Asset owner resources

Asset owners set the direction of markets and therefore play a key role in promoting and embedding environment, social and governance (ESG) factors throughout the investment chain.

Latest resources

Achieving climate commitments in multi-asset portfolios

2022-11-22T08:01:00+00:00

This report helps asset owners address the complexity of implementing a climate commitment across multi-asset portfolios.

Inside PRI data: asset owner action

2022-07-07T07:08:00+01:00

This report analyses the responses of asset owner signatories who participated in PRI reporting in 2021. It covers asset owners’ top-level commitments, responsible investment policies, processes for selecting, appointing and monitoring managers, and climate-change strategies.

Our technical guides for asset owners

The PRI has created a raft of technical guides, divided into five modules set out below, to help asset owners develop a responsible investment strategy and requirements, and then select, appoint and monitor an investment manager accordingly. To hear more about our asset owner work, contact us, or select one of the modules below.

MODULE 1

Strategy, policy and strategic asset allocation

■ Writing a policy
■ Defining a strategy
■ Developing an approach to strategic asset allocation

MODULE 2

Mandate requirements and RFPs

■ Developing mandate ESG requirements
■ Creating RFPs for manager search

MODULE 3

Manager selection

■ Longlist of managers
■ Shortlist of managers
■ In-depth due diligence

MODULE 4

Manager appointment

■ Embedding ESG requirements into legal documents
■ Sample model contracts

MODULE 5

Manager monitoring

■ Identifying minimum reporting disclosures
■ Considering asset class-specific reporting

INTRODUCTORY GUIDES

More Responsible Investment Introductory Guides >>

ESG INCORPORATION BEST PRACTICE BLOG

Leadership in ESG incorporation – asset owners

To meet their climate change commitments, asset owners will need to develop increasingly sophisticated systematic approaches to assessing and benchmarking the alignment of prospective managers.

Due diligence questionnaires

Asset owner DDQs

The PRI has produced responsible investment due diligence questionnaires covering a range of asset classes.

PRI in Person 2022

More resources

Incorporating human rights and climate into investment mandates
2022-07-11T11:33:00+01:00
The ICGN have recently published an update of the ICGN model mandate paper alongside the GISD. In this session we will explore the paper, how it might be used and how the relationship between asset managers and asset owners has changed since the publication of the original paper in 2012.
PRI Digital Conference: Fund governance for the next generation
2022-01-31T11:16:00+00:00
This session we explore how asset owners should react, what their responsibilities are and how relationships with asset managers and beneficiaries might change.
Committing to Net Zero as a smaller asset owner – expectations, strategy and action
2021-11-01T13:38:00+00:00
During this episode, Eline Sleurink, Head of UK and Ireland and Middle East, Dave Gorman, Head of Social Responsibility and Sustainability, University of Edinburgh and Ben Pollard, CEO and Cofounder, Cushon discuss how the University of Edinburgh and Cushon have set a net zero target, the first steps they are ...

Responsible investment in practice

The evolution of responsible investment: an analysis of advanced signatory practices

This report delves into which practices have shifted to become the norm, and which ones remain advanced, suggesting that they are more challenging to implement.

Directory of service providers

Directory of PRI service provider signatories

This report provides basic information about PRI service provider signatories that publicly reported in 2020 and the services that they offer.

Guide on investment consultants

Investment consultants and ESG: an asset owner guide

Investment consultants advise on how trillions of dollars are invested worldwide, but most consultants are failing to consider the role that ESG issues play in investment performance.

Human rights - case studies

The PRI will be affording its work on human rights equal strategic priority to its work on climate change. Therefore, identifying and sharing examples of leading practices around investors challenges, opportunities and responsibilities in relation to human rights will be a significant priority of the programme of work.

“The PRI believes that responsible investment principles should be at the core of the relationship between the asset owner and the investment manager.” - Fiona Reynolds (PRI)

“From greenwashing to real world outcomes. That is the future of the relationship between Asset Owners and their Investment managers. A strong cooperation between Asset Owners and Investment Managers is the base of successful ESG integration and real world outcomes of responsible investments.” - Xander den Uyl (ABP)

"We expect investment managers to provide further transparency in ESG integration such as ESG policies, processes, resources, disclosures, and active ownership practices where relevant." - Eri Yamaguchi, ESG Officer (New York State Common Retirement Fund)

ESG goals

How asset owners and their managers can work together on ESG goals

Following the release of our technical guides on selecting, appointing and monitoring investment managers, the PRI convened a number of panel discussions to talk through how asset owners can work collaboratively with investment managers throughout the selection, appointment and monitoring process.

Asset owner related case studies

African Asset Owner Climate Awareness Course

2020-11-19T13:15:00+00:00

PRI is proud to announce the launch of our online training course for African Asset Owners. This short (two to three hour) training course is designed for African investors and aims to develop investor understanding around responsible investment – with a particular emphasis on empowering asset owners with knowledge regarding ...