• UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) assesses signatories annually, offering a median score of "C" in seven categories where Russell Investments received an A

SYDNEY, August 31, 2018 — Global asset manager Russell Investments has earned the highest possible scores of "A+" or "A"  for all 11 categories assessed in the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment annual report. This positive assessment captures individual asset classes including: fixed income, private equity, property and infrastructure.

Each year, PRI signatories/asset managers disclose their responsible investment process through a detailed reporting framework, and 1,905 signatories were assessed scores this year in respective categories on an alphabetical scale from "A+" to "E". In seven categories where Russell Investments was assessed an "A" rating, the median score for other firms in the category was a "C". The median score in the other four categories in which Russell Investments earned an "A+" or "A" was higher than "C", though still below the firm's score. Details on the assessment, such as scoring methodology, are available here.

"We know from experience that active managers can effectively balance their ongoing need to generate portfolio growth with environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations," said Peter Gunning, Russell Investments' Chief Executive for APAC, and Chair of the Global Responsible Investment Committee.

Gunning added that Russell Investments has incorporated ESG considerations throughout its investment process, including an ESG ranking system for external managers. "This has allowed us to accurately manage responsible investment factors on behalf of our clients," said Gunning.

Each Russell Investments' asset class team features an ESG knowledge specialist who is responsible for taking steps to ensure that the firm's ranking process is consistently applied across asset classes. The firm also employs investment specialists within its capital markets research team. They are tasked with monitoring ESG trends and their potential impacts on the overall market.

Jeff Hussey, global Chief Investment Officer for Russell investments, said, "Considering and incorporating ESG-specific strategies permeates our investment process at every step. By focusing on ESG factors that are most likely to have a material impact on a company's future, we have been able to invest responsibly without sacrificing returns."

PRI has more than 1900 signatories globally, spanning investment managers, asset owners and service providers, from 48 countries, representing about $81 trillion in assets. Established in 2006, its goal is to encourage investors to incorporate sustainability into their decision-making.

Russell Investments has been a PRI signatory since 2009. More information on the firm's commitment to responsible investing is available here.

About Russell Investments

With more than 80 years of experience, Russell Investments is a global investment manager, dedicated to helping investors reach their long-term goals. Russell Investments offers investment solutions in 31 countries, manages A$392.4 billion in assets (as of June 30, 2018) and provides consulting services on US$2.3 trillion in assets (as of Dec. 31, 2017). Russell Investments specializes in multi-asset solutions, scouring the globe to deliver the best investment strategies, managers and asset classes to its clients around the world.

Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Russell Investments operates globally with 21 offices, providing investment services in the world's major financial centers such as New York, London, Tokyo and Shanghai. For more information about how Russell Investments helps to improve financial security for people, visit russellinvestments.com.au.

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First Used: August 2018