Embark Investments signs up to the United Nations PRI

Embark Investments has announced that it has signed up to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI), ratifying and committing to maintain and build on its existing ESG approach.

The framework that Embark Investments employs to oversee the award-winning Horizon by Embark (Horizon) multi-asset fund range already aligns with the UN PRI’s six core principles. By signing up to these principles, Embark Investments has clearly signalled its commitment to continue incorporating ESG factors into its approach.

Embark Investments, as the Authorised Corporate Director (ACD) of the Horizon fund range, has over time enhanced its scrutiny on ESG. It monitors the portfolio through a number of ESG-related indicators on a monthly basis and proactively engages with the appointed investment manager, Columbia Threadneedle Investments (Columbia Threadneedle).

The multi-asset experts responsible for the five Horizon funds at Columbia Threadneedle, as well as the portfolio managers of Horizon’s underlying sub-funds, are supported in their decision-making by Columbia Threadneedle’s Responsible Investment (RI) analysts. Their proprietary RI ratings tool provides insights into a company’s ESG metrics, leadership, governance, culture and operational standards of practice, with a focus on issues that are material to its long-term performance. Their approach includes understanding linkages between sustainability opportunities on the one hand, and growth and competitive advantage on the other.

Thomas Rostron, CEO, Embark Investments, commented: “Our mission as ACD is to ensure the Horizon funds offer a user-friendly investment package for financial advisers, which fulfils the responsible investment goals of the investors in a way that does not curtail their financial aspirations, but enhances them. Our preference is to take an integrated approach as we believe engaging with companies will have a greater positive impact across industry as a whole rather than focusing purely on today’s established ESG companies.”

 William Davies, Chief Investment Officer, EMEA Columbia Threadneedle, commented:  “We congratulate Embark on becoming a signatory to the UN PRI. Responsible investment has long been a foundation in our investment approach – through our investment research, using our proprietary RI ratings, and our active engagement with the companies we invest in. As a founding signatory to the UN PRI and managers of the Horizon Funds, it’s excellent to see an important partner making this commitment.”


Editors’ notes

For further information, please contact:

Quintin Keanie

The Agency Partnership (Embark Media Relations)

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 07880 602902

About Embark Group

Embark Group is a full-scale UK retirement solutions provider, active in the areas of Investment Platform, SIPP, SSAS, Multi-Asset Funds, Fund Research and Employee Benefits Consulting. The Group trades under the brands Embark, Rowanmoor, Vested and The Adviser Centre. It also operates a wide portfolio of white label services for business such as RBS Coutts, Standard Life, Nutmeg, BestInvest, Charles Stanley, Moneyfarm and Wealthsimple. Businesses within the Embark Group have been established in the market for more than 40 years and have a long history of working closely with intermediary distribution partners and consumers of all levels of affluence.

The Group has more than £38bn in assets under administration on behalf of c415,000 consumer clients, operating across eight UK locations (London, Bolton, Dundee, Edinburgh, Leeds, Leicester, Salisbury and Swindon). Embark has been recognised as one of the most innovative Wealth Tech companies in 2019 and 2020.

www.embarkgroup.co.uk

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