Hermes Investment Management Joins Sustainability Initiative

Robbie Lawther

12 September 2017

has joined the United Nations Global Compact, a global corporate sustainability initiative.

The United Nations Global Compact is a request to companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and to take action in support of UN goals and issues embodied in the sustainable development goals, the firm said in a statement.

Hermes EOS, the firm’s engagement and stewardship team, is an advisory service which enables its clients to be responsible investors and owners of companies, advising on more than $403.5 bilion of assets. Hermes EOS will engage with companies to fulfil the UN Global Compact principles.

“For over thirty years, responsible investing has been at the heart of Hermes and we are always looking for opportunities to develop and further embed our understanding of the impact our investments have on wider society," Saker Nusseibeh, chief executive. "In September I will be leading a high-level roundtable discussion at the 2017 United Nations Private Sector Forum where I am looking forward to sharing some of the experiences Hermes has had and also learning from other leading businesses on how we can collectively build sustainable financial markets."

Nusseibeh added: “We are committed to making the UN Global Compact and its principles part of the strategy, culture and day-to-day operations of our company, and to engaging in collaborative projects which advance the broader development goals of the United Nations, particularly the sustainable development goals. We believe that this is not only the right thing to do but that sustainable growth creates a more sustainable financial ecosystem for the benefit of all.”