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Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia:

Global asset managers are placing greater emphasis on active ownership of their investments and an increasing number of firms are adding more ESG metrics to their investment processes, said a study.

According to a survey conducted by Russell Investments, 90% of respondents said they cover ESG in meetings with the senior management of companies that they invest in, up from 80% in the 2018 survey.

The latest survey of 369 asset managers representing $79.6 trillion in assets under management shows 82% of managers explicitly incorporate qualitative or quantitative ESG factor assessments into their investment processes, compared with 78% in last year's survey.

The most growth was reported in the U.K., where 100% of managers said they incorporate those factors in 2021, compared with 87% in the 2020 survey.

Survey respondents said they hear from clients (asset owners) more on climate risk/environmental issues (60%) than any other issue, followed by diversity & inclusion/social issues (20%).

While climate risk/environmental issues topped the client-engagement list globally and in all regions, including 97% of respondents in Continental Europe, U.S. respondents were more balanced with 46% selecting climate risk/environmental issues and 29% picking diversity & inclusion/social issues.

Russell Investments' survey also found asset managers are increasingly incorporating ESG-specific considerations into their investment activities. Ov......................

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