" If 2020 was the year when interest in sustainable and ESG investing really took off, it was also the year in which, at the corporate level, it faced potentially its biggest setback. The COVID-19 outbreak meant we – like so many other businesses – had to adjust our plans for the year ahead."

In our 2019 report, we suggested that it was the year when sustainability went mainstream. Looking back on 2020, we might say that it was the year that turbocharged environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, as the pandemic focused minds.

At Rothschild & Co, we continued to strengthen the integration of sustainable investment principles into our decision-making, having updated and published our Responsible Investment Policy.

Our goal for 2020 was to build on our momentum of the last few years as well as to continue to engage with companies and third-party fund managers on how they could improve in key ESG areas, such as climate change reporting and disclosure policies.

But if 2020 was the year when interest in sustainable and ESG investing really took off, it was also the year in which, at the corporate level, it faced potentially its biggest setback. The COVID-19 outbreak meant we – like so many other businesses – had to adjust our plans for the year ahead.

We did not believe it was an appropriate time to place additional pressure on companies that were already facing unforeseen, unprecedented challenges. Instead, our focus turned to helping and supporting our clients and the businesses we invest in. That’s why, for this report, we would like to take the time to highlight some of the admirable efforts that our investee companies and managers made over the last 12 months, both in relation to COVID-19 and the broader ESG landscape. As ever, you can also learn more about our own progress in 2020, as well as our plans for the future.

We hope you enjoy reading this year’s report and welcome your feedback on how we can better serve your investment needs. Helen Watson CEO Rothschild & Co Wealth Management UK