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Equities
Swiss pension fund backs new Rothschild quantitative responsible investment strategy
Rothschild teams up with sustainability firm Conser Invest
Responsible Funds, March 16: €6bn UK local authority fund eyes food waste investment
RIs’ regular round-up of responsible funds news
Giant LA fund wants UN PRI signatory for emerging markets mandate
Fund managers should consider becoming a signatory or incorporating principles
Giant Japanese investor seeks environmental social and governance managers for passive equities
Candidates must be signatories to the UN PRI
Aviva Investors names new Chief Responsible Investment Officer
First details of new structure emerge after shake-up
Responsible Funds, January 13: the round-up of ESG funds news
RI’s regular look at responsible funds news
France’s FRR re-tenders €600m in ESG mandates
SRI briefs awarded in 2006 up for review.
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IFC adds $50bn+ to UNPRI as it becomes first multilateral development bank to sign up
World Bank private finance arm sets out three priority commitments for PRI membership.
RI interview: Kevin Parker, Global Head, Deutsche AM: Declaring victory on green investing
Investors are starting to allocate assets to the green theme in a big way, says DeAM chief.
Sustainable assets rise to 30% of managed mandates at Swiss private bank Sarasin (amended)
Basle-based Sarasin now has €10.5bn in sustainable assets
SAM gets €800m asset boost as parent Robeco transfers funds
Move reflects aim to make Swiss firm Robeco’s ESG centre of expertise
RI interview - James Gifford, UNPRI: fees, growth, public policy and global expansion
UNPRI executive director maps out its strategy in a crucial year.
UK Environment Agency awards £80m emerging markets mandate
France’s Comgest replaces Scottish Widows for ESG-based portfolio.
Natixis to launch SRI ‘conviction’ funds in pursuit of sustainable alpha
French manager also adds dedicated emerging markets fund to climate change range.
Oxfam: investors need to look at poverty in emerging markets or risk backlash
NGO says water availability and community relations could be flashpoints.
United Nations pension fund commits to IFC frontier fund
$35bn UNJSPF makes first ever alternative assets investment
T. Rowe Price signs up to UN Principles for Responsible Investment
Giant “mainstream” US asset manager in ESG move
French bank hires SRI analyst as broker expansion continues
Natixis aims to broaden global ESG research capacity.
PGGM seeks investment director for €2.2bn responsible equity portfolio
Expansion comes as Dutch giant excludes FTSE-100 listed mining group, Vedanta.
Exclusion doesn’t equal underperformance
The KLP fund shows good performance of indexed responsible investments
Asset management grandee slams funds industry, says giant asset owners should take back control
10-point manifesto says long-term economic growth and financial markets stability needs to be reasserted.
Co-head of top-rated Soc Gen SRI research team leaves
Valéry Lucas-Leclin expected to remain in the ESG research field.
Environment Agency axes SWIP from emerging markets mandate
€1.6bn fund seeks EM manager/s with ESG credentials
Giant Norway fund manager puts searchable holdings and voting data on website
Norwegian fund takes a step foward in transparency
Shell UK pension fund among new UN PRI signatories
€12bn Shell scheme joins burgeoning UN PRI membership
RI round up: Apr 09
RI’s regular round-up of the most important responsible investment news.
Danish fund tenders 100m euro for UNPRI compliant small caps manager
Mandate placed on IPE-Quest tender service.
Quant study shows significant, long-term ESG risk reduction and return boost
Research finds strategic portfolio implications on volatility.
USS vows to change Dutch governance rules in parting shot at controversial Canon/Océ takeover
UK fund tenders shares to Canon and takes aim at minority shareholder protection rights.
Swiss pension funds face cluster bomb investment ban
Parliamentary bills look to ratify Oslo Convention.
UK pension funds, Railpen and USS, create shareholder voting alliance
Schemes pool governance expertise and voting resources.
Norwegian Global Fund hires specialist water manager
Water Asset Management picks up undisclosed sum for investment brief.
Why I think the long-term investment debate could finally be moving forward: Raj Thamotheram
Hard-headed empirical research such as Mercer’s latest report is pushing the discussion.
Fink-backed Earth Capital Partners hires team for sustainable agriculture launches
Managers join from IBIS Asset Management.
Merseyside puts RI at heart of new £500m emerging markets mandate tenders
Managers will have to demonstrate understanding of ESG and governance in investment.
France’s FRR fires Dexia from 100m euro+ SRI mandate
Assets divided between four other European SRI managers.
IFC and S&P launch low carbon index for emerging markets
Initiative supported by DFID and Global Environment Facility.
Governments want more activism while the public shareholder base crumbles
Changing financial markets for the better will require protecting the DB base of active investors.
Sustainable investment in India is a marathon, not a sprint
A senior portfolio manager’s reflection on investing and governance in the world’s biggest democracy.
Drilling down into Asian corporate governance
Why local culture, legal and business knowledge could be key.
RI interview: Amy Domini on Obama, SRI returns and clipping hedge funds
After a decade ‘out-of-kilter’, Domini believes SRI strategies are in tune with the new US regime.
Three simple steps to improve sell-side broker research
Questions must be asked about the depth, transparency and efficacy of today’s broker research.
What’s the future for ESG broker research?
SRI team cuts and the merger of EAI and PRI demand clear future research incentives.
Fund managers failing in company research: Marathon Club report
Trustees need to test manager research models, says report.
