AMSTERDAM January 3, 2018 – GRESB and Asia Research and Engagement (ARE) are pleased to announce that they have entered into a strategic partnership for Asia.
ARE will represent GRESB, the global environmental, social and governance (ESG) benchmark for real assets, in Asia, ex-Japan. As a strategic partner, ARE will strengthen and further develop GRESB’s relationship with the regional real asset sector, as both investors and their managers are looking to better understand and improve their ESG performance. ARE will work in close collaboration with existing GRESB Partners and Supporters in the region.
Ruben Langbroek, Head of Asia Pacific at GRESB, explains: “We’ve seen an increasing demand for insights into the ESG performance of real asset managers in Asia, related to topics such as climate action and related disclosures, resilience, and creating positive environmental and social impact. We believe that the strategic partnership with ARE will allow us to meet this demand, by providing dedicated, on the ground support to both asset owners and managers looking to better understand ESG practices in the regional real asset sector.”
“We are excited about our new partnership with GRESB in Asia,” said Benjamin McCarron, Managing Director at ARE. “ARE already works closely with investors, banks, and companies to deepen their understanding of the financial relevance of sustainability issues in the region. Together we are well positioned to facilitate the spread of ESG best practices across the regional real estate and infrastructure sectors.”
GRESB is an industry-driven organization transforming the way capital markets assess ESG performance of real asset investments. In 2017, 850 property companies and funds, jointly representing more than USD 3.7 trillion in assets under management, participated in the GRESB Real Estate Assessment. The Infrastructure Assessment covered 64 funds and 160 assets, and 25 portfolios completed the Debt Assessment. GRESB data and analytical tools are used by 70 institutional and retail investors, including pension funds and insurance companies, collectively representing over USD 17 trillion in institutional capital, to engage with investment managers to enhance and protect shareholder value.
ARE promotes investor-company dialogue on sustainability and governance issues. It works with leading investors, banks, companies, and not-for-profits to improve corporate governance and transition to more sustainable economies across the Asian region.
For more information on GRESB, please reach out to:
Benjamin McCarron
Managing Director, Asia Research and Engagement
+65 8299 6852
[email protected]
asiareengage.com
Ruben Langbroek
Head of Asia Pacific, GRESB
+65 8285 4465
[email protected]
gresb.com