Teachers’ signs on to UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment
Documentary and video features available online
TORONTO - The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (Teachers') today announced that it is a signatory to the United Nations-backed Principles for Responsible Investment Initiative (PRI).
PRI is a set of six principles that reflect the view that environmental, social and corporate governance issues – or ESG issues – need to be appropriately considered in the investment process as they can affect portfolio performance. The principles provide a voluntary framework by which investors can incorporate ESG issues into their decision-making and ownership practices. Approximately 900 investment institutions and service providers, with assets under management of approximately US$25 trillion, have become signatories. More information about PRI is available at www.unpri.org.
"We are pleased to endorse PRI and look forward to sharing best practices and collaborating with like-minded investors from around the world as we analyze the financial implications of ESG risks and opportunities," said Teachers' President and CEO Jim Leech. "Our investing practices were already aligned with most of the principles and PRI reflects the increasing importance of responsible investing to our members and potential partners. As a natural extension to our long record of leadership on matters of corporate governance, PRI is consistent with our core values of championing accountability and risk consciousness."
In concert with its joining PRI, Teachers' has co-produced, with the Cormana Group of Toronto, a 20-minute video documentary on the topic of responsible investing that captures insights from experts across the investment spectrum (Watch the trailer). Responsible Investing – An Evolving Story is available for viewing online at www.otpp.com/investments/responsible-investing. Also available on the website is a series of roundtable discussions with senior members of Teachers' investment team about key responsible investing questions and an interactive video feature that explains Teachers' investment process.
With $107.5 billion in assets as of December 31, 2010, Teachers' is the largest single-profession pension plan in Canada. An independent organization, it invests the pension fund's assets and administers the pensions of 295,000 active and retired teachers in Ontario. For more information visit www.otpp.com.
Contact :
Deborah Allan
Director, Communications and Media Relations
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
(416) 730-5347
deborah_allan@otpp.com