Hibernian Investment Managers (HIM) today launched Ireland’s first Socially Responsible Investment Funds.
Hibernian Investment Managers (HIM) today launched Ireland’s first Socially Responsible Investment Funds*. Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) recognises that a company’s ability to deliver shareholder value, and therefore contribute to fund performance, is increasingly defined by its social and environmental record and that forward looking, responsible companies are most likely to produce the best return over the long term.
Hibernian Investment Managers have access to the expertise of a dedicated SRI research team based at its sister company within the Aviva Group, Morley Fund Management in London. This fifteen strong team of fund managers and specialist analysts is one of the largest and most experienced SRI teams in the world. This team will assist Hibernian Investment Managers in screening SRI portfolios and giving companies a clear sustainability rating according to its core products and management practices. The team looks for companies that are characterized by superior long term growth in earnings per share and where this is not fully reflected in the share price.
Companies committed to sustainable development may be within emerging industries of the future, such as education, water management, renewable energy and advanced communications, or traditional businesses whose management have adopted practices that contribute to sustainability. The combination of both types of company results in a well diversified portfolio.
Dara FitzGerald, Marketing Director at HIM, said: “We believe the companies that will perform best in the future are those that presently consider how their actions will affect the world in twenty to fifty years time. We expect companies with such vision to be best placed to seize the opportunities arising from environmental, social and political changes.
"Climate change, genetic engineering, pollution and changing demographic patterns are all issues which are forcing businesses, governments and consumers to rethink their patterns of behaviour. It is clear that society’s present patterns of consumption are unsustainable – the necessary solution to this is a move towards sustainable development.”
Paul Moody, Head of SRI Business Development at Morley, said: “Socially responsible investment is an investment in the industries of the future. Our SRI process seeks to identify, support and profit from those companies at the forefront in developing environmentally sustainable practices.”
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*The five SRI pooled funds currently available are: Hibernian SRI Managed Fund, Hibernian SRI European Equity Fund, Hibernian SRI Global Equity Fund, Hibernian SRI High Yield Equity Fund, and Hibernian SRI Bond Fund
For a copy of our SRI guide, which provides details of our investment philosophy, fund choice and further information please contact:
Kela O’Riordan, 01 617 8164, 086 606 8842, kela.oriordan@hibernian.ie
Notes to editors:
- Hibernian is part of Aviva plc (formerly CGNU), the fifth largest insurance group in Europe, and seventh globally (based on gross worldwide premia)
- Hibernian Investment Managers is part of the Hibernian Group, Ireland’s largest composite insurer, ranked first for general insurance and top four for life and pensions
- HIM invests client’s assets from its Dublin base. At present it has in excess of €7 billion under management, making it the fourth largest manager of Irish residents assets
- Morley Fund Management is the second largest fund management operation in the UK with stg£104 billion under management, it is an independently managed, wholly owned subsidiary of Aviva plc
- A photograph is available by ISDN
- Hibernian news releases are also available on www.hibernian.ie