Category: News

Data provided by Fundata shows that Canadian RI mutual funds performed well in Q4 2018. Despite significant market volatility at the end of the three-month period ending December 31, 2018, a majority of RI funds across 19 asset classes outperformed their average asset class return over the short, medium and long-term.

Two-thirds of RI funds outperformed their average asset class return in the fourth quarter of 2018, and more than 70% of funds outperformed over the past 12 months. RI funds with longer track records performed well, highlighting the long-term value of incorporating environmental, social and governance factors into investment decisions. More than half of RI funds with a three-year and 10-year track record outperformed their average asset class return, while 70% of funds with a five-year track record outperformed.

Download the Q4 Highlights
Download the Full Report

January 17th, 2019 – Toronto – The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) is pleased to announce that Foresters Asset Management Inc. has joined the RIA as an Associate Member.

“We are pleased to welcome Foresters Asset Management as an Associate Member of the Responsible Investment Association,” said Dustyn Lanz, Chief Executive Officer of the RIA. “We applaud Foresters’ strengthened commitment to responsible investing, and we look forward to working with them to advance responsible investing in Canada.”

The RIA is Canada’s industry association dedicated to advancing responsible investment, which refers to the incorporation of ESG factors into the selection and management of investments. RIA membership has grown rapidly in recent years as investors increasingly seek investments that align with their values and manage exposure to ESG risks and opportunities. According to research published by the RIA $2.1 trillion are invested responsible in Canada, equal to more than 50% of professionally managed AUM in Canada.

“Responsible investing simply makes sense. It is aligned with the values of our investment team, the objectives of our stakeholders, and the more than 140 years of community-focus that is the heart of the ‘Foresters Financial Purpose,’” said Suzann Pennington, Chief Investment Officer, Foresters Asset Management Inc. “Not only is it the right thing to do, the evidence suggests that integrating responsible investment decisions can increase long-term risk-adjusted returns in properly diversified portfolios. We are excited to be associated with the RIA’s network of like-minded investors and look forward to working together to support sustainable investing for the future.”

Foresters Asset Management Inc. oversees $10 billion in retail, institutional, and third-party assets. FAM is backed by Foresters Financial™, an international financial services provider with total funds under management of $45.1 billion, overseen by more than 30 investment professionals.

About Responsible Investment Association
The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) is Canada’s membership association for Responsible Investment (RI). Members include mutual fund companies, financial institutions, asset management firms, advisors, consultants, investment research firms, asset owners, individual investors and others interested in RI. Our members believe that the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into the selection and management of investments can provide superior risk adjusted returns and positive societal impact. To learn more about the RIA, please visit www.riacanada.ca.

Media Enquiries
Nick Buccheri, Manager, Communications and Digital Media, RIA, +1 416-461-6042

January 10, 2019 – Toronto – The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) is pleased to announce that GLC Asset Management Group Ltd (GLC) has joined the RIA as an Associate Member.

“We are delighted to welcome GLC as an Associate Member of the Responsible Investment Association,” said Dustyn Lanz, Chief Executive Officer of the RIA. “We applaud their strengthened commitment to responsible investing, and we look forward to working with GLC to advance responsible investing in Canada.”

The RIA is Canada’s industry association dedicated to advancing responsible investment, which refers to the incorporation of ESG factors into the selection and management of investments. RIA membership has grown rapidly in recent years as investors increasingly seek investments that align with their values and manage exposure to ESG risks and opportunities. According to research published by the RIA, $2.1 trillion are invested responsibly in Canada, equal to more than 50% of the professionally managed AUM in Canada.

“What’s key to GLC’s ongoing commitment to responsible investing is the focus on promoting positive change surrounding the growing complexity and importance of ESG issues,” said Ron Hanson, President and Chief Investment Officer, GLC Asset Management Group Ltd. “GLC formalized the inclusion of ESG considerations in all our investment processes in 2016. We look forward to partnering with RIA and furthering our efforts to see that Canadian investors are given the choice to pursue responsible investing opportunities with GLC, while we maintain our fiduciary duty to focus on maximizing total return within the prescribed guidelines of their investment mandates.”

