Boston Trust & Investment Management Company is a signatory to the Principles for Responsible Investment because we believe that environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors are an appropriate part of a comprehensive analysis of long term investment prospects. We therefore believe that it is useful to consider a company’s ESG performance as part of our fiduciary responsibility to our clients. Our Corporate Governance Committee regularly reviews ESG factors in determining proxy voting policies for all of our investment clients and is generally supportive of greater transparency and accountability on such factors. Members of Boston Trust’s in-house research and advocacy group, part of our Walden Asset Management division, provide pertinent ESG information to the securities research team. Boston Trust is most active with respect to the Principles on behalf of our Walden clients who explicitly ask us to consider ESG performance. For these clients, Boston Trust devotes significant resources to pursue active ownership and engagement strategies that our consistent with our fiduciary responsibilities and their long term interests.
Walden Asset Management is the socially responsive investment division of Boston Trust & Investment Management Company. Since 1975, Walden has been a pioneer in socially responsive portfolio management on behalf of individual and institutional clients including foundations, religious organizations, unions, public interest groups, and municipalities. Walden blends a disciplined investment approach and expertise in social research with a commitment to using its leverage as an investor to improve corporate social performance.
