Provident achieves a maximum FTSE4Good Index score for a second consecutive year

The FTSE Group recently published its 2012 FTSE4Good Index and Ratings. The index and ratings are designed to measure a company’s risk and performance in terms of a range of material environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. The ratings, which are undertaken on behalf of the FTSE Group by EIRIS and cover around 2,400 companies globally uses a framework comprising the six ESG criteria themes of environmental management, climate change, human and labour rights, supply chain labour standards, countering bribery and corporate governance. They provide objective ESG risk and performance data which can be incorporated into investment decision-making and stewardship.

In the 2012 FTSE4Good ESG ratings, Provident Financial achieved a maximum rating score of 100 for the second consecutive year. As a result, Provident, along with ASX – the Australian Securities Exchange – was one of only two companies in the global financial services sector to achieve this score, and continues to be included in the FTSE4Good Index.

Engaging with the socially responsible investment (SRI) community through our ongoing participation in the main global sustainability indices and by responding to requests for information on our corporate responsibility (CR) programme from SRI analysts continues to be an important part of our CR programme. It not only provides our stakeholders with demonstrable evidence that our CR programme is embedded within the strategic decision-making of the company, it also underlines our commitment to operate our business in a responsible and sustainable way and that it is an attractive investment proposition.

Peter Crook, Chief Executive of Provident Financial, commented:

“Provident is proud to have achieved a maximum ESG rating score in the 2012 FTSE4Good Index for a second consecutive year. This achievement reflects the continued investment that the group and its employees have made in ensuring that our corporate responsibility programme continues to evolve and address the issues that are material to our company and stakeholders.”