Semi-annual review of FTSE4Good index series is completed

FTSE Group, a global provider of more than 120,000 equity, bond, and alternative asset class indexes, has announced the results of its semi-annual review of the FTSE4Good index series.

The FTSE4Good indexes use data provided by EIRIS to provide responsible investors with a tool to identify companies that meet standards of corporate responsibility (CR), and asset managers with a benchmark for socially responsible investment (SRI).

According to FTSE, "The FTSE4Good Index Series forms the basis for over 70 different funds and investment products."

In its September review, FTSE added 33 companies to the FTSE4Good index series, and deleted 15.

Of the companies added to the series, 10 were from Japan, 10 were from the United Kingdom, and five were from the US.

Nine of the deleted companies were from Japan, and five were from the US. Four companies were deleted from the index series for failing to meet environmental criteria, one for not meeting climate change criteria, seven for not meeting human and labor rights criteria, three for not meeting countering bribery criteria, and one for activities in weapons, an excluded sector.

The five US-based companies added to the index series were Comcast, DST Systems, Humana, Pentair, and Time Warner Cable.

The five US-based companies deleted from the index were Equity Residential Properties Trust, Hospira, and Limited Brands (for failing to meet environmental criteria); R.R. Donnelley & Sons (human and labor rights); and Sunoco, for climate change.

Since the launch of the FTSE4Good index series in 2001, more than 250 companies have been deleted. However, since that time there have been more additions than deletions, which, according to FTSE, indicates "a growing adoption of responsible business practices across global industry."

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Source: Social Funds