As long-term asset owners and stewards of client capital,
At CC&L Infrastructure,
responsible investment is a key pillar of our business.
Responsible investment principles are embedded across our organization, informing our workplace culture, our investment decisions and our asset management approach, with the aim of contributing to a more sustainable future for generations to come.
CC&L Infrastructure Responsible
Investment Report – 2024
We believe RI is integral to the long-term success of our business and
manage our investments accordingly. Learn more about our portfolio and
our overall RI strategy in our latest Responsible Investment Report below.
We believe that our systematic evaluation of material environmental,
social, and governance (ESG) factors improves our ability to
manage risk, protects the value of our investments and enhances our
long-term investment returns.
ESG considerations & focus areas
At CC&L Infrastructure, we consider a wide array of ESG factors throughout our investment
processes that may individually or in combination effect the risk and return profile of our investment.
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| Social |
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| Governance |
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Our responsible investment approach is centred around five focus areas. Each area was selected for its alignment with our investment philosophy, relevance to our portfolio and consistency with leading responsible investment frameworks. Our focus areas are aligned with many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and with this alignment, we can provide context for the work we do and how our projects contribute to the communities in which they operate.
| Focus area | Description | Applicable UN SDGs |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – Asset resilience | We identify and manage ESG risks and opportunities to improve asset resilience and reliability, now and in the future (e.g. environmental plans, ESG certifications, cybersecurity audits). |   |
| 2 – Climate & transition | We invest in the clean energy transition and decarbonization,(e.g. clean energy generation, measurement and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions) |   |
| 3 – Shared value | We develop mutually beneficial partnerships with our stakeholders (e.g. stakeholder engagement plans, collaboration with local Indigenous groups, community support initiatives) |   |
| 4 – People focus | We keep our people, and anyone involved in our assets, safe and create a supportive and respectful work environment (e.g. health & safety audits, employee training, DEI policy) |  |
| 5 – Governing with integrity | We operate with high ethical standards, establish good governance, and disclose our ESG performance transparently (e.g. governance policies, board representation, UNPRI reporting) |   |
Responsible investment approach
We integrate material ESG factors in each aspect of our investment process.
Deal sourcing
When exploring new investments, we assess potential risks, opportunities, and effects of material ESG factors on the prospective investment. We also leverage relationships with partners with common ESG values to identify and source transactions.
CC&L Infrastructure does not exclude companies, sectors or asset types based on a particular activity or ESG exposure alone. We believe it is important to consider those factors within our overall investment process rather than unduly narrowing the universe of potential investments. Instead, the decision as to whether we pursue an investment is determined on a risk-adjusted basis following a holistic assessment of the individual opportunity.
Due diligence
Material ESG factors are included in our analyses of investments, and our investment team Completion of advanced ESG diligence on a potential investment enables our investment team to outline risks and opportunities associated with the opportunity.
The investment team seeks to understand how these factors may affect the long-term performance of the asset. This analysis allows our investment team to form a view on material ESG factors and ensure that we are adequately compensated for ESG risks and benefits.
Potential investments are then evaluated against a matrix of ESG categories and scored based on on the significance of the risk and alignment with our focus areas.
Investment decisions
The Investment Committee oversees all investment activities, and its responsibilities are both strategic and operational in nature.
The members of the Investment Committee possess significant experience and expertise and throughout their review process ensure the thoroughness and integrity of our analysis, and the effectiveness of our investment decisions.
The Investment Committee is responsible for reviewing investment presentations and approving investment decisions. A summary of material ESG factors analyzed during due diligence is included in Investment Committee presentations.
Onboarding &
asset management
We seek to address material ESG factors by actively managing our assets and portfolio companies, and by partnering with like-minded investors.
Our asset management team is responsible for integrating ESG due diligence findings into asset onboarding. Furthermore, the asset management team monitors ongoing ESG performance across the portfolio. Our stewardship and engagement efforts include, but are not limited to, consultation with stakeholders, representation on the board of directors for our assets, and active dialogue with management teams to support continued improvement.
Responsible investment in action
We take an active, hands-on approach to asset management.
North Island Hospitals Project
Engaging with local stakeholders to deliver
award-winning, sustainable infrastructure to
meet growing community needs.
Southgate Solar Project
Focused on environmental stewardship
through sustainable vegetation management.
Regina Bypass Project
Putting safety first in the construction of
essential infrastructure that supports local
communities.
Corporate Social Responsibility
We are committed to building strong and vibrant communities by supporting causes that are important to our clients, employees, partners, and stakeholders.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
We support a team culture that promotes diversity and collaboration in orders to achieve collective success.
Associations
United Nations–backed Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI)
CC&L Infrastructure is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI), formalizing our long standing commitment to integrate Responsible Investment considerations into our investment process.
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures
CC&L Infrastructure supports the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). Having met it's goals, the TCFD disbanded in 2023 and was incorporated into the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), however TCFD recommendations for climate disclosures continue to be widely reported against.
Canadian Renewable Energy Association
CC&L Infrastructure is a member of the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) – an organization dedicated to shaping policy, sharing information and working with stakeholders to ensure low-cost, reliable and sustainable energy accessibility is implemented across Canada.
Ontario Waterpower Association
Through our Regional Power portfolio, CC&L Infrastructure is a member of the Ontario Waterpower Association (OWA). The OWA promotes sustainable development through hydroelectricity. It works to sustain and enhance Ontario’s existing waterpower assets and to provide new opportunities for expansion, providing a reliable and affordable energy source.
Policies, reports and disclosures
For additional information on Connor, Clark & Lunn Infrastructure Ltd., please contact:
Jean-Philippe Lemay
Managing Director,
Head of Institutional Sales, Global
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Material presented on this website should be considered for background information only and should not be construed as investment or financial advice. Further, information on this website should not be construed as an offer or solicitation by the Connor, Clark & Lunn group of companies to provide investment management services or to buy or sell any products.
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The Connor, Clark & Lunn group of companies includes a number of entities that may be registered as investment advisers, investment fund managers and exempt market dealers in various provinces and territories of Canada. A number of entities are also registered with the Unites States Securities and Exchange Commission as advisers in that country and the Connor, Clark & Lunn group of companies also includes a number of investment advisers and fund managers that are authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. The information provided on this website regarding each entity is directed solely towards qualified investors in jurisdictions where the appropriate entity is registered. Services offered by any of the entities in the Connor, Clark & Lunn group of companies are offered solely to qualified residents of the jurisdictions where the entities are qualified to do business.
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CC&L Infrastructure
March 18th, 2022