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What is ESG integration?

ESG integration is achieved when the evaluation and consideration of environmental, social and governance factors happens throughout the investment process. For NEI, the aim is to ensure that companies held in our funds have taken or are taking meaningful steps to manage the ESG risks they face.

We work closely with our sub-advisors to advance the integration of ESG considerations into their respective investment processes. We also partner with our sustainability-focused managers capable of identifying opportunities related to companies involved in providing business solutions to environmental and social challenges.

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Evaluating ESG factors

We evaluate environmental, social and governance factors using a four-step process:

  1. Identify sector-specific material ESG risks
  2. Establish baseline expectations
  3. Broad-based benchmarking
  4. Headline risk assessment

Do you want to learn more about our exclusionary screens and other responsible investment strategies? Our responsible investment policy has more detail.

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Choose your fund

Many of our funds employ ESG integration as a responsible investment strategy, often in conjunction with exclusionary screens and active ownership. In the tables below, click anywhere in the highlighted row to visit the fund details page. You will find descriptions of the responsible investment strategies below the tables.

NEI Canadian Bond Fund

Guardian Capital

NEI Canadian Impact Bond Fund

Addenda Capital

NEI Global High Yield Bond Fund

Principal Global Investors

NEI Global Impact Bond Fund

Wellington Management

NEI Global Total Return Bond Fund

Amundi Asset Management

Fixed income

Fund Name Responsible investment strategy Portfolio manager or sub advisor
NEI Canadian Bond Fund
Guardian Capital
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NEI Canadian Impact Bond Fund
Addenda Capital
Go to link
NEI Global High Yield Bond Fund
Principal Global Investors
Go to link
NEI Global Impact Bond Fund
Wellington Management
Go to link
NEI Global Total Return Bond Fund
Amundi Asset Management
Go to link

NEI Global Sustainable Balanced Fund

Impax Asset Management

Balanced

Fund Name Responsible investment strategy Portfolio manager or sub advisor
NEI Global Sustainable Balanced Fund
Impax Asset Management
Go to link

NEI Canadian Equity RS Fund

QV Investors

NEI Canadian Small Cap Equity RS Fund

QV Investors

NEI ESG Canadian Enhanced Index Fund

NEI Investments

Canadian equity

Fund Name Responsible investment strategy Portfolio manager or sub advisor
NEI Canadian Equity RS Fund
QV Investors
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NEI Canadian Small Cap Equity RS Fund
QV Investors
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NEI ESG Canadian Enhanced Index Fund
NEI Investments
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NEI U.S. Equity RS Fund

AllianceBernstein

U.S. equity

Fund Name Responsible investment strategy Portfolio manager or sub advisor
NEI U.S. Equity RS Fund
AllianceBernstein
Go to link

NEI Clean Infrastructure Fund

Ecofin Advisors

NEI Emerging Markets Fund

Columbia Threadneedle Investments

NEI Environmental Leaders Fund

Impax Asset Management

NEI Global Dividend RS Fund

Amundi Asset Management

NEI Global Equity RS Fund

Federated Hermes

NEI Global Growth Fund

Baillie Gifford

NEI Global Value Fund

Maj Invest

NEI International Equity RS Fund

Addenda Capital

Global and international equity

Fund Name Responsible investment strategy Portfolio manager or sub advisor
NEI Clean Infrastructure Fund
Ecofin Advisors
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NEI Emerging Markets Fund
Columbia Threadneedle Investments
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NEI Environmental Leaders Fund
Impax Asset Management
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NEI Global Dividend RS Fund
Amundi Asset Management
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NEI Global Equity RS Fund
Federated Hermes
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NEI Global Growth Fund
Baillie Gifford
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NEI Global Value Fund
Maj Invest
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NEI International Equity RS Fund
Addenda Capital
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NEI Select Income RS Portfolio

NEI Investments

NEI Select Income & Growth RS Portfolio

NEI Investments

NEI Select Balanced RS Portfolio

NEI Investments

NEI Select Growth & Income RS Portfolio

NEI Investments

NEI Select Growth RS Portfolio

NEI Investments

NEI Select Maximum Growth RS Portfolio

NEI Investments

NEI Select RS Portfolios

Fund Name Responsible investment strategy Portfolio manager or sub advisor
NEI Select Income RS Portfolio
NEI Investments
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NEI Select Income & Growth RS Portfolio
NEI Investments
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NEI Select Balanced RS Portfolio
NEI Investments
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NEI Select Growth & Income RS Portfolio
NEI Investments
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NEI Select Growth RS Portfolio
NEI Investments
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NEI Select Maximum Growth RS Portfolio
NEI Investments
Go to link

NEI Impact Conservative Portfolio

NEI Investments

NEI Impact Balanced Portfolio

NEI Investments

NEI Impact Growth Portfolio

NEI Investments

NEI Impact Portfolios

Fund Name Responsible investment strategy Portfolio manager or sub advisor
NEI Impact Conservative Portfolio
NEI Investments
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NEI Impact Balanced Portfolio
NEI Investments
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NEI Impact Growth Portfolio
NEI Investments
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NEI Long Short Equity Fund

Picton Mahoney Asset Management

Alternatives

Fund Name Responsible investment strategy Portfolio manager or sub advisor
NEI Long Short Equity Fund
Picton Mahoney Asset Management
Go to link

Implementing our approach

There are five activities we undertake as part of our responsible investment program that have a direct connection to our funds: exclusionary screening, ESG evaluation, impact investing, thematic investing, and stewardship. For a more in-depth look at these activities and other aspects of our program, such as policy work and statements of commitment, check out our Responsible Investment Policy. To find out which approaches are applied to which funds, speak with your advisor or consult our fund prospectus.

Simplified Prospectus

RI Policy

Exclusionary screens

Companies are excluded from certain funds if we believe the risk of harm to society and the environment outweighs the potential benefits of investing. Examples include weapons manufacturing and tobacco production.

ESG evaluations

Companies are evaluated on their environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance, with results integrated into the investment process as we pursue long-term sustainable value for our investors.

Impact investing

In addition to financial returns, our impact funds aim to provide positive and measurable environmental and social outcomes. Among other objectives, investments held in the funds may seek to reduce carbon emissions, build low-income housing, and protect water resources.

Thematic investing

Some of our funds aim to generate returns from long-term trends expected to contribute to large-scale structural shifts in the economy, such as the need to better manage natural resources and the transition to cleaner energy sources.

Stewardship

Corporate engagement and proxy voting are tools we use to help companies improve their management of economic, natural and social capital, with the goal of growing long-term sustainable value.

Explore further

If you would like to stay on top of the latest trends in responsible investing, we can help.

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*Formerly NEI Global Equity Fund.

 

Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.