Releases annual Sustainable and Responsible
Investing Report outlining ESG initiatives across investment
teams
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TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945
TORONTO and BOSTON, Oct. 19,
2020 /CNW/ - As sustainable investing continues to drive
interest across the globe, Manulife Investment Management announced
it was recently recognized in the Principles for Responsible
Investment's PRI Leaders' Group 2020, a 10-year initiative
honoring signatories at the cutting edge of responsible investment.
This year, 36 signatories, including Manulife Investment
Management, were recognized for demonstrating responsible
investment excellence in climate reporting throughout their
organization and portfolios.
"We are grateful to the PRI for recognizing our efforts in
integrating climate data and analysis into our portfolios and
pleased to detail our extensive sustainability initiatives across
our investment teams in our Sustainable and Responsible Investing
Report," said Paul Lorentz,
President and CEO, Manulife Investment Management. "Sustainability
is a natural fit for our organization, given our traditional focus
on risk management and investment research, and our history of
sustainably operating real assets such as timber and farmland.
Today, we offer a number of ways for investors to align their
investments with their values, and our commitment to ESG investing
deepens every year."
Manulife Investment Management showcases its ongoing commitment
to ESG analysis, research, and integration with its second annual
Sustainable and Responsible Investing Report. Released today, the
report covers activities in both public and private markets in
sustainable asset management and showcases a holistic view of
Manulife Investment Management's sustainability-focused research
capabilities, engagement activities, and asset ownership practices.
The document also demonstrates concrete steps taken at the firm
throughout 2019 to integrate sustainability considerations into
investment decision-making. The Sustainable and Responsible
Investing Report outlines Manulife Investment Management's key
areas of sustainability focus and metrics of success. Focus areas
include strong governance, ESG integration, active and responsible
ownership, and global collaboration across numerous platforms for
broader industry effectiveness.
Highlights from private markets in 2019, pertaining to real
estate, private equity and infrastructure, included formalizing a
robust governance structure for its sustainable investing program,
actively participating in industry associations such as Leading
Harvest Sustainable Farmland Management Standard and improving Real
Estate GRESB scores, earning a "Green Star" ranking in six
submissions. In public markets, Manulife Investment Management
advanced ESG integration and active engagement across its equity
and fixed-income capabilities. As a result, Manulife Investment
Management won the 2019 SDG Canadian Leadership Awards for large
enterprise – Canada's premier
award for organizations and businesses doing exceptional work to
integrate and advance the 17 Sustainable and Development Goals of
the United Nations Global Compact.
"We're proud of the progress we've made driving our sustainable
and responsible investing at Manulife Investment Management as
we strive to lead the industry in ESG integration practices," said
Christopher P. Conkey, CFA, global
head of public markets, Manulife Investment Management. "For
investors, focusing on sustainability is more important now than it
has ever been; the world is running up against the limits of
natural capital, which increases social and economic risks in
virtually every corner of the capital markets. Sustainability and
resilience are central to our clients' objectives, to the broader
set of stakeholders with whom we work, and to the communities whose
lives are touched by our capital allocation decisions."
"Responsible stewardship of our clients' capital resides at the
core of our business and culture," added Stephen J. Blewitt, global head of private
markets, Manulife Investment Management. "As sustainable investing
continues to migrate from the margins of our industry to its
mainstream, investor demand drives that shift. By doing the right
things for the right reasons, we also aspire to be a partner of
choice for clients who recognize that ESG considerations are often
tied to economic ones."
Inaugural TCFD report
As part of its 2019 Sustainable and Responsible Investing
report, Manulife Investment Management included its inaugural TCFD
report—which follows the voluntary disclosure framework developed
by the Financial Stability Board's Taskforce for Climate-related
Financial Disclosure (TCFD). The framework sets out how businesses
should disclose climate-related financial risks and opportunities
within the context of their existing disclosure
requirements. For Manulife Investment Management, this report
offers details on the firm's approach to climate-related
sustainability governance, risk management, strategy
for managing climate-related risks and
opportunities, and the metrics used to manage and monitor
alignment with climate-related goals.
Top Scores on PRI Assessment
Also contained in the 2019 report is Manulife Investment
Management's recently announced Principles for Responsible
Investment (PRI) assessment results and rationale. Scores for 2019
included:
- A+ for strategy and governance
- A+ for equity integration
- A+ for SSA fixed-income integration (sovereign, supranational,
and agency debt)
- A for real estate
- A for equity active ownership
- A for fixed income (corporate financial, corporate
non-financial, and securitized)
- B for infrastructure (this asset class was submitted for the
first time)
- B for private equity (this asset class was submitted for the
first time)
Click here for more information about the Manulife Investment
Management 2019 Sustainable and Responsible Investing Report.
About Manulife Investment Management
Manulife
Investment Management is the global wealth and asset management
segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a
century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our
parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement
plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public
and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint
that spans 17 countries and territories. We complement these
capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset
managers from around the world. We're committed to investing
responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global
frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with
companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high
standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we
believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace
retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our
retirement plan administration and investment expertise to
help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better
retirement.
As of June 30, 2020, Manulife
Investment Management had CAD$900
billion (US$660 billion) in
assets under management and administration. Not all offerings
are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information,
please visit manulifeim.com.
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SOURCE Manulife Investment Management