BMO Real Estate Archives

Hillbreak, the market-leading training and advisory specialist in responsible investment for real estate organisations, has been appointed to the Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Committee of BMO Real Estate Partners (BMO REP). The appointment coincides with the release of BMO REP’s new Responsible Property Investment (RPI) Strategy, on which Hillbreak provided extensive advice.

BMO REP is a pan-European property investment and asset management specialist that is part of BMO Global Asset Management. It has £6.7 billion of assets under management (as at 30 June 2017) across several listed and unlisted investment vehicles, including the FTSE250 F&C Commercial Property Trust. As well as its integration within BMO Global Asset Management, which has an unrivalled pedigree for responsible investment and ethically-screened investment products, a key point of differentiation for the real estate business is its in-house asset management capability, meaning that it is not reliant on third party managing agents for the delivery of its ESG commitments at a property level.

The refreshed ESG Committee, to which Hillbreak will provide independent advice and external challenge, has the dual responsibility of overseeing the implementation of the new RPI Strategy, whilst advising the Investment Committee and wider business of the evolving demands of market stakeholders, including regulators and investors.

BMO REP RPI Strategy 2017

Hillbreak’s advice on the new Strategy was complemented by the development of an integrated acquisition and portfolio risk management and benchmarking tool, which prioritises assessment of ESG issues that are relevant to individual asset classes, property types and locations, and which provides a framework for quantifying and reporting on potential investment risks.

Detailed operating requirements and ESG guidelines were also prepared for asset managers and property managers, linked to an asset classification system based on the materiality of individual property’s impacts, and for which training was delivered to all relevant staff.

Commenting on Hillbreak’s appointment, Angus Henderson at BMO REP,

“Responsible Property Investment is an issue that is of increasing importance to investors. Governance is always high on our agenda and, while the structures provided by BMO Global Asset Management mean that we operate to the highest standards, Hillbreak has provided exceptional clarity of advice that has been instrumental in taking the business to a new level in our approach to Responsible Property Investment.
“We’ve worked closely with Jon and Miles over several months and they’ve been particularly adept in helping us to translate the implications of strengthened client demand into the unique way in which our business operates.”

Hillbreak co-founder, Jon Lovell, added,

“It’s been a privilege to work with BMO REP in helping to develop its new RPI Strategy, and we’re honoured to have been asked to join its ESG Committee as an independent member. The role sits perfectly with our mission of expediting the transition to a sustainable policy, business and investment environment by bringing intelligence, challenge and inspiration to our clients and stakeholders”.

Notes to Editors

About Hillbreak

Hillbreak provides training and advisory services to organisations seeking competitive advantage in a changing urban world. Its mission is to expedite the transition to a sustainable policy, business and investment environment by bringing intelligence, challenge and inspiration to its clients and stakeholders.

Please see www.hillbreak.com for further information about Hillbreak.

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