Category: News

July 27, 2017 – TD Bank Group (TD) and the Responsible Investment Association (RIA) have announced that TD has become an Associate Member of the RIA.

“We are thrilled to welcome TD as an Associate Member of the Responsible Investment Association,” said Deb Abbey, CEO of the RIA. “TD has shown leadership in Canada’s green bond market, and we look forward to working with them in our ongoing effort to advance responsible investment in Canada.”

The RIA is a national, membership-based organization that is committed to advancing responsible investment, which refers to the incorporation of environmental, social and governance (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.

“TD is delighted to join the Responsible Investment Association, Canada’s leader in responsible investing,” said Valerie Picher, Associate Vice-President, Community Relations, TD. “We are strong supporters of responsible investment and social finance, and we look forward to working with the RIA to help support this rapidly growing market.”

About TD Bank Group
The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Group (“TD” or the “Bank”). TD is the sixth largest bank in North America by branches and serves more than 25 million customers in three key businesses operating in a number of locations in financial centres around the globe: Canadian Retail, including TD Canada Trust, TD Auto Finance Canada, TD Wealth (Canada), TD Direct Investing, and TD Insurance; U.S. Retail, including TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, TD Auto Finance U.S., TD Wealth (U.S.), and an investment in TD Ameritrade; and Wholesale Banking, including TD Securities. TD also ranks among the world’s leading online financial services firms, with approximately 11.5 million active online and mobile customers. TD had CDN$1.3 trillion in assets on April 30, 2017. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades under the symbol “TD” on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges.

About the Responsible Investment Association
The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) is Canada’s membership association for responsible investment (RI). RI refers to the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria into the selection and management of investments. We are a national, membership-based organization composed of financial institutions, mutual fund companies, asset management firms, financial advisors, ESG research firms, and various organizations and individuals who practice and support responsible investing. The RIA and its members strongly believe that RI is a valuable investment tool to enhance returns, reduce risk, and catalyze positive societal change.

May 29^th, 2017 – The Responsible Investment Association (“RIA”) and HighView Financial Group announced today that HighView has joined the RIA as an Associate Member.

“We are very pleased to welcome HighView Financial Group as an Associate Member of the Responsible Investment Association,” said Deb Abbey, Chief Executive Officer of the Responsible Investment Association. “HighView has demonstrated its commitment responsible investment, and we look forward to working with them to continue advancing the incorporation of environmental, social and governance factors into Canadians’ investment decisions.”

“HighView is excited to join the Responsible Investment Association. We are committed to incorporating ESG principles in the investment strategies we offer through our platform of investment managers. Among our families and foundations there is a growing interest about investing for social impact. All investments have an impact on our environment and community, and we can all play a part in ensuring a more sustainable environment through the investment decisions we make.” said Loren Francis, Stewardship Counsellor & Principal, and member of the HighView Portfolio Strategy Committee. “While our Portfolio Strategy Group already formally includes and evaluates ESG principles as part of our ongoing due diligence, monitoring and evaluation of the investment managers we partner with, we look forward to working with the Responsible Investment Association to continue our thought leadership and advancement of policy design as it pertains to ESG/RI and Social Impact investments.”

About the Responsible Investment Association

The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) is Canada’s leader on responsible investment (RI). RI refers to the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria into the selection and management of investments. We are a national, membership-based organization composed of financial institutions, mutual fund companies, investment firms, financial advisors, and various organizations and individuals who practice and support responsible investing. The RIA and its members strongly believe that RI is a valuable investment tool to enhance returns, reduce risk, and catalyze positive societal change.

About HighView Financial Group

Based in Oakville, Ontario, HighView Financial Group is an experienced investment counselling firm for affluent Canadian families and foundations. We are a firm that fundamentally believes the disciplines of portfolio architecture and risk management, applied with absolute objectivity and transparency, are essential. Acting as our clients’ outsourced CIO, we design, implement, and manage tailored goals-based investment strategies through non-proprietary investment managers.

April 19, 2017 – The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) and CI Investments Inc. (“CI”) announced today that CI has become an Associate Member of the RIA.

“We are very pleased to welcome CI Investments as an Associate Member of the RIA,” said Deb Abbey, CEO of the RIA. “We applaud their increased commitment to responsible investing, and we look forward to working with CI Investments to advance the incorporation of ESG criteria into Canadians’ investment decisions.”

“As a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investing (UNPRI), CI is pleased to expand our responsible investment proficiency by joining the RIA as an Associate Member,” said Neal Kerr, President, CI Institutional Asset Management and Executive Vice-President, Investment Management, CI Investments “We are dedicated to achieving the best possible risk-adjusted returns for our investors and believe responsible investing can play a role in accomplishing that goal.”

About CI Investments
CI Investments is one of Canada’s largest investment management companies. It offers a wide range of investment products and services, and is on the Web at www.ci.com. CI is a subsidiary of CI Financial Corp. (TSX: CIX), an independent, Canadian-owned wealth management firm with $160.5 billion in assets as of March 31, 2017.

About the Responsible Investment Association
The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) is Canada’s membership association for responsible investment (RI). RI refers to the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria into the selection and management of investments. We are a national, membership-based organization composed of financial institutions, mutual fund companies, asset management firms, financial advisors, ESG research firms, and various organizations and individuals who practice and support responsible investing. The RIA and its members strongly believe that RI is a valuable investment tool to enhance returns, reduce risk, and catalyze positive societal change.

