January 24, 2011: SPP launched an index fund that follows the principles of socially responsible investment (SRI). The new fund is entitled SPP Beta Emerging Markets SRI, and it aims to invest in both, the well-established and emerging markets.
SPP Beta emerging markets SRI follows the MSCI emerging markets index, allowing it to have a low fee set at .95 percent. The fund also follows the SPP rules for socially responsibly investments, the fund thus, ‘refrains from investing in companies engaged in the violation of human rights, labor rights and international law, serious corruption, serious environmental damage and production of landmines, cluster munitions, nuclear weapons and tobacco’.
CEO of SPP Funds, Peter Beckman, stated in the company press release: "The fact that the fund invests in emerging markets, is SRI-screened and has a very low fee makes it unique in the market. Association provides an affordable opportunity to invest in the booming regions in a healthy and responsible way. " Beckman added , " we have had great demand for this type of fund for a long time, so the fund will be a welcome addition in the index fund family and complete the offer in a good way. "
Spp’s research department for environmental and social responsibility has over 15 years of experience, and they are currently supervising over 4500 companies. The standards for SRI are set, and the company has no problem refusing companies, due to inadequate SRI analysis. According to Stina Billinger, Corporate Strategist at SPP, “We have already been forced to exclude several companies due to inadequate analysis of environmental and social responsibility and has many more under investigation. We always try first affecting the company for improvement before we rule out, it is through pressure and dialogue we see the greatest change. For us it is important to work with social responsibility also in emerging markets, although of course the challenge is greater there, than in established markets. "
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