PRI Awards Highest Possible Rating for Governance and Sustainability

Martin Currie has received the highest possible award ratings in two key categories from the PRI, a world leading proponent of responsible investment.

In its latest assessment, the PRI has awarded Martin Currie an A+ rating for its overall approach to responsible investment in the category of Strategy and Governance. Martin Currie has received a further A+ rating for its integration of responsible investment methods in the PRI’s Incorporation category and an A in the Active Ownership category.

A signatory to the PRI since 2009, Martin Currie has committed to reporting on its responsible investing activities each year. Covering the last calendar year the factors analysed, by the PRI in the Strategy and Governance category, include Martin Currie’s overall approach to responsible investment, its policies, objectives and targets, the resources the company allocates to responsible investment  and the collaboration approach taken to responsible investment and public policy-related issues.

With less than 20% of the 1,061 PRI signatories achieving an A+ rating in the Strategy and Governance category, Martin Currie is strongly positioned to build on this industry recognition and further enhance its expertise in this key area.

Commenting on the PRI assessment David Sheasby Head of Governance and Sustainability at Martin Currie comments, “We are very pleased with the results from the PRI which are an endorsement of the work we have done to embed Governance and Sustainability into our investment process. This is an encouraging base from which we can continue to strengthen our internal procedures and build on our Governance and Sustainability capabilities and expertise.

David Sheasby continues, “Governance and sustainability is a key tenet of our investment philosophy. As long-term investors we take a holistic view of companies, and try to understand how all stakeholders are affected by their activities.

Ours is not a values-based approach in the sense of using strict ethical filters, but one that recognises that companies are on a journey.

In other words, it is the direction of travel that counts and we actively engage with businesses to ensure that their path is towards best practice, for the ultimate benefit of shareholders.”

The PRI Transparency Report and Assessment Methodology are available to download from www.unpri.org.

Read more about Martin Currie’s Governance and Sustainability approach in its latest report at http://www.martincurrie.com/corporate