FIR-PRI Finance and Sustainability - European Research Award 2012

CALL FOR PAPERS

Dexia Asset Management appoints Cécile de Lasteyrie as Head of SRI Development

Cécile de Lasteyrie has been appointed Head of SRI Development of Dexia Asset Management (Dexia AM) as of December 2011. She will be the ambassador for Dexia AM’s expertise in Sustainable & Responsible Investing (SRI) and help in defining the company’s SRI strategy in coordination with the Global Head of SRI, Isabelle Cabie, and her team of SRI analysts.

Climate Change Analysis in light of Durban climate negotiations

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is taking place in Durban from 28th November to 9th December 2011. It brings together representatives of the world's governments, international organizations and civil society. This major event is an opportunity to reiterate the central role of Climate Change within Dexia AM’s SRI analysis.

Our "Best in Class" analysis: focus on Nestlé SA

Dexia AM has an innovative SRI approach to select companies with both a responsible approach to their stakeholders and a business model capable of meeting global sustainability trends.

Dexia AM’s SRI fund quality reconfirmed by Novethic label

For the third year in a row, Dexia Asset Management has been awarded the Novethic SRI label across all asset classes.  
Novethic has awarded its SRI labels to 18 of Dexia Asset Management’s (Dexia AM) investment products, across their SRI fund range.

Message from the CEO

Following Dexia Group’s announcement of an orderly restructuring of the Group,   isolating Dexia’s financial legacy portfolio from the profitable operational activities and the client franchise, we can assure that Dexia Asset Management continues its business as usual.

Even Better UN-PRI Score for Dexia AM

Five years ago, as a responsible asset manager Dexia AM became one of the first signatories of the UN Principles of Responsible Investment (PRI).

As every year, UN-PRI requires its signatories to report on the extent to which they implement the Principles in their overall activities. The 2011 results are now available in the recently published 2011 Report on Progress: Dexia AM’s score improved versus last year.

Q&A: Do you believe that socially responsible investments will experience growth in the next decade?

Yes. That is what we think at Dexia AM. SRI is and will remain a line of strategic development, and the resources allocated are proof of that.

Q&A: Population ageing (which will cause workforce shortages) is an extremely important issue in several western countries. What could be the repercussions?

Demographic trends and evolutions are in fact complex subjects with many repercussions which will definitively impact investment opportunities.

Dexia Asset Management publishes its 2010 Sustainability Report

Dexia AM has a longstanding culture of sustainability. As early as 1996, Dexia AM took the lead in developing sustainable and responsible investment in a professional asset management context.

Dexia AM’s CEO elected to the EFAMA Board of Directors

EFAMA (European Fund and Asset Management Association) has elected for a two-year term its new Board of Directors, consisting of a president, two vice presidents and five Corporate Member Representatives

Fukushima Accident: a turning point

Investment implications for sectors & companies: a premium for safe and renewable energies, a larger discount for riskier nuclear power

Dexia AM releases a research paper on “Fukushima Accident: An Inflection Point for Nuclear Power

While the final outcomes of the Fukushima nuclear accident are still highly uncertain, SRI investors are already in a position to assess the different long-term energy scenarios following this dramatic event.

Dexia Asset Management appoints two independent directors

In order to further improve corporate governance at Dexia Asset Management, the company’s decision-making bodies recently appointed two independent directors.

Fukushima Nuclear Accident: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energies to take over from Nuclear Power?

While the final outcomes of the Fukushima nuclear accident are still highly uncertain, SRI investors are already in a position to assess the different long-term energy scenarios following this dramatic event.

Renewable energies are currently under the spotlight: Laurent Milliat, SRI analyst, gives his views on the performances and outlook for 2011

Clean-tech stocks were severely hit in the last three years. In particular, investors in renewable energy faced a difficult 2010 year, significantly underperforming the overall market by close to 30%.

