DPAM holds the 4th position in the top 10 of Sustainable Asset Managers in Europe, according to H&K Responsible Investment Brand Index 2020. The company has escalated four positions this year compared to 2019. Additionally, it is ranked in the 2nd position within the Benelux market. DPAM has been in the top 10 for three years in a row and appears in the index’s ‘Avant-Gardist’ category.
In its third edition, the Hirschel & Kramer Responsible Investment Brand Index (RIBI™) has expanded the total universe of analysed European asset managers to 284 and adds further depth to the evaluation methodology. RIBI™ which evaluates the asset management industry on its ability to translate its commitment to sustainable development into each asset manager’s respective brand. The index evaluates actual commitment against follow-through in brand architecture.
Five companies have consistently made it to the Top-10 in each of the last three years. DPAM is one of them. The index allows companies to be classified into four categories: avant-garde, which are distinguished by a strong commitment and brand architecture in responsible investment; the traditional IRs, who display strong engagement, but weak brand architecture; IR aspirants, who have a good score on the brand dimension but a low score on the “engagement” dimension, and the IR laggards, who are weak in both areas.
DPAM appears in the index’s ‘Avant-Gardist’ category, which applies to fund houses with an above average ‘commitment’ and ‘brand’ rating. This is the top rated category. An increasing number of asset managers are aspiring to move into the Avant-Gardist category. While the category of Aspirants is on the up (6% vs 1% in 2019), not enough effort is being made in the other two categories.
The two RIBI assessment dimensions are:
- Commitment : (vertical, hard factors) a total of seven top-level weighted-average criteria, such as level and quality of Listed Equity voting, strategy and governance of responsible investment etc. The evaluation source is based on the Principles of Responsible Investment Transparency Reports.
- Brand: (horizontal, soft factors): a total of eight qualitative criteria, such as expression of a Purpose statement, expression of a value system, link to societal values etc. This evaluation is based on research and subject matter expertise.
Hugo Lasat, CEO at DPAM, comments: “As a sustainable actor, we strive to make a meaningful difference by putting sustainability at the forefront of our global agenda. Our company puts great emphasis on the future, and looks at its role as an asset manager from a broader perspective. As a result, our investments and activities go beyond financial performance. Our three pillars – Active. Sustainable. Research. – are the base of our portfolio construction. We offer solutions aligned with the ESG challenges and the 2025-2030 ambitions for (post-pandemic) sustainable and inclusive growth. Going forward, we will continue to promote our commitment to sustainability to provide an optimal service to our clients, while creating a long-lasting and meaningful societal impact”.
