The $170bn (£122bn, €138bn) Asian investment management arm of Prudential joins more than 1,900 asset owners, investment managers and service providers from 50 countries already signed up to the six principles.
Launched in 2006, the UN PRI is a voluntary set of investment principles aimed at helping signatories incorporate ESG issues into investment practice.
Eastspring said adopting the PRI is part of its fiduciary duty to clients as it looks to implement an ESG focus across all asset classes, research and investment decision-making.
Guy Strapp, chief executive at Eastspring, said: “We have joined a global community of more than 1,900 asset owners, investment managers and service providers who are working to create an efficient and sustainable financial system that will reward long-term responsible investment.
“We firmly believe that such a system is essential for long-term value creation to which Eastspring and our clients aspire.”
Fiona Reynolds, managing director of PRI, said: “We commend Eastspring’s commitment to sustainable investing and are very pleased that they have chosen to join the PRI.
“In recent years, we have seen strong interest in ESG across Asia and we hope that other Asia based investment managers will follow Eastspring’s lead in embracing sustainable investment strategies. We look forward to working with Eastspring in the years to come.”
Virginie Maisonneuve, chief investment officer at Eastspring, added: “As a leading active asset manager in the region with a long-term bias, it is our responsibility to help individuals and institutions build a financially sound future, while playing a positive role in the development of capital markets and encouraging strong corporate governance.”
This comes as research by Natixis found an increasing appetite for ESG among 500 of the largest investors across the globe.
The firm’s survey found three in five (60%) of institutional investors, including corporate and public pension funds, foundations, endowments, insurance funds and sovereign wealth funds, now integrate ESG into their approach.
It also revealed 59% believe there is alpha to be found in ESG investing and 56% say it mitigates risk. In addition, 61% think it will become standard practice within the next five years.