GLC is an investment management firm that manages more than $50 billion in assets. GLC has five investment management divisions: GWL Investment Management, London Capital Management, Laketon Investment Management, Portico Investment Management and Portfolio Solutions Group, each with a distinct investment approach that offers expertise within specialized areas of portfolio management, bringing unique perspectives to navigating capital markets through varying cycles.

About Responsible Investment Association
The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) is Canada’s membership association for Responsible Investment (RI). Members include mutual fund companies, financial institutions, asset management firms, advisors, consultants, investment research firms, asset owners, individual investors and others interested in RI. Our members believe that the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into the selection and management of investments can provide superior risk adjusted returns and positive societal impact. To learn more about the RIA, please visit www.riacanada.ca.

Media Enquiries
Nick Buccheri, Manager, Communications and Digital Media, RIA, +1 416-461-6042

RIA CEO Dustyn Lanz explores why individual investors are taking climate change and the associated risks seriously in his latest Investment Executive column.

Evidence shows that investors of all types want to know about climate-related risks now, and they expect their advisors to help them stay informed.

Read the full article.

TORONTO – December 6, 2018 – The vast majority of Canadian investors are concerned about climate change, says a new survey from the Responsible Investment Association (RIA).

The 2018 RIA Investor Opinion Survey, which is based on an Ipsos poll of 800 individual investors in Canada, found that 80% of respondents are concerned about climate change and the environment. It also found most investors view climate change as a financial issue: 70% of respondents believe climate change will have negative financial impacts on companies in some industries within the next five years, and 79% believe this to be true within twenty years.

Most investors recognize climate change also presents opportunities: 66% of respondents said they would like a portion of their portfolio to be invested in companies that are providing solutions to climate change and other environmental challenges.

The survey, sponsored by AGF Management Limited (AGF), also shows Canadians want their financial services providers to practice responsible investing: 86% of respondents agree that financial advisors and institutions should be knowledgeable about how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks could affect their investments, and 81% would like their financial services provider to inform them about responsible investments that are aligned with their values.

“This research shows Canadian investors are serious about climate change and societal issues, and they want their financial services providers to take these things seriously as well,” said Dustyn Lanz, CEO of the Responsible Investment Association. “Canadian investors understand climate change presents financial risks, and they want to invest in responsible solutions. This highlights a very compelling opportunity for investment professionals.”

“As a leader in the development of sustainable investing initiatives, AGF is pleased to hear that Canadians are committed to investing in solutions that contribute to building a sustainable future,” said Kevin McCreadie, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, AGF. “We believe that integrating consideration of ESG factors into our investment decision-making and ownership practices will contribute to better investment outcomes for our clients – and this is true across all of our investment management teams.”

Highlights

• 81% of respondents expressed concern about climate change, and respondents ranked environmental issues as the most important factor among E, S, and G issues.
• 73% of respondents believe it’s likely that climate change will create risks for the global economy within five years; this figure climbs to 81% over a twenty-year horizon.
• 70% of respondents believe climate change will have negative financial impacts on companies in some industries in the next five years; this number rises to 79% over the next twenty years.
• 66% of respondents would like a portion of their portfolio to be invested in companies providing solutions to climate change and environmental challenges.
• 86% of respondents agree that financial advisors and institutions should be knowledgeable about how ESG risks could affect their investments.
• 81% of respondents would like their financial services provider to inform them about responsible investments that are aligned with their values.
• 71% of respondents agree that companies with good ESG practices are better long-term investments. However, 81% of respondents know little or nothing about RI.

View the full report here: https://www.riacanada.ca/research/2018-ria-investor-opinion-survey/

About the Responsible Investment Association
The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) is Canada’s industry association dedicated to responsible investment (RI). Members include mutual fund companies, financial institutions, asset management firms, advisors, consultants, investment research firms, asset owners, individual investors and others interested in RI. Our members believe that the incorporation of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into the selection and management of investments can provide superior risk adjusted returns and positive societal impact.

About AGF Management Limited
Founded in 1957, AGF Management Limited (AGF) is an independent and globally diverse asset management firm. AGF brings a disciplined approach to delivering excellence in investment management through its fundamental, quantitative, alternative and high-net-worth businesses focused on providing an exceptional client experience. AGF’s suite of investment solutions extends globally to a wide range of clients, from financial advisors and individual investors to institutional investors including pension plans, corporate plans, sovereign wealth funds and endowments and foundations.

