Become a signatory

Procedure for signing up

1. Read the Principles brochure (PDF: 173 kb) and decide which category your organisation falls into (Frequently asked question: "Who can sign?").

2. Email a letter signed by your CEO (or equivalent) to the email address info@unpri.org.

The letter should contain:

• a statement confirming your organisation's approval of the Principles. It would also be helpful to include reasons for your decision and any expectations you may have from becoming a PRI signatory
• for asset owners and investment managers, a commitment to take part in the PRI's annual Reporting and Assessment
• a brief paragraph or two about your organisation
• the category of signatory (asset owner, investment manager, professional service partner)
• the approximate assets under management
• full contact details of your main PRI contact, as well as any other people who you would like to receive PRI communications.

* Note: Only organisations that are operational can sign to the PRI. Organisations that are in the fundraising phase have to wait until they have assets under management before they can sign.

3. If you are an investment manager or professional service partner, please add some text to your website outlining the specific services and products your organisation has to assist signatories in fulfilling their commitments to the Principles, and send the web address of that page to the above email address. A link to your PRI page will be added in the Signatory List.

Once your CEO letter has been received, you will be emailed a confirmation of receipt, an update of signatory activities and an invoice for the voluntary contribution to the PRI. You will also be sent the username and password to the Signatory Intranet, which contains the Engagement Clearinghouse.

What do signatories commit to?

The one mandatory requirement of being a signatory is to complete the annual Reporting and Assessment process. This is an online survey that helps signatories evaluate progress in implementing the six Principles. This commitment applies to all asset owner and investment manager signatories. There is a grace year to allow new signatories to learn from their peers and determine how best to monitor and report their progress.

You can read more about this at www.unpri.org/reporting/

The PRI Initiative also announced at its 2009 Annual General Meeting that it plans to introduce an annual mandatory minimum fee in 2011 and a public reporting requirement for all signatories that will become part of the Reporting and Assessment process in 2012. A consultation is currently underway to determine the most appropriate frameworks for these elements in advance of their 2012 introduction. The mandatory fee will be scaled depending on fund size, and for large funds, will not exceed the current suggested annual voluntary contribution of US$10,000.

If you have any questions, please email info@unpri.org.