Sustainability of nuclear energy on the long term

Today, to many people the use of nuclear power seems an ineluctable source of energy to ensure energy supply. Despite the benefits of nuclear power as a low carbon and low marginal cost energy which ensures security of supply, there is a controversy surrounding the use of nuclear power as a viable and sustainable alternative to other forms of energy due to the significant environmental, safety and security risks and liabilities related to nuclear reaction, nuclear wastes, power plants decommissioning and nuclear fuel proliferation.

Soaring food prices add to turmoil in North Africa & the Middle East

World food prices have hit new records as unrest in the Middle East and North Africa has escalated in recent weeks. The UNs Food and Agriculture Organisations (FAOs) Food Price Index rose to 236 points in February from 231 points in January, the highest level since monitoring began in 1990.

Dexia AM closely follows the European Commission's efforts to improve the disclosure of corporate ESG information

The number of multinational companies disclosing information on their environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance has grown significantly in recent years.

Dexia AM calls for sustainability disclosure from listed companies

Dexia Asset Management, as one of twenty-four institutional investors(*), has co-signed a letter to 30 of the world’s largest stock exchanges asking that they address inadequate sustainability reporting by companies.

Construction of sustainable stock indices

Wim Vermeir, member of the Executive Committee at Dexia AM will talk at the ALFI SRI conference on 17 February 2011.

Credibility of SRI funds in doubt?

Sustainable and Responsible Investment (SRI), often get critics regarding the credibility of their sustainable bias. The main critic is that, statistically, studies have shown that some SRI funds are not more sustainable than any other ‘regular’ fund as a lot of companies included in traditional benchmark can also be found in these SRI funds. The mismatch within some SRI funds can lead to a lack of credibility for SRI investments in general.

Assets Under Management in SRI up to EUR 5 000 Bn

A study conducted by Eurosif in 14 European countries shows that SRI Assets under management are today close to 5.000 Bn EUR ! Twice the figure as compared to the end of 2008!

Best Sustainable Financial Institution according to The New Economy

The New Economy's Sustainable Finance Awards reward the new banking elite and leading financial institutions whose vision and enterprise have shaped the landscape of sustainable finance. These companies demonstrate commitment in both developed and emerging markets, making sustainability a core part of their business.

Infrastructure assets are the backbone of our economy

This Eurosif sector report has been compiled with research by Dexia Asset Management. It describes the major environmental, social and governance (ESG) challenges facing the global infrastructure industry as well as the associated risks and opportunities these potentially pose for long-term returns.

Sustainable Emerging Markets strategy

In 2010 emerging markets equities did better than developed markets, outperforming them by about 8%. On the macro-economic front, they have been the main engines of global growth, and will continue to be so in 2011.

SRI, a Sustainable and Responsible Investment approach

The objective of this document is to explain the relevance of SRI to Institutional Investors, and more particularly to pension and provident funds. This document was jointly written by the SRI, Investment Specialists, RFP and CRM teams.

Dexia Asset Management supports the Access to Medicine Foundation

Dexia Asset Management has endorsed the Access to Medicine Index, a benchmarking tool designed to increase transparency in the pharmaceutical industry.

The quality of Dexia AM’s SRI funds once again confirmed by the Novethic label

For the second consecutive year, Dexia AM has obtained the Label ISR (SRI) from Novethic.

Top Best-in-Class fund (Euro zone), reports Option Finance

In a special SRI dossier, Isabelle Cabie, Head of SRI at Dexia AM, demonstrated her expertise in socially responsible investment.

Sustainable North America strategy

Dexia AM’ sustainable North America strategy follows a philosophy that systematically takes environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria into account when making investment decisions.

BELSIF organises the second edition of SRI Week

The second edition of Sustainable and Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Week will be held in Brussels from October 18 to 24, 2010.

Mining & Green Technology

Is the Metal & Mining (M&M) sector due for an image revamp?
Can the sector ever be considered ‘green’?

Dexia AM: engagement report

Dexia AM commits itself on a daily basis to encouraging companies to improve their corporate governance and sustainable development practices.

