Social(k)'s SRI 401(k) Retirement Platform Attracts Larger, Mission-driven Companies in 2010 – Press Releases on CSRwire.com

Social(k), ESG Screens, 2010 review

Rob Thomas president Social(k)

Rob Thomas

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Jan. 31 /CSRwire/ – Social(k), celebrated its fifth year of providing mission driven organizations low cost access to hundreds of SRI mutual funds for company retirement plans. An increasing number of larger plans (over $1 million in assets and over 100 employees) are adopting the platform, broadening their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

“Social(k)’s inaugural years were focused on providing 401(k) and 403(b) plans to smaller, nimbler organizations looking to offer more than one or two Environmental, Social or Governance (ESG) screened funds in their company retirement plan. In 2010, larger mission driven organizations began to see the benefits to Social(k) when changing plan providers and we see that trend continuing into the future,” said Rob Thomas, Social(k) President.

via Social(k)’s SRI 401(k) Retirement Platform Attracts Larger, Mission-driven Companies in 2010 – Press Releases on CSRwire.com.

January 31st, 2011 | Category: Education | One comment

The Eventide Gilead Fund Outperforms S&P 500 for Third Consecutive Calendar Year

BOSTON, MA–(Marketwire – January 7, 2011) – The Eventide Gilead Fund (NASDAQ: ETGLX), a mutual fund practicing values-based investing, achieved an after-fees one-year total return of 18.46% for its retail class shares compared with the S&P 500 Index total return of 15.06%, making 2010 the third consecutive calendar year the Fund has finished ahead of its benchmark index. Since its inception on July 8, 2008, the Eventide Gilead Fund has generated a total annualized return of 12.95%, compared to a total annualized return of 1.80% for the S&P 500 index.

Performance as of December 31, 2010:

1 month 3 months 1 year Inception (annualized)

Eventide Gilead 10.24% 15.69% 18.46% 12.95%

S&P 500 6.68% 10.76% 15.06% 1.80%

Expenses ratios — Gross Expenses 4.13%, Net Expenses 1.63%. The advisor has agreed to maintain the Fund’s total annual operating expenses at 1.63% until October 31, 2011.

via The Eventide Gilead Fund Outperforms S&P 500 for Third Consecutive Calendar Year.

January 13th, 2011 | Tags: , , , | Category: Socially Responsible Investing | Leave a comment

Dutch pension funds taking ESG beyond developed markets equity

Dutch pension funds are increasingly looking to integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors beyond the developed market equity asset class, according to a new study from the VBDO, the Dutch Association of Investors for Sustainable Development.

The study Benchmark Responsible Investment by Pension Funds in the Netherlands 2010 found that the investors are looking at ESG factors in the corporate and government bond class, real estate and alternatives.

While 39 of the funds reviewed – 65% of the sample – have an exclusion policy for public equity, the VBDO found that 32 have a similar stance for corporate bonds, and six have exclusion criteria for government debt.

As for ESG integration, the VBDO found that 20 funds “demonstrably” integrate ESG into their public equity investment selections. This compares to 11 who integrate, five systematically, in corporate bonds. Two funds, Pensioenfonds SNS REALL, and Rabobank Pensioenfonds, integrate ESG into their government bond portfolios.

via Responsible Investor.

January 13th, 2011 | Tags: , , | Category: Education, ESG screens | Leave a comment