#None #ESG Compliance #Responsible Investment #RIBI 2025

The Responsible Investment Brand Index (RIBI) 2025 Overview

The seventh edition of the Responsible Investment Brand Index (RIBI) 2025 underscores a pivotal transformation in responsible investing practices across the globe. Traditionally, the focus was on satisfying environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, but this report suggests that the focus is shifting significantly towards fostering genuine and clear identities in investment strategies.

Major Findings

In total, RIBI 2025 evaluated 623 asset managers from around the world. Key findings reveal:

• - A notable increase in the presence of firms categorized as "Avant-Gardist", now claiming 20% of the evaluated sector with 30 new entrants.
• - The percentage of firms categorized as laggards has reached a three-year low, indicating improvements in responsible investment practices.
• - Just over half of the firms articulate a clear purpose, with fewer than half translating this into distinctive value systems that set them apart from competitors.

The Evolution of Responsible Investing

RIBI 2025 signifies the evolution towards what is being termed "Responsible Investment 2.0". This phase emphasizes the importance of authenticity, consistency, and strategic clarity in leadership. Investors are now seeking asset managers who not only ensure compliance with ESG but also stand firmly behind their stated commitments with tangible actions and transparent values.

The Index's Metrics

The assessment conducted by RIBI incorporates two primary lenses: 1) Commitment to Responsible Investment, using vertical, data-driven factors based on the UN's Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI) data, and 2) Brand evaluation which focuses on soft factors reflecting how these commitments are perceived in the marketplace.

Top Performers and Regional Insights

Out of the 623 asset managers evaluated, the following ten have emerged as leaders in RIBI 2025:

1. DPAM
2. CANDRIAM
3. Pictet Asset Management
4. UBS Asset Management
5. Nordea Asset Management
6. Nuveen
7. Mirova
8. Robeco
9. Triodos Investment Management
10. WHEB Asset Management

Europe continues to lead the way in responsible investment with both high commitment and brand ratings. Notably, France has overtaken the Benelux nations to emerge as Europe’s top-performing sub-region. Japan stands out by having the best integration of responsible investment, boasting no laggard firms within its assets.

Conversely, the United States has the largest number of asset managers but also records the highest percentage of laggards in the index. Furthermore, although still behind, China has shown remarkable progress, now scoring better than the U.S. in responsible investment metrics.

Challenges Ahead

As responsible investment becomes increasingly politicized globally, asset managers are facing heightened risks of inconsistency in markets. This year’s findings assert that merely stating a purpose does not suffice; it is essential to back it up with substantial value systems to differentiate in a commoditized investment environment.

Conclusion

With the increasing complexity of investment landscapes, RIBI 2025 illuminates a path forward, highlighting the significance of authenticity as a sustainable competitive advantage. Asset managers must now align their brand identities with their commitments to responsible investment truly, paving the way for a new era of transparency and genuine engagement. For those interested in delving deeper, the complete RIBI 2025 index, methodology, and additional insights are available at RIBI's website.

Furthermore, the RIBI team will host a live launch webcast on April 9, 2025, at 15:00 CET for interested stakeholders to understand the findings and implications in further detail.