KBI Global Investors, based in Dublin, has retained its PRI A+ rating across three areas of its investment approachfor a third consecutive year, following the annual assessment required of signatories to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment.
The three areas assessed for the A+ rating included:
- ‘Listed Equity - Incorporation' module, which examines how the firm incorporates ESG criteria into its investment processes. KBIGI notes the median competitor rating is 'B';
- ‘Strategy & Governance' of RI in the firm, (versus median of 'A');
- ‘Listed Equity - Active Ownership', which examines how the firm employs RI principles in its proxy voting and engagement activity (versus median of 'B').
PRI signatories must submit detailed accounts of RI activities to the organisation, which conducts an assessment to then award ratings of A+, A, B, C, D, E or F.
Eoin Fahy, head of Responsible Investing at KBIGI, said: "As the importance of ESG and responsible investing becomes ever clearer in the marketplace, many investment managers are moving to strengthen their commitment in this area. As a result, many investors are finding it difficult to identify which managers have a real and longstanding commitment to responsible investing, and which are simply following the herd. The trio of A+ ratings we have secured underlines the strength of our proposition and credentials in this key area and sends a very clear message to the market and to our clients - that our commitment is real, deeply entrenched in the firm's investing culture and part of our very DNA."
KBIGI's Water, Energy Solutions and Agribusiness fund have each been approved as compliant with the European SRI Transparency Code (http://www.eurosif.org/transparency-code).
