The Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) recently released its annual benchmark report for New Zealand based on 47 Investment Managers. The report details the size, growth, depth and performance of the NZ responsible investment market and compares these results with the broader NZ financial market.
In 2020, Responsible Investment in NZ grew more than twice as fast as the total market to $142 billion in 2020, representing 43% of Total Funds Under Management and up from 38% in 2019.
Salt was pleased to contribute to this year’s survey and be recognised as one of RIAA's new Responsible Investment Leaders in New Zealand.
As Responsible Investment Leaders, RIAA acknowledged this group of Investment Managers for demonstrating leading practices in their commitment to Responsible Investment, including making their ESG investment policies available and sufficiently details, integrating ESG factors in valuation and asset allocation, clearly defining approaches to stewardship and demonstrating active ownership (including corporate engagement and shareholder action).
Paul Harrison, Salt Managing Director, said, “we are pleased to be recognised as a Responsible Investment Leader by RIAA this year and acknowledge the industries progress so far. However, Responsible Investment is a journey, not a destination and we must continue to progress. As a fund manager, our core objectives are to manage client funds in a way that doesn’t support harmful activities, to use our position as a shareholder to encourage and support companies to do better, and where possible, do good while continuing to deliver strong returns to our clients”.
Salt believes the transition to a sustainable economy will be ongoing. Through active management, stewardship, innovation, and sustainable leadership, we can deliver more sustainable returns in the long term while activating positive change to support a faster transition for the benefit of generations come.
One of Salt’s biggest focuses is climate change as the most significant threat to planet earth and the most material ESG factor to Salt’s investment universe. As an official TCFD supporter, Salt urges companies in New Zealand and Australia to utilise the climate-related financial disclosure framework as a tool to incorporate climate mitigation and adaption into company strategy as soon as possible, well before reporting becomes mandatory.
Disclaimer: Salt Funds Management is not a member of Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA), nor pays RIAA for any services. Salt did provide information to RIAA for this survey and other surveys from time to time.