The Environment Agency Pension Schemes has hired two low volatility global equity managers.

The contract was awarded to Robeco and Quoniam Asset Management worth an estimated £2m each over a 72 month period.

In a tender alert, The Environment Agency said that the appointed managers will tend to a low volatility global equity portfolio with an estimated value of between £50m and £165m.

Alongside certain requirements and specifications, The Environment Agency stated that it was interested in hearing from managers who were willing to consider integrating financially material environment, social and governance (ESG) considerations into their investment strategy and that they would consider the financial impacts arising from ESG risks.

The agency also said that it would prefer the manager to show commitment to responsible investment, as evidenced by UN Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) membership, support for other responsible investment initiatives and/ or allocation of resources to responsible investment.

First published 12.03.2013

monique_simpson@wilmington.co.uk