Being committed, having convictions, together to the essence

In September 2010, Dexia AM launched a new advertising campaign that subscribes to the Dexia branding concept of “together to the essence”.

Dexia AM commits to being a responsible asset manager.

And this commitment is not only about our leadership in Sustainable and Responsible Investments. It also means that, as a company, we want to continue to develop our own long-standing culture of responsibility: building long-term partnerships with clients,

BP removed from Dexia AM‘s SRI universe

Deepwater Horizon oil spill leading to a fundamental review of business model of energy sector

BP's sustainability scoring under review

With regards to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Dexia Asset Management's sustainability analysts launched an "SRI alert" for BP end-of-april

Food Scarcity - Trends, Challenges, Solutions

 Food scarcity is set to define food production in the coming decades, putting food security issues at the top of the global agenda. The demand for food is growing, due in particular to two factors: population and income growth.

Energy Efficiency’s Threats and Opportunities for European Utilities

Laurent Milliat about Energy Efficiency’s Threats and Opportunities for European Utilities

Our SRI funds acknowledged by Morningstar and Tageblatt in Luxembourg

Morningstar and the Tageblatt newspaper, in partnership with Dexia BIL, have acknowledged the top funds issued in Luxembourg as well as the top asset management companies.

Echo TV – Jurgen Vluijmans interviewed about Dexia Sustainable North America

Jurgen Vluijmans was recently interviewed by Carine Mathieu in the "Funds in Focus" (« Fonds à la loupe » - only available in french) programme, where he fielded questions on Dexia Sustainable North America. This fund invests in North American company equities whose investment strategy takes corporate and sustainable development principles into account.

Isabelle Cabie, Head of Sustainable & Responsible Investment at Dexia Asset Management

In 1992, Isabelle Cabie joined Dexia as a macro economist. Since 1998, she has been involved in the management of institutional mandates, both in traditional and in Sustainable & Responsible Investment, at Dexia AM, first as Senior Asset Manager and later as Global Head of Institutional Portfolio Management.

Outlook for the (renewable) energy sector after the Copenhagen conference

One of the highlights of 2009 was the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference. It’s no big secret that the conference ended in disappointment, given that it failed to lead to a decisive agreement. Nevertheless, we believe that it has helped create a major framework for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions over the long term. 

Back to Sustainable Value Creation

While a lot of attention has been, and continues to be, focused on sustainable products, one aspect that is often overlooked is that of packaging. The worldwide market for packaging is currently valued at US$429 billion, and is forecasted to surpass US$500 billion in sales within five years1, at an annual growth rate exceeding the total global increase in GDP.

SRI live chat - video feedback

Gaëtan Herinckx, of Dexia Asset Management’s Sustainable & Responsible Investment (SRI) department, has taken part in a "live chat" organised by L’Echo and De Tijd.

Five secular sustainability trends

The world is changing at a stellar pace. These changes bring in their wake challenges involving the way we do business, and the means employed by companies to market their products and interact with their major stakeholders, including employees, customers and the environment. The same challenges will also open up new consumer markets and exciting new opportunities. Dexia Asset Management’s proprietary sustainability team has identified five major sustainability challenges which will shape the economic, social and business environment in the years to come.

Looking forward to Copenhagen (Video)

Sustainable economic development cannot be achieved without a stable climate
Opinion column by Gaëtan Herinckx & Jurgen Vluijmans, sustainable and responsible investment Dexia Asset Management

Dexia AM becomes a signatory to the “Copenhagen Communiqué on Climate Change” & to the “Investor Statement on the Urgent Need for a Global Agreement on Climate Change”

Dexia AM pays a lot of attention to climate change and acknowledges its role in investment decisions by integrating it into SRI analysis. Therefore, we have become a signatory to two major initiatives in this sphere.

Back to Sustainable Value Creation

The facts are incontestable; the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that by 2015 there will be 2.3 billion overweight adults in the world with more than 700 million of them classified as obese. Presently, 28% of the population is overweight with obesity rates at around 7%, and these figures are expected to grow to 40% and 12% respectively by 2020.