JP Morgan ends dedicated ESG research coverage
US bank to include SRI research in mainstream equity coverage.
Pity the socially responsible investor says FT’s Lex: I think not!
It’s time to shake off the ethical ‘kick-me’ badge.
Green and SRI fund sales hit hard by credit crisis
Asset withdrawals mirror broader equity fund market.
World Bank aims to structure joint climate change products with pension funds
Bank examines asset allocation with pension funds to find appropriate products.
SRI in the Rockies: US investor concerns on fiduciary duty
SRI investors say Department of Labour letters could toughen ability to include ESG criteria.
France’s FRR: blue skies thinking on engagement and ESG manager selection
Reserve fund breaks the mould with planned corporate engagements and forthcoming ESG advisory hire.
Mn Services: The former Dutch politician now engaging with Wal-Mart
RI talks to Kris Douma, who leads the governance of 2000 companies worldwide for Mn Services, the Dutch pension fund manager.
RI fund launches: Schroders mulls forestry/agriculture - Investec - Goldman - Natixis
The newest fund launches on responsible investment themes.
The importance of responsible investment: Views from the New Zealand Superannuation Fund
How New Zealand runs its NZ$13.5 bn (€6.8bn) national pension fund to protect the country’s reputation.
Dutch transport funds lay SRI tracks
SPF Beheer outlines move from best-in-class to engagement.
Mainstreaming RI: The Enhanced Analytics Initiative needs you!
Why the biggest challenge now is to get relevant extra-financial analysis direct to mainstream analysts.
US Special: TIAA-CREF, head of the SRI class
Company plans new SRI strategy to add to microfinance, sustainable real estate and community banking.
Nest - Swiss RI pension performance in action
After 25 years of solid returns, fund plans to increase risk and looks to private equity and hedge funds.
Half of UK’s biggest pension funds have no ESG policy
UK lobby group FairPensions says lack of voting disclosure could prompt government action.
Environment Agency plans sequel to £1.5bn SRI success
Fund investment committee to consider sweating the assets to take advantage of strong performance at lower risk.
Indices rise to the sustainability challenge
A new breed of indices is being added to the established SRI benchmarks.
Responsible pensions in BP pipeline
Sally Bridgeland, CEO of BT pension trustees explains how the oil and gas company is exploring SRI within the scheme.
The lobby group fighting to make pensions fair
Alex van der Velden, executive director of FairPensions talks disinvestment, defined contribution, and benchmarking pension funds and asset managers for sustainability.
Total hit as investors pull millions over Burma links
Human rights campaigners list other companies with business in the military-led country.
Majority of academic and broker research supports ESG performance link
Review of current research concludes that performance will not be affected and could be enhanced.
Why are corporate pension funds hiding from SRI?
Corporate social responsibility is everywhere, but companies are failing to spot the potential for their pension funds.
Climate change: mother of invention and investment returns
Why the technological revolution will clean up the planet and drive profits.
Sweden’s AP funds’ ethical umbrella
Council gives Swedish state funds responsible investment muscle.
Going Green – the investment opportunities
Theme of the month: Finding the new industries that will profit from the drive to a better environment.
ABP’s total responsible investment strategy
Rob Lake, senior portfolio manager for environmental, social and governance at ABP, the €221bn ($311bn) pension fund for Dutch civil servants, talks clean tech, engagement and cluster bombs.
The Janus-faced foreign investors in China
Greenpeace says investors in China must act responsibly before we all pay the price.
NYCERS in hunt for responsible asset managers
New York scheme broadens its activist investment approach
Why being responsible does not mean underperforming in SE Asia
Investment opportunities are ripe, but it pays to know the CSR terrain.
Rising to the ESG challenge of emerging markets
Are long-term investors fully aware of the growing importance of ESG issues in emerging markets investments?
Can enhanced analysis deliver social and environmental benefits?
Insight’s Rory Sullivan studies the SRI quest for the ‘Holy Grail’.
NYCERS: walkin’ the activist walk
Michael Musuraca explains how the New York City Employees fund got active.
Good credit after bad
The subprime crisis shows the value of extra financial research.
USS shows enterprise in engagement
David Russell, co-head of Responsible Investment at the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), the £31bn (€46bn) second largest UK pension fund, explains how its SRI strategy is not just about risk but also reward.
Can ‘Made in China’ be responsible?
Theme of the month: Why investors must help clean up South East Asia’s companies.
Hermes fund chief Anson quits
Former CalPERS CIO returns to the US after 18 months at UK activist manager
Italy’s Laborfonds expects RI mandate surge
Ethical investment options are proving attractive for Italian employees
HSBC hires Henderson SRI head for global eco research hub
Bangalore-based research team will gauge climate change risks and opportunities
Blood and Gore: talking ‘bout their Generation
Long-term investment performance is the firm’s mantra.
SRI and performance: Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water
Analysts, investors and financial markets are developing a dangerous obsession in expecting corporations demonstrating best practice in corporate and social responsibility to provide better returns.
Generation targets private equity and small caps
After Live Earth, Al Gore’s fund management firm launches a hybrid climate change solutions fund.
CalPERS calls for support on US director nominations
US superfund has Hewlett-Packard and UnitedHealth Group in its sights
The RI interview: Bob Monks
One of the world’s most prominent corporate governance activists since the 1970s, Bob Monks talks about engagement, hedge fund activists, private equity and why ‘discouraged’ is not part of his vocabulary.