b'Annual Report & Accounts 2022 Mercia Asset Management PLC 31Strategic reportResponsible Investment CommitteeKey considerations for FY23 and beyondIncrease engagement with portfolio companies on ESG issuesExec PEContinue focus onP&T NPIFdiversity and inclusionMeasure, monitorComms MEIFand communicateFinance ESG NEVFCompliance VCTEIS VCTPortfolio Debt488Jobs created byRegional VentureA formal commitment toA responsible approach benefits peopleUnder this commitment, our first responsibility and the planet, as investors who adoptaction was to establish the Responsible To be a responsible investor is to act this methodology support impactfulInvestment Committee. The internally and externallyin a mannerbusinesses that provide solutions toResponsible Investment Committee which aligns with ESG principles insocial and environmental challenges.decided to initially focus on diversity order to preserve the long-term healthFurthermore, this approach has strongand inclusion within Mercia in order of society and the market.remunerative potential. The kind of datato influence the dissemination of ESG analysis used to decide if an investmentprinciples throughout our portfolio. Mercia has always aspired to be theis responsible can also serve to identify first choice for investors, investees andrisks and opportunities which wouldWe believe that by fostering positive employees. To do so, we create value inhave otherwise gone unnoticed.values inside the organisation first, our ways that exceed financial support, suchteam will carry them on to positively as introducing experts into our portfolioAs a business with a mission, Merciainfluence our portfolio companies. companies to serve as non-executivehas traditionally practised responsibleOur work so far has had some success directors in addition to implementinginvestment because it naturally alignsin improving the visibility of Mercia as good governance measures. Ourwith our values as a purpose-leda responsible investor, since we have commitment to responsible investing is organisation. We have a rich legacybeen recognised for our work in this a further method by which we propose toof investing in impactful businessesarea by external bodies over thecreate value beyond capital investment. such as Faradion, The Nativepast year. Antigen Company and OXGENE: the commitment to responsible investment we made over the last financial year reflected what we were already doing day to day.'