Bell Global Equities Fund (Platform Class)

Responsible Investing Approach

Bell Asset Management is committed to integrating ESG issues, including labour and ethical considerations, into its investment process. It integrates ESG into the investment process by taking ESG factors into account in assessing every stock in the portfolio, and which excludes stocks that have exposure to certain industries or business practices or do not conform to established norms for responsible business practices as defined in the United Nations Global Compact principles. In addition, the Fund has the objective to exceed the weighted average ESG score of the Fund's benchmark and to have lower carbon intensity than the Fund's benchmark.

The Fund Manager's investment framework integrates broader ESG specific activities, including ESG screening, active ESG analysis, engagement with the management of companies and proxy voting. The impact of applying the ESG screens and active ESG analysis is to minimise (and in some cases eliminate) exposure to companies that derive revenue from activities deemed by the manager as harmful to the environment or society.

Bell Asset Management has chosen seven SDGs to support and promote that align to its integrated investment philosophy and ESG approach. These priority goals are promoted through engagement with investee companies, collaboration with the investors, active investment/divestment decisions, and active ownership incorporating proxy voting.