Funds: AVIVA Ethical / Socially Responsible Investment

1937: The Good Earth - Sidney Franklin

As an Independent Financial Adviser, part of my role is to assess investment funds for clients. Many of our clients express a preference for ethical or socially responsible investment, which helps to reflect their values within the context of their own investments and financial plan.

AVIVA Investors (previously known as Norwich Union) have decided to reduce some of their operational costs. They plan to sell off their SRI team  (socially responsible investment) which suggests a formal break with SRI, although AVIVA are quick to suggest that they will be creating a globally responsible investment team that will cover environmental, social and governance issues across their mainstream funds. This will report to Paul Abberley the Chief Executive of AVIVA Investors and headed by Steve Waygood in the newly created role of Chief Responsible Investment Officer and plan to have a team that includes four of the current team in London. AVIVA Investors is shedding around 12% of its workforce - about 160 people.

I shall be reviewing investment portfolios and will write to clients should I advise any action to alter holdings. The two funds in particular are the AVIVA Sustainable Future European Growth Fund and the AVIVA UK Ethical Fund.