The objective of the PRI is to invite (on a voluntary basis), encourage and support market participants and institutional investors to incorporate the environmental, social and governance issues in the investment process. They currently constitute the international unifying frame of reference for Responsible Investment. As the very first signatory to these principles, Groupama AM is required, as are all the signatories, to issue an annual report on its actions and commitments.

What does this ranking mean? Groupama AM was ranked in the first quartile with regard to principles no. 4 and 5, and in the second quartile for the four other principles. “In 2009, 268 new signatories adopted the PRI; this represents an increase of 63%. Most of these are institutional investors, asset managers and service providers, Anglo-Saxon for the most part, whose culture and shareholder activism allow a favourable response to the requirements of the PRI. Despite everything, even though this mass effect penalised our final ranking, Groupama AM remains relatively well-positioned with respect to its French peers. Nevertheless, it is essential that we improve our policy with regard to commitment and communication in order to advance next year”, explains Olivier Rayrole, SRI analyst.

For the first time, Groupama AM’s report has been made available to the public on the PRI website.

PRI – The UN’s Principles for Responsible Investment

The PRI are a charter signed as a voluntary commitment, established at the end of 2005 under the aegis of the UN and in collaboration with international institutional investors (asset owners, asset managers and other financial gatekeepers – brokers, ratings agencies, etc.). Their objective is to promote the consideration of the ESG non-financial criteria of sustainable development in investments and they are composed of thirty actions decreed under six basic principles:

• Principle 1: We will incorporate ESG issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes.
• Principle 2: We will be active owners and incorporate ESG issues into our ownership policies and practices.
• Principle 3: We seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which we invest.
• Principle 4: We will promote acceptance and implementation of the Principles within the investment industry.
• Principle 5: We will work together to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the Principles.
• Principle 6: We will each report on our activities and progress towards implementing the Principles.