Eurosif UpdateWelcome
Eurosif is happy to welcome Union Investment as a Member Affiliate. Union Investment is a professional asset management partner and a leading provider of sustainable investment solutions in the German market www.nachhaltigekapitalanlagen.de. Save the Date
Eurosif’s Annual Event will take place in Amsterdam on 3 October. Member Affiliates and SIFs are cordially invited to attend. Details will be provided in due course. Eurosif Speaks on ESG Reporting in the context of RIO+20 Conference
On 3 April Mr. Passant, Executive Director of Eurosif, participated in a panel on ESG reporting as part of an initiative launched by the Resource Efficiency Alliance. The panel discussion was held at an ACCORD platform meeting in Brussels, and included representatives from the European Commission, the Carbon Disclosure Project and the German Council for Sustainable Development. The panel debated the issue of improving collective accountability for sustainability through corporate sustainability reporting. Mr. Passant highlighted the risk that soft regulation may not be sufficiently strong to implement real and timely change. For more information. Back to top
Eurosif Policy Response to Consultation on Sustainable Consumption and Production
Eurosif submitted a response to the Commission’s Consultation on environmental and sustainable consumption and production. Key Investor Information document (KIID) At the request of the European Commission, Eurosif will form a working group with its national SIF members and consult its Member Affiliates, on standards of transparency regarding responsible investing to be introduced in the KIID. EFAMA, the European Fund and Asset Management Association, have recently issued a guidance note on this topic. More details of Eurosif's policy work will be published in the forthcoming edition of the EU Insider distributed to Member Affiliates and Member National SIFs.
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Eurosif Research Media Report
Eurosif will be launching the 15th sector report on 18 April, in partnership with Ethix SRI Advisors, which summarises some of the challenges for sustainable investment in this sector. Procurement Report
Eurosif's Procurement Report 2012, researched by private Bank Sarasin, was downloaded more than 2,000 times and publicised in various media outlets including CSRwire. The report revealed enhanced scrutiny by investors of sustainability in supply chains.High Net Worth Individuals Study 2012
The research for this much anticipated bi-annual study of the sustainable investment practices of high net worth individuals is underway. If you have any queries or wish to contribute, please contact Anders Nordheim, Eurosif’s Head of Research anders@eurosif.org. European SRI Study
The final notes of the working group on the methodology of the SRI Market Study are now ready and will be posted shortly in the Memeber Affiliate section of Eurosif's website.Back to top
SIF News A Step Forward for Global SIF Collaboration
Global SIF Chief Executives gathered in London to review international progress on implementing sustainable and responsible investment practices. Amongst the results of the successful meeting was a decision to create a global platform in the form of a global SIF website to enhance the coordination of national SIFs. For more details please read here. FNG at the trade fair 2! Säule
For the first time, FNG Switzerland will have a booth at 2! Säule. The trade fair is taking place at Kongresshaus Zurich from 2nd May to 3rd May. FNG will provide comprehensive information about sustainable investment and up to date market figures. In addition, there will be a game at the booth that playfully illustrates the variety and possibilities that sustainable investment offer. More at www.forum-ng.org/en. French SIF: New Board and EXCOM Members
Hervé Guez (Natixis AM), Emmanuel Mermet (CFDT, large French Union) joined FIR Board and Excom. Jean Conan (CIES, Trade Union Association for Responsible Investment) joined the Board. Marion de Marcillac (EIRIS) and Franca Perin (Generali) joined the Executive Committee. Bertrand Fournier was re-elected President. Full board and Executive Committee: www.frenchsif.org/fir.html. Spain SIF: Impact Investing Breakfast
“The impact investment” was the issue of the March Spainsif Work Breakfast, with a large attendance and participation. The highlight was the presentation of Gema Sacristan which embodied the general overview of impact investments and the specific role of the IDB (Inter-American Development Bank) in Latin America and the Caribbean. More information is available on the website www.spainsif.es. UKSIF welcomes interim report of the Kay Review
UKSIF has welcomed the release of the interim report of the Kay Review and called for an emphasis on effective transparency and responsible procurement among its final recommendations. UKSIF has also issued a 'call to action' for all pension funds and plan sponsors to participate in this debate and drive improvements in the investment chain. Visit www.uksif.org. Back to top
Member Affiliate News
Blue Orchard Growth
With the strategic goal to responsibly build on their core competencies, BlueOrchard Finance (Microfinance Fixed Income Managers, www.blueorchard.com) and BlueOrchard Investments have decided that each company will pursue their activities separately in the future. As from 30 March 2012, BlueOrchard Investments will operate as part of the impact investment firm Bamboo Finance (www.bamboofinance.com). CDP: Investor support for CDP programmes increases by 30% in 2012
The number of institutional investors calling for company disclosure of environmental risk has jumped. CDP’s Investor program has 655 signatories with assets of US$78 trillion, and CDP Water Disclosure 470 signatories with assets of US$50 trillion. CDP’s Carbon Action witnessed the largest growth, with signatories leaping from 35 to 92. Erste-SPARINVEST Controversial Weapons Banished
Controversal weapons have been banished from all Erste Asset Management fund portfolios following a long introductory phase. Erste Asset Management committed itself at the beginning of this year to exclude companies which are engaged in "controversal weapons" from all of the investment fund portfolios that it actively manages. Hermes ICGN Model Mandate Initiative
Paul Lee, Director of Hermes Equity Ownership Services, chaired the International Corporate Governance Network ("ICGN") committee that drafted the newly launched Model Mandate Initiative, a set of clauses for contracts between fund managers and their clients. The aim is to more fully align the interests of the parties whilst encouraging a long-term approach. Find a copy at www.icgn.org. Inrate presents enhanced methodology to rate the sustainability of states at the Inrate Sustainability Breakfast in Zurich and Geneva
