SIF News
FFS (Forum per la Finanza Sostenibile) – Italy
FFS holds second meeting to discuss increasing market share of SRI products
Following a first meeting held last February, FFS and the Italian Banking Association have convened the working group on SRI funds promotion on July 10th. The group is composed of asset managers and distributors and aims at increase the market share of SRI products. The debate has been enriched by Leonardo Becchetti, professor of economics at the Tor Vergata University in Roma and Eric Borremans, Head of Sustainable and Responsible Investments at BNP Paribas Asset Management. The working group decided to work on both the demand and supply side, leveraging on investors’ information and awareness and training of sales forces.
FNG (Forum Nachhaltige Geldanlagen) – Germany, Austria, Switzerland
FNG held Responsible Investment conference in Frankfurt
About 60 representatives of the leading financial service providers met in early June in Germany’s financial hub Frankfurt/Main to discuss and learn more about the UN Principles of Responsible Investment (PRI). The presentations made clear, that there is not one best solution for implementing the PRI and that each company has to find their own way of integrating the principles into their operational business. Although the number of PRI signatories in Germany is limited, the lively discussion about strategies and obstacles to implement the PRI showed that interest in the PRI is growing. This event was an important signal for German financial service providers that responsible investments are gaining importance.
Responsible Investment Association Australasia – Australia
RIAA receives government funding to establish Responsible Investment Academy
The Responsible Investment Academy’s key objective will be to address the skills gap that currently exists across the investment industry in terms of responsible investment issues. The Academy will utilise technology to deliver training in a variety of formats including through web based formats. The newly created Responsible Investment Academy is being established as a partnership with the investment industry. A National Advisory Board is currently being formed.
UKSIF (UK Social Investment Forum) - United Kingdom
UKSIF partner for Thomson Reuters Extel Survey, results announced
The results of the SRI and Sustainability categories of the Thomson Reuters Extel Survey were announced at an Awards lunch on 11 June. UKSIF is Extel’s partner for the SRI Survey. The leading brokerage firm for SRI/Sustainability Research was Société Générale with Citi Investment Research in second place. The Citi team was ranked first in the SRI and Long-Term Thematic Research categories with Mike Tyrell of Citi being ranked the leading individual for both. The Société Générale team was ranked first in the Corporate Governance and Renewable Energy categories with Jean-Philippe Desmartin of Oddo (Corporate Governance) and Patrick Hummels of UBS (Renewable Energy) ranked the leading individuals. Results available at www.extelsurvey.com (subscription only). UKSIF would like to thank those who responded to the Survey. Contact adam.ognall@uksif.org
VBDO (Vereniging van Beleggers voor Duurzame Ontwikkeling) – Netherlands
VBDO research shows increased growth for sustainable savings and investments by private investors in the Netherlands
The market for sustainable savings and investments is still growing. In 2007 private savings and investments rose 21.2%, compared to 20% in 2006. The total amount of savings and investments by Dutch private investors at the end of 2007 amounted to €13.6 billion (€11.2 in 2006). These are the main results of the annual research conducted by VBDO and supported by Triodos bank on the development of sustainable savings and investments by private investors in the Netherlands.
