Managers wanted: Sustainability skills essential 

3 January 2013

A successful investment program relies on strategy and on the availability of highly-skilled managers. Mercer is currently seeking innovative and experienced managers with a compelling investment case to help our clients implement their sustainable strategy. Helga Birgden, Mercer’s Head of Responsible Investment, Asia Pacific reports.

Building a Responsible Investment portfolio 

6 December 2012

What kinds of options are available for investors looking to implement a Responsible Investment strategy? In this article, Mercer explores the institutional-quality market landscape. 

Case Study – Responsible Investment in Japan 

6 December 2012

What does Responsible Investment look like in action? This article describes how a Japanese corporate pension fund chose to implement an RI strategy focused on environmental, social and governance themes.

The UK “Shareholder Spring” – a single season or lasting trend? 

6 December 2012

Following a particularly active General Meeting season for corporations around the world, Mercer ponders solutions for improving the quality of engagement between investee companies, investment managers and asset owners.

Actuarial Post article

October 2012

Responsible investment (RI) is often viewed with hesitation by investors due to a belief that it detracts from financial performance. This view is based on a common misconception of what RI is and how it differs from ethical and socially responsible investment (SRI). Whilst all three approaches are related, there are important differences. This article explains these differences by charting the evolution of RI from its religious roots in the 18th Century to the modern approach to RI – the integration of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues into investment decisions in order to provide better risk-adjusted returns - particularly over the long term.

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Stewardship: a solution to "quarterly capitalism"

March 2012

The financial crisis has in part been a crisis of ownership. The western system of capitalism is facing serious challenges from civil society and questions are being raised as to whether shareholders should continue to enjoy the rights of ownership without due regard to the obligations that come with it.

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Mercer's ESG ratings update - 5,000 and counting 

13 February 2012

This is an exciting time for Mercer. Since 2008, our manager research team has been evaluating investment managers based on integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, allowing our clients to make more informed decisions in the selection and monitoring of managers. We have now reached the milestone of 5,000 ratings assigned to strategies across geographies and asset classes. The following article takes stock of our ESG ratings and ESG integration among institutional managers: where we’ve been and where we’re going.

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Climate change update

11 January 2012

On 15 February 2011 Mercer's Responsible Investment (RI) team launched Climate Change Scenarios - Implications for Strategic Asset Allocation, a free public report.

In the months following its release, Mercer held discussions with the investors partners involved in commissioning the research. The objectives of these discussions were to gain feedback on the partners' experience with the collaboration, and gain insight regarding any action that has, will or may take place as a result of the study's findings and recommendations. This report shares those findings.