First Sentier Investors achieves B Corp status

Investment house First Sentier Investors (FSI) has achieved B Corp status, making it the latest company to receive the badge given to socially minded companies.

The Sydney-based company, which manages more than £120 billion in assets worldwide, said it had been awarded a score of 107.2 by B Lab, the non-profit company behind the certification.

Companies must achieve a score of at least 80 out of 200 in five impact areas – governance, community, employees, environment and customers – to be certified as B Corps.

FSI is behind several funds, including First Sentier Responsible Listed Infrastructure, which are invested in shares of companies involved in infrastructure around the world.

The industries involved include utilities (water and electricity), highways and railways, airport services, seaports and services, as well as storage and transportation of oil and gas.

Mark Steinberg, CEO of FSI, said the certification supports the company’s drive to become a more responsible company.

“We recognize an increasing need to create a positive impact for all our stakeholders, including our customers, our employees and the wider society, and we wanted a way to verify this impact,” he said.

‘B Corp Certification offers us this framework.’

He added: “The certification means we are now part of a community of companies with a common goal of transforming the communities in which we live and work for the benefit of people and our planet.”

Since its launch in the US in 2007, more than 6,000 companies have achieved B Corp status, including hundreds of UK companies.

B Corp companies are companies that meet the “highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.”

B Corp certified companies are assessed every three years to ensure they continue to meet changing standards.