Corporate Responsibility is Everyone’s Responsibility at Partfield.
We are committed to making a difference in how we manage money, develop our workforce, and lift our communities. We come to work each day knowing that our daily efforts benefit life-saving opportunities. This Prosper with Purpose model is a source of pride and inspiration for every Partfield employee.
Impact in Our Communities
Employees are encouraged to become involved in their communities and support their commitments by participating in non-profit organizations and providing different ways to give and make their contributions go further through matching and grantmaking. In fact, over 1,000 volunteer hours annually are contributed by our employees.
Sustainability Is in Our Genes
Sustainability isn’t just something we practice; it is part of who we are as a company and as global citizens. With the most unique ownership structure in the industry that directs over 40% of our profits to fund life-saving research, we attract employees motivated to make a difference in the world and attract investment teams who make Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria a fundamental part of their analysis. ESG-related considerations are at the heart of who we are and what we do.
Governance
Because of our unique ownership structure, the company and our employees are uniquely motivated by our commitment to bring about a difference. We see the work we do every day driving progress in the investment community, creating a natural inclination in each of us to contribute our all to every initiative we pursue. The same core values that drove our founder to create this environment guide our organization and shape the way we do business.
We attribute our success to these Guiding Principles that drive our growth and provide a foundation for everything we do:
Step # 01
Delivering value to our investors.
Step # 02
Challenging and inspiring the best workforce.
Step # 03
Building a financially sound company.
Step # 04
Having an adaptable and innovative mindset.
Step # 05
Working with integrity.
Code of Ethics
Our Code of Ethics guides the personal investment activities of Partfield employees—including full- and part-time employees, contract and temporary employees, and officers and directors (and members of their immediate families). The Code of Ethics defines parameters for employees’ personal securities transactions to ensure no conflict with the interests of clients’ portfolios. Based on their job functions, employees are assigned one of four Code of Ethics classifications. Each classification carries different reporting requirements and trading restrictions. All employees must complete Code of Ethics training annually, and individuals with certain classifications must complete additional periodic training.
Business Code of Conduct
To keep the confidence and trust of our investors and the general public, Partfield employees approach their work with integrity and an unwavering determination to act in accordance with the law and the highest standards of ethical conduct and fair dealing in every situation. Our Business Code of Conduct exists to make employees aware of the company’s commitment to the highest degree of ethical business standards and includes our Code of Ethics and policies related to outside employment, directorships, independent contracting, and gifts and entertainment.
Product Governance
Our Products and Markets Committee determines a product strategy that will meet the needs of clients and align with the firm’s overall business strategy. Four groups provide ongoing governance of the firm’s investment products:
- Trade Oversight Committee
- Investment Oversight Committee
- Complex Securities Committee
- Valuations Committee
Ethical Business Conduct
Our firm is committed to implementing best-in-class governance practices and meeting the highest ethical standards. It is how we earn and keep our clients’ trust.
Sustainable Office Initiatives
We are continuously implementing ways to reduce our environmental footprint across global operations and supply chains to help protect our collective future
For example, our U.S. commuting benefits programs subsidize the cost of mass transit while the Kansas City office parking garage features electric vehicle
a charging stations. In addition, our Los Angeles offices _are in a building with LEED® Gold Certification and . Gold Wired Certification.
