June XX, 2019 – Toronto – The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) is pleased to announce that FÉRIQUE Fund Management has joined the RIA as an Associate Member.
“We are delighted to welcome Gestion Férique as an Associate Member of the Responsible Investment Association,” said Dustyn Lanz, Chief Executive Officer of the RIA. “Gestion Férique is a longtime supporter of responsible investment and shareholder engagement, and we look forward to working with them to grow responsible investment 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.
“In 2006, FÉRIQUE Fund Management developed its Responsible Investment Policy on exercising FÉRIQUE Funds’ proxy voting rights, making it one of Quebec’s first mutual fund companies to address the issue of responsible investment”, said Louis Lizotte, Vice President, Investments at FÉRIQUE Fund Management. “This first initiative led FÉRIQUE Fund Management to sign the Declaration of Institutional Investors on Climate-Related Financial Risks. Joining the Responsible Investment Association was a natural progression, as it falls in line with FÉRIQUE Fund Management’s investment approach, which aims to align clients’ financial interests with the issues related to ESG factors. It is, therefore, with great enthusiasm that we are entering this affiliation.”
FÉRIQUE Fund Management is the manager of the FÉRIQUE Funds, launched in 1974 by the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec. The firm offers 10 mutual funds and 5 portfolios diversified across all asset classes. FÉRIQUE Funds have more than $2.8 billion in assets under management and close to 22,000 unitholders as of March 31st, 2019.
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.
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