Responsible Investment

F&C is a worldwide leader in providing responsible investment strategies and managing more than £2.4 billion in ethical funds*. We have over 20 years experience and a track record of strong performance.

F&C’s responsible investment approach is fundamental to our global investment philosophy across all our funds. We strongly believe that the prudent management of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues is key to creating shareholder value. Companies that are successful in minimising ESG risks, and also at identifying and capitalising on the opportunities, will outperform over the longer term. This belief underpins our responsible engagement overlay (reo®) service that is applied to all companies in our and our clients' portfolios.

F&C’s award-winning Governance and Sustainable Investment Team (GSI) runs reo® (responsible engagement overlay), a world class shareholder engagement and corporate governance service. Through reo®, F&C uses its influence as a major asset manager to encourage better management of ESG risks by companies, where this can benefit shareholder value. Today we run reo® on more than £74.5 billion of assets on behalf of internal and external clients*.

We seek to encourage best practice through constructive and credible dialogue with company management and by fully exercising voting rights in all global markets. In addition, we actively participate in the public policy process to communicate what types of policies will improve ESG standards in a way that also enhances value and business competitiveness.

F&C’s reo® is unique in the depth and breadth of its engagement and in its ability to enable clients to fully implement the UN Principles for Responsible Investment and to exercise ownership rights.

* as at 31st December 2008