ENERGY
- Building energy management systems help monitor, control and optimize the energy consumption of our facilities’ HVAC equipment. We can actively seek upgrades to enhance energy efficiencies
- Fanwall Technology’ in our Kansas City headquarters reduces energy consumption by 20% to 30%
- Information technology efficiencies include server virtualization and a state- of-the-art data center. We have also upgraded to power-efficient desktop monitors and use video conferencing to reduce the need for business travel
- We are transitioning from fluorescent to LED lighting firmwide
- Overhead and desktop lights shut off automatically after detecting periods of no activity
- Energy Star-rated equipment and appliances in use across the firm exceed the federal minimum standards for quality and efficiency
PAPER
- Personal printers were eliminated, and double-sided printing is the default setting firmwide; in many cases documents are shared virtually and not printed at all
- Motion-activated towel dispensers Digital signage
- Elimination of paper handouts in client meetings through use of a digital publication application to share client presentations
WASTE
- Recycle paper, plastic, glass and batteries
- Compost food waste where possible and use bio-degradable cups and to-go containers
- No polystyrene foam cups in cafes or breakrooms
- New construction waste manage- ment plan includes donating unneeded office equipment and furniture and recycling other items such as scrap metal and carpet
WATER
- Sensors that shut off landscape irrigation systems during rainfall
- Water-efficient plumbing and appliances
ESG Integration
We believe in genuine ESG integration, making significant, ongoing investments in extensive resources and in-house training and education. This allows us to embed critical ESG expertise into our existing investment teams, deepening knowledge at our core—because the only way to achieve our ultimate potential is by internalizing what is important. Our ESG integration approach is an evolution of how we invest, and an extension of the relentless pursuit of performance for our clients.
For more than a decade, we have incorporated ESG considerations into client portfolios. Over time, we have steadily expanded our ESG knowledge and resources, developed proprietary research tools, and enhanced our investing capabilities. Today, more than 80% of our assets under management integrate ESG considerations within the investment process. Why? Because we believe that integrating material ESG factors into fundamental analysis contributes to better investment outcomes.
Our ESG Research Framwork
ESG MACRO ANALYSIS
- Identify ESG issues that could potentially affect long-term, market-specific dynamics and regulatory developments
- Leverage third-party research and in-house macro assessments from ESG and Investment Stewardship team
Identify ESG Issues Affecting Sectors and Companies
SECTOR ANALYSIS
- Identify and isolate issues that could potentially alter sector-specific competitive forces
Determine ESG Risk Exposures at Sector Level
ISSUER MATERIALITY ASSESSMENT
- Evaluate the level of materiality via an assessment of company management practices to mitigate risks
- Employ a proprietary tool to measure and rank issuers’ relative risk management performance against quantitative environmental and social indicators
- Utilize a complementary tool to assess relative performance on governance that applies to all sectors
Assess ESG Materiality at Issuer Level
OUR ESG RISK VIEW
- ESG Risk View includes ESG scores comprised of quality and trend ratings
- Investment teams consider ESG Risk Views in context of analysis/fundamental research process and investment decisions
ACTIVE OWNERSHIP
Investment teams address with company management ESG issues and controversies deemed material to an issuer's long-term financial condition
We encourage our employees to take responsibility for their well-being. Our robust health plans and wellness programs help provide everyone the opportunity to live healthier lives. Partfield offers benefits to employees, spouses, children, and domestic partners or full-time members of the household. These programs include:
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
- Health savings and flexible spending accounts.
- Health track Wellness Program including customized health coaching, exercise, and wellness programs for employees and significant others.
- Employee Assistance Program.
- Healthy incentives challenges.
- Weight Management Programs.
- On-site health screenings and flu shots.
Partfield offers plans to support the financial well-being of employees including:
- Competitive compensation, including annual incentive plans.
- 529 education savings plan match, which has 37% employee participation.
- Retirement plan, with 401(k) match and discretionary contribution, which has 98% participation.
- Group term life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance.
- Supplemental life insurance.
- Short-term and long-term disability insurance.
- Critical illness insurance.
- Identity theft protection.
- Long-term care insurance.
Practices
We have an opportunity and an obligation to manage our firm in ways that are socially responsible and environmentally sustainable. As a participant in the United Nations Global Compact, we support and respect the Ten Principles on human rights, environment, labor, and anti-corruption, and reflect these principles throughout our policies and practices.
Our commitment to managing our firm responsibility is also reflected in how we serve our clients and how we operate internally. We bring this commitment to life through our values, our Code of Professional Conduct, and our policies and practices related to the environment, our supply chain, our people, and our professional standards.