MV Credit Partners LLP (“MV Credit” / the “Firm”) - April 2022
Effective from 1 January 2020, the Financial Reporting Council’s (“FRC”) UK Stewardship Code (the “Code”) has been substantially updated to be applicable to a broader range of investment strategies, other than purely listed equity, such as fixed income bonds, real estate and infrastructure. It also reflects the growth of environmental factors, particularly climate change, as well as social and governance factors (together, “ESG”) as material issues for asset managers to consider when making investment decisions and undertaking stewardship.
In the 2020 version, the Code defines stewardship as “the responsible allocation, management and oversight of capital to create long-term value for clients and beneficiaries leading to sustainable benefits for the economy, the environment and society”.
The Principles of the Code
There are twelve Principles of the Code that apply to asset owners and asset managers. These are grouped under four headings:
Purpose and governance
1. Purpose, strategy and culture
2. Governance, resources and incentives
3. Conflicts of interest
4. Promoting well-functioning markets
5. Review and assurance
Investment approach
6. Client and beneficiary needs
7. Stewardship, investment and ESG integration
8. Monitoring managers and service providers
Engagement
9. Engagement
10. Collaboration
11. Escalation
Exercising rights and responsibilities
12. Exercising rights and responsibilities
The FRC requires that firms aiming to be signatories to the Code must produce an annual Stewardship Report explaining how they have applied the Code in the previous 12 months. The FRC will evaluate Reports against an assessment framework and those meeting the reporting expectations will be listed as signatories to the Code.
FCA Regulatory Disclosure on the Stewardship Code
Rule 2.2.3R of the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) Conduct of Business Sourcebook (“COBS”) requires an FCA authorised firm to disclose the nature of its commitment to the FRC’s UK Stewardship Code or, where it does not commit to the code, its alternative investment strategy.
Adherence to the Code is voluntary.
MV Credit funds’ invest predominantly in private debt, including senior secured and subordinated debt. Certain MV Credit funds opportunistically invest in small minority equity positions, alongside a majority Private Equity Owner. However, these equity investments are considered alongside a much larger debt investments by the same funds and they do not typically provide any control on the day to day activity of the underlying portfolio company. Investment in such products do not usually attract the stewardship responsibilities of an owner of publicly traded equities.
Furthermore, MV Credit’s approach in relation to engagement with issuers and their management, is determined on a global basis. A consistent global approach is taken to engagement with issuers and their management in all of the jurisdictions in which MV Credit invests and, consequently, MV Credit does not consider it appropriate to commit to any particular voluntary code of practice relating to any individual jurisdiction and feels that the Code is not appropriate to MV Credit’s business model.
Consequently, while MV Credit generally supports the objectives that underlie the Code, the provisions of the Code are not considered to be relevant to the activities currently undertaken by the Firm. If MV Credit’s activities change in such a manner that the provisions of the Code become relevant, the Firm will amend this disclosure accordingly.
For further details on any of the above information, please contact the Chief Compliance Officer.
Last updated April 2022