Rathbone Greenbank Investments - The first five years 2004 - 2009
Released: 24 February 2009
24 February 2009
At Rathbone Greenbank Investments, we have always sought to use clients’ investments not only to produce acceptable returns but to help influence the world in a positive way – in particular through social investments – very positive but usually unlisted investments – and through engagement – dialogue with companies to promote improved practice.
Thus we have become one of the leading investors in social investment – we have invested some £6m in a range of opportunities. Investments have been made in Cafédirect, Ethical Property Company, Westmill Wind Power and City Car Clubs among others. We have also been involved in funding microfinance in the developing world.
Over the five years, we have expanded our engagement activities. Notably we have helped our clients become involved in several prominent shareholder campaigns, including bringing a resolution of human rights issues to the 2006 Shell AGM, and supporting two resolutions at the Tesco AGMs in 2007 and 2008. We were also part of a coalition of investors and NGOs who saw Reed Elsevier sever its links with the arms trade in 2008 and have been a signatory to the Carbon Disclosure Project since 2004. Through our in-house research we have consistently held companies to the highest standards on accountability of their social and environmental performance.
We have held five annual investor days up and down the country where clients have been able to quiz important speakers from industry and campaign organisations on sustainable development issues. The topics covered include organic food, climate change, environmental building, investment for development and sustainable transport.
Furthermore, we have been actively involved in supporting like-minded organisations and events, including sponsoring the annual Bristol Schumacher Lectures, several fundraising events organised by the Funding Network (raising over £100,000 for charities) and Resurgence’s 40th birthday event.
We have also been advisors to the Environment Agency Pension Fund (EAPF) on sustainable and responsible investment since 2004 – the EAPF has established itself as the leading pension fund on integrating social and environmental issues into its investment strategy, as recognised by its many awards including the Socially Responsible Investment/Corporate Governance Award at the Investments and Pensions Europe Fund Awards 2008.
Milestones
• Named best provider of ethical investment in the UK by Euromoney magazine in 2006.
• In 2006 we underlined our position as leading players in ethical investment with the launch of the UK’s first ‘Green’ SIPP product.
• Funds under management have grown from £110m to £305m .
• The team has grown from two investment directors to six, and the team in total has grown from 8 to 16, including an expanded research team.
• In 2006, Nicola Day, investment director, joined the team from Gerrards.
• In May 2008 an ethical investment arm was launched in Liverpool bringing in the experience of investment directors Lorraine Dodd and Helen Gerrard to the team, and providing a base in the North West.
• Overall the investment directors have been at forefront of ethical investment since 1992, launching one of the UK’s first tailored ethical portfolio services, and have an unprecedented experience in managing private client portfolios for ethical investors.