VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 10, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Genus Capital today announced its achievement of B Corporation certification, joining the ranks of more than 200 Canadian and 2,000 worldwide companies committed to redefining success in business.
“Shareholders are demanding more of companies than a single bottom line,” said Wayne Wachell, Genus Capital CEO. “They want their investments to contribute to building a clean energy future, through companies that treat their employees right, all while delivering exceptional returns. B Corp certification signifies our unwavering commitment not just to invest in those companies, but to be one.”
Certified B Corps meet strict standards for social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency – similar to the way companies are given an ESG rating. Certification involves an extensive assessment of a company’s impact on its stakeholders, making sustainability and social responsibility a binding part of its business model, and completing a bi-annual assessment to ensure its goal to “do no harm and benefit all” is being upheld. Genus scored 87 out of 200 on its impact assessment, compared to a median of 50 out of 200 with similar companies. Other notable B Corps include Ben & Jerry’s, Patagonia, and the Business Development Bank of Canada.
“As a company committed to both building a clean energy future and delivering exceptional returns, becoming B Corp certified just made sense for us,” said J.P. Harrison, Genus Capital President. “We’re proud to be joining the ranks of companies all over the world who are demonstrating that business can be a force for good.”
Genus Capital was the first investment management firm to develop a 100 per cent fossil-free fund family for Canadian investors looking to fully divest from fossil fuels, while reaping the same, and in some cases slightly higher, returns as conventional investments. This fund family is called Genus Fossil Free. Genus services some of Canada's leading purpose-driven institutions and foundations, including the David Suzuki Foundation (one of Genus Fossil Free's early adopters), Tides Canada, and the United Church of Canada.
The achievement of B Corp status comes on the heels of Genus’ recently released Carbon Emissions Report, which showed that fossil free portfolios tend to outperform their carbon-intensive counterparts. Over a four-year period, the Genus Fossil Free Dividend Equity Fund and the Genus Fossil Free CanGlobe Equity Fund returned 12.5 per cent and 15.7 per cent, respectively1,2. In comparison, their benchmarks returned 13.4 per cent over the same time period.
About Genus Capital Management Inc.
Genus Capital Management Inc. is an independent investment management firm based in Vancouver, founded in 1989. We are passionate about creating innovative investment solutions that meet our clients' changing needs. With more than $1.2 billion in assets under management, Genus' clients include leading environmental organizations, foundations, and individuals across Canada. Today, Genus Capital is at the forefront of Canada's Divest-Invest movement with a complete suite of fossil fuel free funds that are tailored to meet the needs of investors who wish to invest in a sustainable, clean energy future.
About B Corporations
Certified B Corporations redefine success in business. Individually, B Corps meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability, and aspire to use the power of markets to solve social and environmental problems. Collectively, B Corps lead a growing global movement of people using business as a force for good. Through the power of their collective voice, one day all companies will compete to be best for the world, and society will enjoy a more shared and durable prosperity for all.
1 As at June 30, 2017
2 Returns net of fees, in Canadian dollar terms