For some years now, BNP Paribas Wealth Management has been offering its clients a range of options for Socially Responsible Investment (SRI). A WM expert team is tasked to create SRI products in conjunction with our various Wealth Management centres.
Observing a growing desire among our clients to support sectors which have considerable social and environmental value-added, BNP Paribas Wealth Management offers investments with long-term growth prospects.
Choosing to invest in sustainable business activities does not mean that our clients are sacrificing financial performance. There is general consensus today that the returns on SRI products can be just as competitive as those on other types of investment.
We provide our clients with a broad, diversified product portfolio, ranging from ‘Best in Class' funds – i.e. selecting the most promising companies when Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria are taken into account – to Impact Funds, whose aim is to have a measurable social or environmental impact, and themed funds focusing on microfinance, social enterprise, water treatment, energy efficiency or other specific goals. For clients who wish to delegate the management of their assets, we also offer services such as SRI discretionary mandates.
BNP Paribas Wealth Management has now passed an initial milestone, having placed €1 billion in SRI funds on behalf of our clients. Our aim is to take this initiative much further, significantly increasing SRI weighting in client portfolios.
Meanwhile BNP Paribas Wealth Management continues to demonstrate its commitment to Socially Responsible Investment by making own-account investments in the SRI sector and the social economy. Wealth Management invests directly in a number of funds in our offer range, such as the ‘ResponsAbility' fund, which supports microfinance in developing countries, and PhiTrust Partners, which invests in social enterprises in Europe and Africa.
About BNP Paribas Wealth Management (www.wealthmanagement.bnpparibas.com)
BNP Paribas Wealth Management is the world's 7th largest private bank, present in some 30 countries. Over 6,000 professionals, based in every major financial centre, provide a private investor clientele with solutions for optimising and managing their assets. The bank has €257 billion worth of assets under management (as at end June 2012).