AGF has investment operations and client servicing teams on the ground in North America, Europe and Asia. With nearly $38 billion in total assets under management, AGF serves more than one million investors. AGF trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol AGF.B.

Media Contacts

Nick Buccheri
Manager, Communications & Digital Media
Responsible Investment Association
+1 416-461-6042

Amanda Marchment
Director, Corporate Communications
AGF
416-865-4160

On November 6th, 2018 we partnered with Finance Montréal and NEI Investments to launch the french version of the 2018 Canadian RI Trends Report. We were joined by nearly 100 RIA and FSI members and peers at Espace CDPQ in Montréal. Remarks were delivered by RIA board members Milla Craig, founder and president of Millani, Roger Beauchemin, CEO of Addenda Capital, RIA CEO Dustyn Lanz and Maryna Koretska, Vice President of Sales at NEI Investments.

It’s official: we are now at a historical junction for responsible investing (RI) in Canada.

During some recent public speaking engagements, RIA CEO Dustyn Lanz argued that we have reached a tipping point for RI in Canada. He made this argument based simply on what the RIA has been seeing in the market. But that’s no longer just his viewpoint; it’s a fact. New data show that RI now makes up a majority of assets under management (AUM) in Canada.

Read the full article.

November 1, 2018 – Toronto – The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) is pleased to announce that Horizons ETFs has joined the RIA as anAssociate Member.

“We are delighted to welcome Horizons ETFs as an Associate Member of the Responsible Investment Association,” said Dustyn Lanz, Chief Executive Officer of the RIA. “We applaud Horizons for moving into the RI space, and we look forward to working with them to advance responsible investing in Canada.”

The RIA is Canada’s industry association dedicated to advancing responsible investment, which refers to the incorporation of ESG factors into the selection and management of investments. RIA membership has grown rapidly in recent years as investors increasingly seek investments that align with their values and manage exposure to ESG risks and opportunities.

“More than ever, Canadians are looking to invest their money in alignment with their social and environmental values for the betterment of our society and the planet,” said Steve Hawkins, President and CEO of Horizons ETFs. “We’re proud to partner with the RIA and to launch our first responsible investing product, the Horizons Global Sustainability Leaders Index ETF. We look forward to working with the RIA to empower Canadians to invest in accordance with their beliefs.”

Horizons ETFs has more than $11 billion of assets under management and 84 ETFs listed on major Canadian stock exchanges. Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc. is a member of the Mirae Asset Global Investments Group.

About Responsible Investment Association
The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) is Canada’s membership association for Responsible Investment (RI). Members include mutual fund companies, financial institutions, asset management firms, advisors, consultants, investment research firms, asset owners, individual investors and others interested in RI. Our members believe that the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into the selection and management of investments can provide superior risk adjusted returns and positive societal impact. To learn more about the RIA, please visit www.riacanada.ca.

Media Enquiries
Nick Buccheri, Manager, Communications and Digital Media, RIA, +1 416-461-6042

The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) conducts quarterly performance reviews of responsible investment (RI) funds in Canada. Data provided by Fundata shows that Canadian RI mutual funds performed well in Q3 2018. In the three-month period ending September 30, 2018, a majority of RI funds outperformed their industry average in their respective fund classes.

More than two-thirds of RI funds with a five-year track record and more than half of funds with three-year and 10-year track records outperformed their industry averages, highlighting the long-term value of incorporating environmental, social and governance factors into investment decisions. Nearly three-quarters of funds with a one-year track record outperformed, and 57% of funds outperformed for the three-month period ending September 30, 2018.

Download the Q3 Highlights
Download the Full Report

On October 23rd, 2018 we partnered with NEI Investments to launch the 2018 Canadian RI Trends Report. We were joined by more than 80 RIA members at Montecito Restaurant in Toronto. Remarks were delivered by RIA board members Ian Robertson of Odlum Brown and David Rutherford of NEI Investments, and RIA CEO Dustyn Lanz.