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Responsible Investing Policy

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INVESTING POLICY

MANDATE

Rasmussen Management was founded in 2009 and has always pursued a mandate to make value-oriented private equity investments in Asian and North American mid-market companies that exhibit the potential for substantial capital appreciation through growth, improved capital efficiency, margin expansion and enhanced strategic positioning.

In particular, Rasmussen Management targets companies that are at an inflection point in their development or are undergoing a significant transition, such as succession in ownership or change in senior management. Rasmussen Management typically seeks to be the controlling shareholder in its portfolio companies and, for each investment, will exercise significant influence through positions on the boards of directors as well as via structural and governance rights.

Since inception, Rasmussen Management has developed a reputation as a preferred partner within the North American business community. It is an active and constructive partner with top management teams and works together with management to implement strategic, financial and governance initiatives that create significant value. Additionally, Rasmussen Management leverages portfolio companies conservatively, allowing them to take on increased operational risks to achieve their aggressive growth targets.

INVESTING POLICY

PRINCIPLES

Rasmussen Management is a long-term private equity investor consistent with the nature and structure of the funds that we manage on behalf of our investors. Rasmussen Management is committed to encouraging the companies in our portfolio to adopt policies and practices that enhance long-term corporate financial performance.
 
We are guided by certain principles as they relate to responsible investing. These include, but are not limited to:
  • The overriding duty of Rasmussen Management, consistent with our mandate, is to maximize investment returns without undue risk of loss.
  • Responsible corporate behaviour with respect to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) factors can generally have a positive influence on long-term financial performance, recognizing that the importance of ESG factors varies across industries, geography and time.
  • Transparency and access to information is critical for Rasmussen Management to best understand, evaluate and assess potential risk and return, including the potential impact of ESG factors on a company’s performance.
  • Investment analysis should incorporate ESG factors to the extent that they affect risk and return.
  • Employees, customers, suppliers, governments and the community at large have a vested interest in positive corporate conduct and long-term business performance.
In making investment decisions and managing our portfolio of companies, we strive to be both principled and pragmatic, taking into account industry norms, corporate performance, competitive issues, regulatory requirements and other factors necessary to put specific issues into a fair and practical context.
INVESTING POLICY

RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES

All Responsible Investment (“RI”) activities are selected taking into consideration the cost versus the potential benefit of the engagement process. Successful engagement is defined as lower risk profile and/or improved investment return. For each portfolio company, Rasmussen Management’s commitment to RI is communicated to the Boards of Directors and Senior Leadership of our portfolio companies. We work with the management team and other Board Members to conduct a review in order to prioritize key ESG issues using a risk-based approach.  We then work with the management team to determine the appropriate activities to pursue. 
 
Environmental: Rasmussen Management   is committed to being environmentally responsible, energy efficient and will continue to work towards improvements in this area.
Social: Rasmussen Management  is committed to providing proper labour and working conditions, to safeguard the health and safety of its employees and to promote the social development of the communities in which we operate.
 
Rasmussen Management  maintains a culture that values fairness, transparency, intellectual honesty and meritocracy.
 
Governance: Rasmussen Management  follows a code of conduct that emphasizes honesty, integrity, fairness and respect in all business dealings. Rasmussen Management is committed to striving to meet reasonable stakeholder expectations and to provide clear and transparent relevant information.
INVESTING POLICY

INDUSTRY DIALOGUE

Rasmussen Management participates in broader domestic and international discussion about definitions, priorities, standards and best practices in responsible investing. Rasmussen Management participates in the following organizations:
 
  • UN Principles of Responsible Investment
  •  Private Equity Association
  •  Institute of Corporate Directors
  • Catalyst: Workplaces that Work for Women
INVESTING POLICY

RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING

Rasmussen Management’s Investment Committee approves and oversees responsible investing strategies and activities.  This policy will be attested to by all Rasmussen Management staff in addition to Rasmussen Management’s general code of conduct that provides further direction regarding specific RI activities. Training on the implementation of both this RI policy and Rasmussen Management’s code of conduct will also be periodically provided to Rasmussen Management staff.
 
Rasmussen Management’s  is committed to appropriate and timely disclosure of our RI activities to our investors.