SIF News
November / December 2008
Dansif – Danmark
Launch of Dansif
On November 24, the Danish SIF was launched at the premises of the Danish Insurance Association, also one of the founders of Dansif. The other founders are a number of pensions funds (PKA, ATP, PFA, PenSam, SAMPENSION, MP Pension, AP Pension and PJD Pension), Danish Bank Group, Ethix SRI Advisors and Aviva Investors. The aim of Dansif is to promote knowledge on SRI and a nuanced and diversified dialogue on SRI among players in the Danish Market. Dansif will organise in 2009 a series of seminars on selected SRI topics. Dansif does not demand that its members have certain standpoints on SRI and acts solely as a forum for dialogue without specific standpoints of its own. For more information visit www.dansif.dk (currently under construction) or contact dansif@dansif.dk
Belsif (Belgian Social Investment Forum) - Belgium
Belsif launches SRI week
Belsif will organize the first « SRI week » in Belgium from March 16th till March 20th 2009, with activities organized by most of Belsif’s members in the country. The first program draft can be found on http://www.belsif.be/default.aspx?page_id=643 and all details will be communicated soon. A session about the crisis is also planned on January 23rd in Brussels.
FIR (French Social Investment Forum) - France
FIR's Finance and Sustainability European Research Award ceremony
French SIF Finance and Sustainability European Research Award Eurosif is a supporter of this French SIF initiative which rewards research projects that contribute to the development of knowledge in the field of "Finance and Sustainability". The jury has finalised deliberations for the three prizes (of 5000 euros each) and three research grants that will be distributed at the awards ceremony in Paris on January 19th, 2009. These include: Best Master’s Thesis Award, Best PhD Thesis Award, Best Article published in a scientific magazine. www.frenchsif.org or contact award2009@frenchsif.org
FFS (Forum per la Finanza Sostenibile) – Italy
SRI topic to be part of financial advisors exam
The Organismo per la Gestione dell’Albo dei Promotori, the Authority that regulates the activity of financial advisors has agreed to FFS’s proposal to insert SRI amongst the exam topics that candidate FAs have to pass. FFS believes that this new regulation will enhance the level of awareness and knowledge of sales forces. FFS welcomes the receptiveness of the Organismo and will further invest in its sensitisation and training programmes for distribution networks of financial products. http://www.finanzasostenibile.it/programmi/lobby.html (in Italian only)
High Net Worth Individual & Sustainable Investment event
Eurosif report “HNWIs and Sustainable Investment” was presented in Milan on November 19, 2008. The event was organised by FFS and AIFO, the Italian association of family officers, thanks to the sponsorship of Vigeo Italia and Etica SGR. http://www.finanzasostenibile.it/eventi/past.html (in Italian only)
Forum Nachhaltige Geldanlagen (German Social Investment Forum) - Germany
German SIF to have a new structure in 2009
The German SIF is currently undergoing a restructuring process in order to expand its services in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. As part of this restructuring a new Chief Executive Officer will be employed and take up his or her position early next year. While currently the German SIF is managed by Adelphi Consult, the new organisational structure will enable the German SIF to address the rising interest in sustainable investments and to provide a higher added value for its members. www.forum-ng.de
Swesif (Swedish Social Investment Forum) – Sweden
Founding members of Swesif decide to merge Swedbank
Robur is to acquire Banco Fonder AB. The acquisition is scheduled for completion 20th January 2009. Swedbank Robur is one of the pioneers within the SRI-field in Scandinavia and Banco Fonder is a strong local brand on the SRI-arena. For questions please contact Anna Nilsson, Head of SRI-Analysis at Swedbank Robur. www.swedbankrobur.se
UKSIF - United Kingdom
UKSIF name change approved at the AGM
Members approved that the name of the organisation should be changed to ‘UK Sustainable Investment and Finance’ with the acronym ‘UKSIF’ being retained and used generally in preference to the full name. Companies House is currently considering the change. Once it has been approved we hope to announce it early in the new year. Contact adam.ognall@uksif.org.
Details of National Ethical Investment Week 2009 announced
UKSIF has announced that AIFA will partner with them to deliver NEIW09, which will run 17-23 May. The NEIW09 website will be launched in January, together with the updated logo. Visit www.neiw.org.
ASrIA (Association for Sustainable and Responsible investment) - Asia
ASrIA strengthens Hong Kong team ASrIA has appointed Claire McLetchie as Executive Director and Wai-Shin Chan as Development Director. www.asria.org
RIAA (Responsible Investment Association Australasia)
RIAA released latest benchmark report The 8th Annual Benchmark Report commissioned by RIAA was released on 6 November. The report found that broad responsible investment grew 8% from $52.8bn to $57.1bn reflecting an increase in the assets of fund managers that have integrated ESG factors into their investment process and institutions that have adopted corporate engagement strategies. Click here to read the report
