UN Principles for Responsible Investment tops 800 signatories

The United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment now has more than 800 signatories.

According to the latest figures on its web site, the UNPRI now has a total of 803 signatories, of which 208 are asset owners, 440 are investment managers and 155 are service providers.

“Reaching 800 signatories with more than $20trn in assets after four years is a great achievement for the PRI,” the UN PRI’s Executive Director James Gifford told Responsible Investor. “The PRI is now seen as an emerging norm in many parts of the investment industry. Client pressure from the PRI’s asset owner signatories is certainly a key factor driving the PRI’s growth in signatories. But it is also driven by the natural growth of responsible investment, and other initiatives such as Ceres and Carbon Disclosure Project are also growing strongly.

But he said the PRI is “under no illusions” about how much is needed before current best practice is implemented “across asset classes and in all major capital markets around the world”.

The Principles were launched by then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan at the New York Stock Exchange in April 2006.The next big event on the PRI’s agenda is the ‘PRI in Person’ conference in San Francisco in October.
The latest signatories:

KEY Associados, a sustainability consultant based in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

AAG Investment Management Pty Ltd, a Melbourne-based agribusiness investment manager affiliated with Australian Agribusiness Group.

Cartesian Capital Group, US house founded by former White House advisor Peter Yu.

Quotient Investors, New York-based boutique supported by CalPERS.
Harbour Asset Management, recently launched New Zealand-based boutique with a responsible investment focus owned by First NZ Capital Group.

Praesidian Capital, US-based firm provides subordinated debt and other junior capital to private lower middle market companies.

Citola Capital Partners, a UK forestry, renewable energy and ecosystem funds house.

Academy of Corporate Governance, India-based think tank funded by Yaga Consulting.

Vantage Capital, South African black controlled private equity firm.