TORONTO, February 21, 2017 – Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. (Franklin Templeton) and the Responsible Investment Association (RIA) announced today that Franklin Templeton has become an Associate Member of the RIA.

“We are very pleased to welcome Franklin Templeton Investments as an Associate Member of the RIA,” said Deb Abbey, CEO of the RIA. “Their membership strengthens our capacity to promote the continued growth of responsible investing in Canada. We look forward to working with Franklin Templeton in our ongoing effort to advance Canada’s responsible investment industry.”

“Our membership with the RIA, a recognized leader in the Canadian market for furthering the support and advancement of ESG integration, reflects a strong alignment with our corporate level commitments,” said Duane Green, president and CEO of Franklin Templeton “We look forward to deepening our relationship with RIA members and advancing the continued development of responsible investing in Canada.”

About Franklin Templeton Investments
Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. is a Canadian subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN]. Franklin Resources, Inc. is a global investment management organization operating as Franklin Templeton Investments, which provides global and domestic investment management to retail, institutional and sovereign wealth clients in over 170 countries. Through specialized teams, the company has expertise across all asset classes—including equity, fixed income, alternative and custom solutions. The company’s more than 650 investment professionals are supported by its integrated, worldwide team of risk management professionals and global trading desk network. With offices in over 30 countries, the California-based company has 70 years of investment experience and over US$728 billion (over C$948 billion) in assets under management as of January 31, 2017.  For more information, please visit franklintempleton.ca. Connect with Franklin Templeton on Twitter(@FTI_Canada).

About the Responsible Investment Association
The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) is Canada’s membership association for responsible investment (RI). RI refers to the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria into the selection and management of investments. We are a national, membership-based organization composed of financial institutions, mutual fund companies, asset management firms, financial advisors, ESG research firms, and various organizations and individuals who practice and support responsible investing. The RIA and its members strongly believe that RI is a valuable investment tool to enhance returns, reduce risk, and catalyze positive societal change.

TORONTO, February 2, 2017 –  The 2016 Canadian Responsible Investment Trends Report reveals that responsible investment (RI) is growing rapidly in Canada. The biennial report, released today by the Responsible Investment Association (RIA) tracks the evolution and growth of RI in Canada. RI is defined as investments that incorporate environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) criteria.

According to survey data, as of December 31, 2015, assets in Canada managed using one or more RI strategies increased from $1.01 trillion to $1.51 trillion in the prior two years.  This robust growth represents a 49% increase in RI assets under management during the two-year period.

Responsible investing is also taking a greater share of the investment industry. The data shows that 38% of assets under management in Canada incorporate a responsible investment strategy, up from 31% two years prior.

“Individual and institutional investors increasingly recognize that incorporating ESG factors into investment decisions can reduce risk and enhance returns while contributing to positive societal impact,” said Deb Abbey, CEO of the RIA.

“In Canada and around the world there is a growing consensus among investors that information related to ESG issues such as climate change, human rights, diversity, and corporate corruption is material for investment decisions,” said Abbey. “Systematically considering ESG factors is a component of accurate valuation and comprehensive risk management.”

Highlights

• $1.5 trillion in RI assets under management
• 49% increase in two years
• Responsible investing represents 38% of Canadian investment industry
• Individual investors’ RI assets up 91% in two years
• Pension fund assets make up 75% of RI industry’s growth, increasing by $374 billion, or 45%, in two years
• 80% of respondents expect moderate to high levels of growth in RI over next two years
• Asset managers and owners ranked the following as their top motivations for incorporating ESG factors into investment decisions: (1) to minimize risk over time; (2) to improve returns over time; (3) to fulfill fiduciary duty.

“We are not surprised, but we are very pleased by the continued growth in responsible investing,” said John Kearns, CEO of NEI Investments. “For over 30 years, our investors have told us how important it is to invest in alignment with their personal values. This trend not only validates that approach, it reinforces NEI’s core commitment: to make money for our investors, while also making a positive difference.”

“We’re thrilled to see the continued growth of responsible investing in Canada, which reflects a prevailing concern for sustainable development,” said Frederick Pinto, CEO of OceanRock Investments Inc. “Investors want competitive financial returns along with positive social and environmental impact. That’s why OceanRock continues to broaden the Impact Investing mandate for the Meritas SRI Funds into areas like affordable housing and renewable energy.”

“The report provides further evidence that asset owners and investment managers believe environmental and social events in the real world can, and do, impact portfolio returns,” said Dermot Foley, Portfolio Manager, ESG Analysis with Vancity Investment Management, manager of the IA Clarington Inhance SRI Funds.

View the Trends Report here.

About the Canadian RI Trends Report
The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) publishes the Canadian Responsible Investment Report on a biennial basis to understand and assess the characteristics of responsible investment in Canada. For the current report, the RIA’s researchers collected data from more than 150 investment managers and asset owners. Primary research was supplemented by secondary sources such as annual reports. The researchers avoided double counting by subtracting approximately $307 billion in RI assets which overlapped between external managers and funds of funds.

About the Responsible Investment Association
The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) is Canada’s leader on responsible investment (RI). RI refers to the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria into the selection and management of investments as well as socially responsible and ethical investing. We are a national, membership-based organization composed of financial institutions, mutual fund companies, investment management firms, financial advisors, and various organizations and individuals who practice and support responsible investing. The RIA and its members strongly believe that RI is a valuable investment tool to enhance returns, reduce risk, and catalyze positive societal change.