Real Assets Investment Management Inc. today announced the launch of its Social Leaders Fund.

Real Assets describes social leaders as companies committed to environmental and social sustainability. Through their progressive policies and practices and cutting edge products and services, they demonstrate the financial benefits of strong social leadership.

“We’re not screening out companies that we don’t like, we’re investing in great companies that do great things,” says Deb Abbey, portfolio manager and CEO of Real Assets. “The world is changing and these companies are leading that change by generating value today through their commitment to corporate social responsibility.”

To date, the Social Leaders Fund has invested in 25 companies from Canada, the U.S. and abroad. It will eventually hold up to 50 companies. It includes financial firms Royal Bank of Scotland, Swiss Re and UBS.

“We’re very excited about the Real Assets’ Social Leaders Fund. It’s the first socially responsible fund in Canada to go beyond screening out bad companies and actually focus on those public companies that are leading corporate citizens” says Dave Mowat, president and CEO of VanCity Savings Credit Union. “We need to tell the story of the financial benefits of social and environmental leadership.”

Real Assets is Canada’s first, full-service investment management firm to focus entirely on socially responsible investing. Real Assets is majority owned by VanCity, Canada’s largest credit union. The Real Assets Social Leaders Fund is available to sophisticated investors across Canada with minimum purchases of between $97,000 and $150,000. In B.C., investors can buy the fund with a minimum purchase of $25,000.