FRANCE – The number of socially responsible investment funds in France doubled in 2002, according to research conducted by CDC’s SRI subsidiary Novethic and consultant Amadeis.

At the end of 2002, more than 80 SRI funds were available to investors, compared to more than 40 at the end of 2001. For those funds registered in France, total assets under management grew by over a third, reaching 1.25 billion euros as of December 2002, compared to 920 million euros one year previously.

SRI funds have often been believed to be less resilient than conventional investment funds in a prolonged bear market, with stock and sector selection unable to adapt to stock market downturns. Yet, SRI funds in 2002 in France performed in line with those conventional funds, with slightly higher volatility, reveals the research. The funds fell in line with market depreciation in 2002, but outperformed their SRI benchmark indices globally.

SRI specialists offered the best returns, as did managers with extensive experience in the SRI market. The report names Storebrand, AABF CM and Meeschaert among those top performers.

Foreign funds accounted for 30% of the total market in France, with the most active being Dexia AM, UBS GAM and Storebrand. CDC IXIS AM led the French market with 325 million euros in SRI funds under management.