Inhance Investment Management Inc. has joined 68 institutional investment managers, firms and advisors to become the first Canadian mutual fund company to adopt the UN Principles of Responsible Investment.

The UN Principles are designed to encourage investment managers to incorporate financial analysis with analysis of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues in order to reduce risk to beneficiaries.

“Inhance uses these principles in the day-to-day management of our funds,” said Dermot Foley, vp strategic analysis. “We are active shareowners who file and support ESG resolutions.”

The principles were designed by the institutional investment industry as a project of the UN Financial Initiatives. They have been adopted by 69 institutional investment managers, firms and advisors, who manage over $5 trillion in assets. These include the Canada Pension Plan Board and the B.C. Investment Management Corp.

“The adoption of the UN Principles by mainstream investment managers and firms will benefit all shareowners by encouraging companies to disclose how they are treating relevant non-traditional risks,” said Foley. “With this information we can all make appropriate investment decisions.”

Inhance is is a member of the Vancity Group.