Consistent with the Integration of Sustainability Risks
Sustainable Finance Transparency
The European Union has introduced a series of legal measures (the primary one being the Sustainable Finance Disclosures Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/2088)) requiring firms that manage investment funds to provide transparency on how they integrate sustainability considerations into the investment process with respect to the investment funds they manage.
Our Approach to Sustainable Investment
At Volt Capital Management AB, we believe that investors, and asset managers that invest on their behalf, have a responsibility to make their investments in a way that effectively supports a sustainable society.
At the core of our commitment to help our clients achieve their financial objectives is a conviction that this can be achieved by investing responsibly.
What is a Sustainability Risk?
In this context a sustainability risk is considered to be an environmental, social or governance event or condition that, if it occurs, could cause an actual or potential material negative impact on the value of an investment.
Information on How Our Remuneration Policy is Consistent with the Integration of Sustainability Risks
Regulatory Requirements in relation to our Remuneration Policy
The Company is required to ensure that its remuneration arrangements are such that, from the ICAV’s perspective, they do not circumvent the remuneration rules set out in the Directive 2011/61/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2011 on Alternative Investment Fund Managers, as amended (”AIFMD”) and related regulatory guidance.
The Company has prepared a remuneration policy (the ”Remuneration Policy”) to outline how it adheres to the remuneration requirements set out in AIFMD and to demonstrate how it has established and applies remuneration policies and practices that are consistent with, and promote, sound and effective risk management.
The Remuneration Policy provides a clear direction and policy regarding the AIFM’s remuneration policies and practices consistent with the principles in AIFMD.
Scope of Remuneration
Remuneration, for these purposes, consists of all forms of payments or benefits made directly by, or indirectly, but on behalf of the AIFM, in exchange for professional services rendered by individuals at the AIFM who have a material impact on the risk profiles of the ICAV (”Identified Staff”).
Fixed remuneration means payments or benefits without consideration of any performance criteria.
Variable remuneration means additional payments or benefits depending on performance or, in certain cases, other contractual criteria.
Variable Remuneration
Variable remuneration is an important tool to incentivise staff. It also gives the AIFM flexibility such that, in years where the AIFM performs poorly, variable remuneration may be reduced or eliminated and the capital of the AIFM can be preserved. In some circumstances, however, variable remuneration, if inappropriately structured, can lead to excessive risk taking as staff may be incentivised to keep taking risk to maintain or increase their variable remuneration.
In deciding the mix between fixed and variable remuneration of Identified Staff, the AIFM is mindful of the need to ensure that the basic pay of staff is adequate to remunerate the professional services rendered taking into account, inter alia, the level of education, the degree of seniority, the level and expertise and skills required. The AIFM is an asset management business, and its revenues are based on the amount of assets it manages and its revenues may therefore be more volatile than other types of businesses. Variable remuneration allows the AIFM to reduce the risk that its capital base is eroded due to the need to pay fixed remuneration cost should assets under management decline.
Remuneration Process
The factors that are taken into account in deciding the quantum of the variable remuneration in any given period are as follows:
- performance of the individual;
- performance of the ICAV;
- the profit that the AIFM made during the previous year; and
- other factors as may be determined from time to time by the board of directors of the AIFM (the ”Board”).
In addition, and specifically in consideration of how the AIFM integrates the consideration of sustainability risks into the remuneration process, the following factor is also taken into account where the AIFM integrates sustainability risks into its investment decisions:
- the extent to which the individual has (i) embodied the principles; and (ii) adhered to the fundamental process based elements that are each contained in any ESG policy statement of the AIFM from time to time.
It is recognised in relation to each of the factors listed above (and the last one in particular), that, where relevant, these factors may be considered and applied subjectively to an individual, dependent on their role within the AIFM.
Finally, as an overriding and discretionary factor, the AIFM will ultimately be mindful of the need to ensure that the remuneration policy promotes sound and effective risk management, does not encourage risk taking that is inconsistent with the risk profiles of the ICAV and is consistent with the AIFM’s approach to the integration of sustainability risks.
Variable remuneration awards must in all cases be aligned with the AIFM’s business strategy, objectives, core values, any ESG principles and the best interests of the AIFM.