F&C tops ESG survey for second year

F&C has topped the FairPensions UK Asset Manager Responsible Investment Ranking survey for the second year running.

FairPensions, an independent organisation that promotes responsible investment by UK pension funds, conducts its annual survey to assess the 20 largest UK fund managers in terms of their environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies and practices. F&C was the only company in the survey to achieve a perfect overall score of 100%, highlighting its excellence in terms of transparency and engagement on ESG issues. The survey judged F&C to be the most transparent fund manager in terms of disclosure of ESG policies and voting practices, as well as leading the industry in terms of the depth and breadth of its engagement activities.

"F&C has been at the forefront of the responsible investment industry for over two decades and we are delighted that an organisation such as FairPensions has once again recognised our efforts in this area," said Karina Litvack, Head of Governance and Sustainable Investment at F&C. "More and more pension funds are becoming aware of the positive impact they can have on corporate behaviour through the responsible exercise of their ownership rights - underscored by the swelling ranks of the signatories to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI). Words and pledges are one thing, and substance is quite another. This survey adds real value because it provides that independent critical assessment of all that stands behind our public commitments."

F&C's track record in sustainable investments dates back to 1984 with the launch of the Stewardship Growth Fund, the UK's first ethical fund, followed by the Stewardship Income Fund in 1987 and the Stewardship International Fund in 1997. F&C later added two new funds to the range of sustainable products, the F&C Global Climate Opportunities Fund and the F&C Ethical Bond Fund, in 2007.