Sky Trust Financial is a global systematic investment manager. Our centralized research focuses on the development of advanced quantitative techniques for uncovering market opportunities and employs them within a disciplined framework that results in efficient exposures.
With a robust infrastructure and talented investment professionals, Sky Trust offers clients the scale of a large asset management firm, with the benefits of a versatile investment platform – flexibility and customization. Our firm is able to offer institutional and retail investors the essential building blocks for today’s changing investment landscape.
Our principles and ambitions
We approach sustainability from three perspectives: an asset owner, an asset manager, and as a company in our own right
While our responsibilities and obligations in each of these three roles may differ, as we discuss below, our approach in all three is united by a common set of principles and ambitions, set out in the box at the bottom of the page.
We serve as an asset owner on behalf
of Prudential With-Profts policyholders,
and our pensions and annuity customers.
This means we make decisions about how to
allocate money to different asset classes and
which asset manager should manage our money.
We also have the important responsibility of deciding the financial outcomes we want our asset managers to deliver for us, and the sustainability considerations we require them to apply.
We also have the important responsibility of deciding the financial outcomes we want our asset managers to deliver for us, and the sustainability considerations we require them to apply.
For example, if we think that a certain industry
does not have a sustainable future, we may
require that the asset manager does not invest
in that industry. Our responsibility as an asset
owner is to create the best customer outcome
in terms of general well-being in line with
our fiduciary duty, taking into consideration
financial security.
We also invest as an asset manager on behalf of individual savers and asset owner clients. As at 31 December 2020, we manage over £233.4 billion for external clients and £133.8 billion on behalf of our internal client.
We also invest as an asset manager on behalf of individual savers and asset owner clients. As at 31 December 2020, we manage over £233.4 billion for external clients and £133.8 billion on behalf of our internal client.
As an asset manager, we must aim to deliver
the financial outcomes and any sustainability
requirements set out in the objectives of each
of our mutual funds, or in the mandates we
receive from institutional clients.
Sometimes there may be differences in the sustainability criteria that external clients mandate, and in turn these may differ from the requirements of our internal client.
While our values of care and integrity inform all our sustainability work, the asset manager and asset owner are separately regulated businesses with independent Boards and governance processes, and their policies may diverge on occasion.
Sometimes there may be differences in the sustainability criteria that external clients mandate, and in turn these may differ from the requirements of our internal client.
While our values of care and integrity inform all our sustainability work, the asset manager and asset owner are separately regulated businesses with independent Boards and governance processes, and their policies may diverge on occasion.
Sustainability principles and ambitions across our business
Our sustainability commitments, principles and ambitions apply across the investments we make as an asset manager and asset owner, and to our own business operations
Our sustainability principles:
– We will consider sustainability and ESG
factors when determining our corporate
strategy and new business initiatives
– We will embed sustainability considerations throughout our business
– We identify and incorporate ESG risk factors into our general risk management process
– We will embed sustainability considerations throughout our business
– We identify and incorporate ESG risk factors into our general risk management process
We consider the interests of all our
stakeholders and ensure our views on
sustainability are consistent with our longterm approach
– We will manage our businesses to the same principles of acting responsibly that we hold our investee companies to account on
– We will manage our businesses to the same principles of acting responsibly that we hold our investee companies to account on
We review our sustainability thinking
regularly in order to align with scientific
and technological improvements, and
changes in the global economy, ethics and
consumer preferences
– We aspire to be a thought leader, to innovate, and to advance understanding of sustainability issues
– We aspire to be a thought leader, to innovate, and to advance understanding of sustainability issues
We aim to use our influence as a global
investor and asset owner to drive positive
change in sustainability policy and
corporate standards
– We believe in active asset ownership and management which encourages companies to transition towards a sustainable future
– We believe in active asset ownership and management which encourages companies to transition towards a sustainable future
CORE PRINCIPLES
The Sky Trust way
A dedicated risk management team
Operating independently of the investment businesses, and reporting to the CEO, the Portfolio Construction and Risk Group (PCG) guides the allocation of risk capital. It is supported by a dedicated R&D team to create custom tools and technologies.
The Risk Management Center
Sky Trust Risk Management Center provides a comprehensive view of the various investment portfolios and how they fit within pre-established guidelines. Built in 2014, its front-end consists of a 27’ by 8’ interactive touchscreen designed to visualize data in ways that allow for rapid comprehension. Its back-end systems, which connect to every Sky Trust office worldwide, continuously run a wide range of operational readiness, risk, and stress test monitors.
Run rigorous processes
In pre-trade discussions, the Portfolio Construction and Risk group works to identify the impact of potential trades on a portfolio’s risk and stress exposures. In the ex-post analysis, the group evaluates the skill, infrastructure, investment universe, risk and working capital utilization of each business, and uses this information as a part of the risk capital allocation process.
Reinforce the culture
A solid framework is important, but successful risk management can only be accomplished when it becomes a central part of the portfolio manager’s analysis of potential trades and portfolio construction. Continuous communication and collaboration with the investment teams, combined with an in-depth understanding of the portfolios, play a critical role in maintaining and strengthening our risk culture.
As we work as a
community to prepare for the impact of COVID-19, we wanted to share assure you Sky Trust is adhering to
the current situation. The health and safety of our employees, customers, and communities are our
primary concern.
We are taking all measures to ensure we manage to safely get through this fluid situation while continuing to serve our customers, partners, and employees effectively.
We are taking all measures to ensure we manage to safely get through this fluid situation while continuing to serve our customers, partners, and employees effectively.