Gulf Capital, a leading growth markets alternative asset manager, has today announced that it has formally joined the United Nation’s international network of investors working together to implement sustainability principles in the global financial system. The Firm has formalised its commitment to responsible investment by becoming a Signatory of the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (“PRI”).
PRI works to understand the investment implications of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors and to support its international network of investor signatories in incorporating these factors into their investment and ownership decisions. The principles were developed by the international investment community and reflect the view that ESG issues can affect the performance of investment portfolios and therefore must be given appropriate consideration by investors if they are to fulfill their fiduciary duty. In implementing the Principles, Gulf Capital aims to contribute to the development of a more sustainable global financial system while improving its portfolio companies’ impacts on society and the environment.
At a time of increased focus on the environment, social justice and corporate responsibility, becoming a signatory underscores Gulf Capital’s commitment to incorporating ESG factors into all its due diligence, investment, and ownership decisions.
“Gulf Capital places ESG considerations at the heart of our investment decision-making and corporate processes. Becoming a signatory of the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment allows us to demonstrate our formal commitment to uphold these principles,” says CEO and Managing Partner, Dr. Karim El Solh. “As a Firm with a global footprint, our internal policies and procedures must consider the impact of our investment decisions on the wider community at a time when financial services firms need to align with the broader objectives of society. In the long run, we firmly believe that responsible investing is the only sustainable way of generating superior returns while improving our companies’ impact on society and the environment.”
“We warmly welcome Gulf Capital to the PRI and applaud their recognition of the importance of integrating sustainability factors into their investment decision making,” said PRI CEO Fiona Reynolds. “We look forward to working with them in the coming months.”
As part of Gulf Capital’s commitment to uphold the six PRI principles, Gulf Capital is undertaking a series of steps in 2020 to advance the PRI guidelines internally. These include enhancing the firm’s ESG strategy, followed by a consideration of how these can be integrated across Gulf Capital’s network of portfolio companies as part of its active and responsible ownership policy.