Ethos, Swiss Foundation for Sustainable
Development, was created in February 1997 by
two Geneva-based pension funds and is currently
composed of
95
institutional investors. Its
purpose is to promote the consideration of
sustainable development principles and corporate
governance best practice in investment
activities, in accordance with the principles
defined in its Charter.
The Foundation owns the company Ethos
Services which conducts all investment and
consulting activities. Ethos Services is
specialised in the field of socially responsible
investment (SRI). Ethos Services advises investment funds and discretionary asset management mandates according to a SRI approach
for an equivalent of CHF 1.9 billion.
The Ethos Foundation is a foundation under Swiss
law. Its activities are determined by the
Charter, while the
Articles of Association and By-laws specify the
Foundation's purpose and organisation. The terms of application
outline the benefits and
conditions of membership at the Ethos
Foundation. The Ethos Foundation is member,
cofounder and signatory of the Code of Conduct of Swiss Pension Fund
Organisations and signatory of the
Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)
of the United Nations.
The Foundation is organised as follows:
The
members' General Meeting issues
recommendations to the Foundation Board, in
particular regarding the Charter and the
Articles of Association.
The governing body of the Ethos Foundation
is the
Foundation Board. It oversees the
implementation of the Foundation's
objectives and has the competence to approve
the
Charter,
Articles of Association.
The Foundation's Executive Management
executes all activities of the
Foundation.
The company Ethos Services is fully owned by the
Ethos Foundation. Ethos Services' Articles of
Association specify the Company's purpose and
organisation.
Ethos Services is organised as follows:
Ethos Services' Board of Directors is composed of
members elected for renewable one-year
terms.
Ethos Services' Executive Management is
responsible for organising and managing the
Company's activities. Ethos Services currently employs
14
persons all of whom signed the Charter
of the Swiss Association of Pension Funds (ASIP),
the Code of Conduct of Swiss Pension Fund
Organisations and the Principles of Ethical
Conduct of the Association of Certified
International Investment Analysts.
Ethos Services offers the following products
and services:
