LONDON, UK — Hewitt Associates, a global human resources consulting and outsourcing company, has today announced the launch of a new approach to sustainability investment opportunities. The new service is designed to open up pension fund access to long-term sustainability themes. 

Commenting on the launch, Tim Currell, principal consultant and head of Sustainable Investment and Corporate Governance at Hewitt Associates, said:

"Sustainability has long been viewed as an investment risk issue for pension schemes.  However, the scale of the anticipated sustainability-related expenditure resulting from population growth, regulatory imperatives and depleted natural resources underscores the opportunity. At Hewitt, we therefore view sustainability as an emerging prospect for investment growth which can be suitable for a portion of a pension scheme's overall equity allocation. 

"That said, it has historically been very difficult to transact on an interest in sustainability issues.  This service provides our clients with ready access to specialist active management in high growth areas of the world economy, in a way which is both well diversified and cost effective."

Hewitt's Sustainable Investment team, working with the firm's asset allocation specialists, has identified a number of themes it views as having attractive structural characteristics and global resonance.  It has then combined them to create access to a well-diversified equity growth approach. In the first instance, Hewitt will be including three specific themes: water, agriculture and renewable energy. To complement the 'single theme' approach, the service will include funds that invest across a broad range of sustainability themes including those outlined above, along with other sectors such education and health.

Hewitt's Manager Research team will then identify fund managers that meet its standards of skill and experience and who are well placed to succeed in their chosen niche.The managers available through the service have strong medium and long-term performance records, in excess of 5% per annum ahead of the global equity indices.

John Rushen, head of Investment Consulting for Hewitt in the UK, added:

"We expect to see mainstream fund managers evolving to integrate sustainability considerations into their normal stock selection processes - we already look for this in our research of equity fund managers. However, at the moment, it is the specialist niche portfolios that are best placed to identify the opportunities for sustainable investment."

About Hewitt Associates
Hewitt Associates (NYSE: HEW) provides leading organisations around the world with expert human resources consulting and outsourcing solutions to help them anticipate and solve their most complex benefits, talent, and related financial challenges. Hewitt workswith companies to design, implement, communicate, and administer a wide range of human resources, retirement, investment management, health care,compensation, and talent management strategies. With a history of exceptional client service since 1940, Hewitt has offices in more than 30 countries and employs approximately 23,000 associates who are helping make the world a better place to work. For more information, please visitwww.hewitt.com.