Rockefeller Asset Management, a division of Rockefeller & Co, has signed up to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment, a network of international investors collaborating to enforce six principles for responsible investment.

The firm said the signing reflects its commitment to participate in the PRI's annual reporting and assessment process, as related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues in the investment process. 

According to the PRI’s website, the principles - devised by the investment community - reflect the view that ESG issues can affect the performance of investment portfolios. They provide a “voluntary framework” which all investors can incorporate into their decision-making and ownership practices. There are currently 1070 signatories to the PRI.

Greater awareness about ESG issues 

Although findings from Mercer in February highlighted that very few fund management strategies are able to boast top ESG ratings (view here), a recent report from Calvert Foundation showed that a majority of advisors believe offering sustainable and impact investing services to clients could be a way of growing their businesses. 

Companies are tapping into this trend. Yesterday Family Wealth Report revealed that a new SEC-registered asset management firm called Sonen Capital, dedicated to "impact investing" for family offices and private wealth managers, has launched in California. 

Rockefeller launched its Sustainability and Impact Investing program in 1977, as part of the predecessor Rockefeller family office. 

The firm is headquartered in New York, with offices in Boston, Washington DC, Stamford, CT, and Wilmington, DE. It has some $34 billion in client assets under administration, as at 31 March.