BMO Global Asset Management join the BBFAW Global Investor Statement on Farm Animal Welfare

PRESS RELEASE

23 July 2020

BMO GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT JOIN THE BBFAW GLOBAL INVESTOR STATEMENT ON FARM ANIMAL WELFARE

BMO Global Asset Management has signed the BBFAW Global Investor Statement on Farm Animal Welfare.

Signatories of the Investor Statement agree on the significance of farm animal welfare as a material investment risk and opportunity and have expectations of food companies to implement effective practices and processes to manage farm animal welfare.

The Investor Statement is now supported by 33 institutional investors[1] representing £2.5 trillion in assets under management

Catherine McCabe, Senior Associate, Responsible Investment commented: “At BMO Global Asset Management, we recognise that consumers have growing concerns about animal welfare, and we believe that food companies demonstrating leadership on farm animal welfare are more likely to attract and retain consumers. We welcome clear and transparent reporting about the steps companies are taking to improve farm animal welfare practices, and we can use the findings of the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare to hone in on issues which we think companies should address. We seek to drive positive change via in-depth engagement with companies.”

Dr Rory Sullivan, Expert Advisor to BBFAW commented: “Investors have a key role to play in supporting food businesses to ensure food safety and product quality, and to ensure the resilience of their supply chains. Improving standards of farm animal welfare is central to these efforts. We are delighted that BMO Global Asset Management is lending its support to the Global Investor Statement on Farm Animal Welfare."

[1] The participants are: Aberdeen Standard Investments, ACTIAM, AMP Capital Ethical Leaders Fund, ASR Netherlands, Australian Ethical Investments, Aviva Investors, Bâtirente, BMO Global Asset Management, BNP Paribas Investment Partners, Boston Trust Walden, Brunel Pension Partnership, Castlefield Investment Partners LLP, the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church, Coller Capital, EdenTree Investment Management, Epworth Investment Management, Ethical Partners Funds Management, Henderson Global Investors, Hermes EOS, Hexavest, Karner Blue Capital, KBI Global Investors, NEI Investments, Rathbone Greenbank Investments, Robeco, Le Regroupement pour la responsabilité sociale des entreprises, Schroders, Simplicity AB, Sonen Capital, The Sustainability Group of Loring, Wolcott & Coolidge Trust, Trillium Asset Management, Triodos Investment Management and USS.

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For further information please contact:

Amanda Williams, Director of Communications, Chronos Sustainability (BBFAW Secretariat)

T: 020 8050 5103

amanda@chronossustainability.com

More information on the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare programme can be found at www.bbfaw.com

Notes to Editors

1. The Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) is the globally recognised investor framework for assessing the quality of companies’ practices, processes and performance on farm animal welfare.
2. The Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare, founded in 2012, is supported by its founding partners the leading animal welfare organisations, Compassion in World Farming and World Animal Protection.
3. BBFAW provides an annual, independent assessment of farm animal welfare management and performance in global food companies. It enables investors, companies, NGOs and other stakeholders to understand corporate practice and performance on farm animal welfare. More information on the programme can be found at bbfaw.com
4. Through the annual benchmark, extensive engagement programmes with investors and with companies, and the production of guidance and other materials for companies and investors, BBFAW has driven higher farm animal welfare standards across the world’s leading food businesses
5. BBFAW maintains the Global Investor Statement on Farm Animal Welfare and convenes the Global Investor Collaboration on Farm Animal Welfare, a collaborative engagement between major institutional investors and food companies on the issue of farm animal welfare. In addition, BBFAW manages extensive engagement programmes with companies and with investors and provides practical guidance and tools for companies and for investors on key animal welfare issues.

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