Speakers at the event were Myriam Steinemann, senior analyst at Inrate, Susanne Kundert, Head Sustainability Fixed Income, LGT Capital Management, and Dr. Pierre-Alain Bruchez, Senior Economist at the Federal Department of Finance (FDF). At the event, Inrate published a new edition of Sustainability Matters entitled "States need appropriate frameworks to foster sustainability". A summary of the breakfasts as well as the presentations are available on the Inrate website. The Living Planet Green Tech Europe Index
The Living Planet Green Tech Europe Index recently completed its annual rebalancing: 4 stocks out – 5 new companies in. This innovative Index was launched in December 2010 by the Living Planet Fund Management Company and Cheuvreux. It consists of 50 European companies weighted according to their turnover in the green technologies. Oikocredit Releases Final Figures for 2011
Oikocredit concluded another year of solid return, demonstrating its strength in a diverse portfolio. Its development finance portfolio reached € 520 million - up 8% from € 481 million in 2010. Oikocredit’s 45,000 investors will share in its final 2011 result of € 15.9 million, with € 9.7 million proposed as dividend. The press release is here. Sustainalytics intends to acquire Responsible Research
Sustainalytics, a global provider of ESG research, announced its intention to acquire Singapore-based Responsible Research, which has built a strong reputation for high-quality Asian and emerging markets ESG analysis. This acquisition is another milestone in Sustainalytics' commitment to provide its clients with global coverage supported by insightful, regional expertise. Back to top
Member Affiliate Research
Bank Sarasin Sector sustainability report on the automotive industry
The automotive industry carries major environmental and social risks compared with other sectors. Therefore sustainability criteria for these companies should be very strict. Because technological development has increasingly shifted away from the automotive manufacturers towards the component suppliers in recent years, both sectors are considered jointly in the study entitled: “On the road to sustainability”. For more information see here. CSSP: Transparency Survey 2012 – Responsible Investments & Philanthropy Services
The transparency survey aims to give an overview on how financial institutes are using their websites as an effective instrument to deal with these new topics and challenges. This year’s transparency survey carries out a qualitative and quantitative research of company websites while focusing exclusively on the five largest banks from the United States of America and Europe as well as ten selected banks from the German-speaking area. Further information: www.yoursri.com. ECPI: Land Grabbing In The Mining Industry - The Case of Newmont Mining
ECPI has just published a new report on land grabbing in the mining industry highlighting the major risks investors face in case of investments in mining companies, like Newmont Mining (rated Ineligible by ECPI since 2007), with a poor track record in human rights and environmental respect. Click here to read the full report. For more information, please contact institututional_relations@ecpindices.com. Forética and Forum Empresa launch a publication that explores water management in Latin America
Both have adapted the study of Håkan Tropp -from Stockholm International Water Institute that focuses on the topic of water management, to the Latin American case. It explores the challenges of water management in this region, and offers a selection of best practices that exemplify the entrepreneurial response. www.foretica.org www.empresa.org. oekom Corporate Responsibility Review 2012
The fourth annual report on global corporate responsibility provides insights into oekom research’s latest rating results for around 3,100 companies. A total of 543 (17.1 per cent) of the companies rated by oekom research had been awarded oekom Prime status. www.oekom-research.com. responsAbility publishes Analysis on Peru – Model Market for Microfinance
The key objective of microfinance is the development of the financial sector. But how can the success of this process, which spans many years or even decades, be evaluated? This question is examined in an analysis entitled Research Insight: Peru – Model Market for Microfinance. The analysis covers a market that is probably the most advanced worldwide as regards the development of the financial sector benefiting the most deprived segment of the world’s population: Peru. Sustainable Business Institute Retail Funds Analysis
The Sustainable Business Institute (SBI), publisher of the market platform www.sustainable-investment.org, has analysed the performance of app. 360 European retail funds using ESG criteria. Further information is available on the platform. Sustainalytics Releases New Report on Offshore Drilling
In the second part of Sustainalytics’ unconventional oil and gas report series, Associate Analyst Alberto Serna Martin examines the risks and impacts of pursuing hydrocarbon development in deepwater and Arctic regions. To read the report click here. Back to top
Events
Brussels Launch of Rethinking Asset Management Report
The European Capital Markets Institute (EMCI) and Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) present on April 19 the final report of the task force 'Rethinking Asset Management'. With the participation of Tilman Lueder, Head of Unit at the European Commission, this event will present the policy recommendations and the main conclusions of the report drafted independently by ECMI researchers. More details are online and to register please see here. ****
Other SRI Events
Eurosif to Speak at Investing Sustainably: Rio+20 and Beyond
Hosted by EIRIS
Stockholm, 26 April, 14.00h –16.00h and Copenhagen, 30 April, 14.30h –16.30h.
Eurosif to Partner with Forestry, Biomass and Sustainability 2012 Conference
Hosted by Environmental Finance
London, 3-4 May, 2012
Eurosif to Speak at SRI Microfinance Conference
Hosted by ALFI
Luxembourg, 10 May, 2012
An updated list of SRI events is available on Eurosif's website: http://www.eurosif.org/events Back to top
SRI Jobs
For details of current SRI jobs please see the jobs section of the Eurosif website http://www.eurosif.org/sri-resources/jobs.
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