December 2, 2009: Eurosif has just published a ground-breaking report on Investment Consultants and Responsible Investment. The study, sponsored by AXA Investment Managers, Bank Sarasin, Robeco and SAM, found that 89% of investment consultants anticipate an increase of client interest when it comes to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. The demand for investment consultants to take into account ESG issues is driven by a mixture of investor reputation, beneficiary pressure and an evolving view on fiduciary duty. All of these drivers create opportunities for ESG advisory services. Melissa McDonald, head of responsible investment at AXA Investment Managers says “This study has highlighted two key challenges for asset managers who are committed to delivering sustainable and better risk adjusted returns. It is clear that there is a lack of understanding around the contribution of ESG investment to the sustainability of returns and a resulting lack of explicit client signals within the institutional investment process; it is these challenges that we at AXA IM want to respond to as part of our long term commitment to the mainstreaming of ESG.” More…

Source: Eurosif