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Shareholder Engagement Statement

Barclays Investment Solutions Limited (BISL) is a subsidiary of Barclays Bank PLC, which carries out, among other services, investment management activities, predominantly using multi-manager and fund-of-fund arrangements.

We delegate the selection of assets, including shares, to other investment managers, by either investing into a fund or by giving a number of managers a portion of the money that we raise to invest on our behalf. These third-party managers are selected via a thorough due diligence process and are subject to ongoing monitoring. The due diligence process focuses on identifying managers that we believe can generate the best risk-adjusted returns in the asset class or strategy, which we are seeking to delegate, as well as ongoing monitoring. In the event that we select stocks in-house, our aim is to grow capital over the long term.

We use a combination of quantitative methods and qualitative fundamental research to provide a short list of attractive businesses with a coherent long-term strategy, which are well financed and cash generative. Where appropriate, this research may include engagement with company management or investor relations teams to better understand their businesses, potentially including their approach to governance, and social and environmental issues.

This statement provides BISL’s approach with regards to each requirement as set out under Article 3g of the new European Shareholder Rights Directive II (SRD II).

SRD II aims to promote effective stewardship and long-term investment decision-making via the enhancement of the transparency of shareholder engagement policies and investment strategies across the institutional investment community. Please see below the specific requirements that Article 3g of the SRD II outlines with regards to shareholder engagement within an investment strategy and our current approach for each:

Integration of shareholder engagement in BISL’s investment strategy:

  • Whilst undertaking due diligence on the investment processes of the third-party managers that we appoint, we consider the nature and purpose of the shareholder engagement that may be undertaken. Third-party managers may engage on matters relating to environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) developments; enhancements or clarifications to company analysis or process improvements.
  • Where direct stocks are selected, BISL may engage with management or investor relations of investee companies, but not other stakeholders, as we do not hold significant positions. Where any material issues occur, either financial or non-financial, we would review the investment thesis to see if this has affected our investment rationale.

Monitor investee companies on their strategy, capital structure, financial and non-financial performance and risk:

  • We appoint third-party managers that monitor investee companies on their strategy, capital structure, financial and non-financial performance and risk. We prefer investment processes that are structured and comprehensive, generally where the key investment professionals decide on the main risk exposures. To that end, we review the third-party managers’ research process, portfolio construction, sell discipline and risk management process to ensure that these processes incorporate monitoring of investee companies’ strategy, capital structure, financial and non-financial performance and risk.
  • Where direct stocks are selected, analysis is carried out on these companies including the financial and non-financial performance, risk, capital structure and corporate strategy. We use a wide variety of sources including company meetings, company reporting, broker research, industry reports and in-house research. BISL also have access to specialist research covering environmental, social and governance issues.

Conduct dialogues and communicates with relevant stakeholders of the investee companies:

  • We assess the information third-party managers gather to make their investment decisions, its quality and depth and the judgement the managers use in making investment decisions. This may include dialogue with the investee companies depending on the nature of the investment strategy, number of holdings and structure of the manager.
  • BISL does support the principle of collaborative engagement. We employ the services of Hermes EOS to engage with company managements on our behalf.

Exercising voting rights and other rights attached to shares, cooperation with other shareholders and management of actual and potential conflicts of interests in relation to the firm’s engagement:

  • Across all of our investment management activity, BISL exercises its voting rights. BISL employs Hermes EOS to provide voting recommendations to us, which informs our voting decisions. We have a voting framework in place that guides those recommendations. Any actual or potential conflict of interests that may arise would be managed in line with the documented Barclays Group-Wide conflicts of interest policy and standard, which is updated on an annual basis. For example, BISL abstains on all votes related to Barclays PLC. All employees are expected to adhere to the Group-wide conflicts of interest policy and standard. All employees receive initial training on this and regular refresher courses thereafter, both being compulsory.

BISL will update this statement on its website at least on an annual basis.

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