Witan Investment Trust plc signed UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment
Wednesday, 12 February 2020
Witan Investment Trust plc announces that it has become a signatory of the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment ('PRI').
The PRI signatories are a global network of asset managers, owners and service providers working together to put responsible investment into practice and to report publicly on their progress in doing so. The principles, which are voluntary, provide a framework for integrating environmental, social and corporate governance ('ESG') considerations into investment decision-making and ownership practices.
The Company has made this commitment to underline the further integration of ESG factors into its investment process both by Witan and its managers. Eight out of ten of Witan's external managers are already signatories to the PRI.
Andrew Bell, CEO of Witan Investment Trust, commented:
"Witan has always viewed governance in its broadest sense as integral to proper investment management. As awareness of these increasingly urgent issues grows, we and our managers place increased emphasis on ESG factors when making investment decisions, to understand and mitigate potential risks and to identify the opportunities of the future. We will be reporting on the development of our investment policy and approach in future Annual Reports."
"We welcome Witan Investment Trust's commitment to responsible investment and recognition of the importance of integrating ESG considerations into the investment decision making process," said PRI CEO Fiona Reynolds, "and look forward to working with them in the coming months."