Thematics Asset Management (Thematics AM), an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers focused on global thematic investing, has become a signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI).

UN PRI requires institutional investors to commit to six investment declarations, including requirements to incorporate environmental, social and governance issues into its investment processes and ownership policies. It also requires asset managers to promote the principles and disclose its progress.

The UN lists them as follows:

1) To incorporate Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) issues into investment analysis and decision making;

2) To be an active owner and to incorporate ESG issues into ownership policies and practices;

3) To seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which it invests;

4) To promote acceptance and implementation of the Principles within the investment industry;

5) To work with the PRI Secretariat and other signatories to enhance their effectiveness in implementing the Principles;

6) To report on its activities and progress towards implementing the Principles.

Thematics AM believe the principles match its own investment philosophy which is outlined by its four investment pillars. These pillars include identifying secular growth opportunities, being focused in terms of defining investment themes and universes, being unconstrained in terms of sector, geography and size, and bringing a responsible investment approach.

Commenting on the sign-up to UN PRI, Karen Kharmandarian, chief investment officer at Thematics AM, said: “Thematic investing is about having a long-term focus and identifying the ‘winners’ of tomorrow, which are the companies that benefit from long-term, secular growth drivers. Our approach is not exclusionary; ESG is integrated at the very heart of our investment philosophy.”

Mohammed Amor, Thematics AM’s chief executive, added: “Becoming a signatory of the UN PRI is a natural move for Thematics AM and it reflects our ambition to continue to strengthen our commitment in the field of responsible investment, which has been a key feature of our process since we established the company earlier this year. We are convinced that integrating ESG and maintaining an active ownership approach are critical to enhancing returns and better managing risk over the long term.”

This positivity in the move was reflected in the response of Fiona Reynolds, PRI’s chief executive officer.

She said:  “We are delighted to welcome Thematics AM as a signatory of PRI. In joining PRI, Thematics AM is recognizing the importance of E, S and G factors in investment strategies, and we look forward to working with the team.”