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New Calvert Survey Shows Investors Link Corporate Responsibility with Reduced Risk, Better Returns

18 November 2003

Press release from: Calvert Group, Ltd.

(CSRwire) BETHESDA, MD - Calvert, the nation's largest family of socially responsible mutual funds, today announced the results of a Harris Interactive® investor survey, which dramatically highlights investors' growing concerns about ethical standards at corporations and mutual fund companies. "The survey clearly shows that investors understand that corporate responsibility matters," said Barbara J. Krumsiek, Calvert's President & CEO. "It is increasingly clear that investors believe that well-governed, socially responsible companies are better positioned to deliver long-term, sustainable value to their shareholders," she added.

Conducted by Harris Interactive® for Calvert, the survey found that investors see a definite link between good corporate governance and shareholder value:

• 84% of investors are more likely to invest in a mutual fund if it engages in ethical business practices in its operations and reporting.
• 71% of those surveyed said that they either strongly agreed (35%) or somewhat agreed (36%) that companies operating with higher levels of integrity carry lower investment risk.
• 68% of those surveyed said that they either strongly agreed (31%) or somewhat agreed (37%) that companies operating with higher levels of integrity deliver higher investment returns.

Against the backdrop of two years of corporate scandals, the Calvert survey clearly found that investors are more interested in knowing how the companies they invest in conduct their business. According to the survey, compared to two years ago, investors said they now:

• want their financial advisors to investigate the ethical as well as financial performance of investments before making recommendations—92%.
• are more interested in how corporations are governed—79%
• are seeking more financial and accounting information about their investments—68%
• are less confident about the trustworthiness of corporate management—77%
• are less confident about the safety of financial markets—59%
• are less confident about mutual fund integrity—45%

Finally, the survey showed that investors were generally in favor of a wide range of corporate reforms that might encourage ethical behavior. Here are the percentages of survey respondents who felt that the following reforms are either essential or very important:

• Open and honest reporting – 90%
• Having a Board of Directors that is independent from management – 71%
• Setting reasonable executive compensation – 67%
• Encouraging greater shareholder voting on key issues – 61%
• Diversity in the Board of Directors – 56%

At Calvert, we have long believed that healthy corporations are characterized by not only sound financial management but also sound corporate governance and overall corporate social responsibility, and that companies combining these attributes are best positioned for long-term success," Ms. Krumsiek added. "It is clear that more and more investors agree, and will be seeking integrity-driven investments and socially responsible investment strategies in order to reduce perceived risks and improve long-term performance."

Calvert has been a leader in promoting corporate responsibility for many years, through its investments, social screening and shareholder advocacy programs. Recently the firm launched a campaign called Corporate Responsibility Matters, a five-pillar initiative designed to help contribute to healthier companies, stronger markets and better investments. The five pillars are as follows:

• Striving for Integrity-Driven Investments
  For Calvert, integrity-driven performance means seeking out companies with sound business practices – companies that exercise strong governance, minimize negative environmental impact, provide safe products, engage in fair labor practices – and much more.
• Encouraging Open and Honest Reporting
  Through its investment selection process, shareholder advocacy, and participation in public policy debates, the firm actively seeks to encourage companies to report all “material” information–not just financial information.
• Building Boards That Look Like America
  Calvert is launching a host of initiatives aimed at improving diversity of corporate boardrooms. Calvert’s board diversity efforts include filing shareholder resolutions, writing letters to over 600 companies, and developing Model Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee Charter Language on Board Diversity.
• Championing Engaged Share-Ownership
  Calvert encourages mutual fund investors to know what companies they own, to be aware of how their proxy votes are cast, and to participate as shareowners in the governance of the companies whose shares they own.
• Promoting Sound Business Practices and Public Policies
  Calvert works with civil society institutions, regulatory bodies, and companies through partnerships, lobbying, and engagement in order to promote strong markets, healthy companies, and better regulations.

"Calvert is committed to corporate responsibility in the way we invest and in the way we conduct our own business," said Ms. Krumsiek. "At the core of this commitment is our belief that corporations and mutual funds should be governed and managed for the benefit of their shareholders. Our view has always been that socially responsible investments are fundamentally integrity-driven investments."

The Calvert survey was based on telephone interviews with 600 respondents with primary or shared decision making about financial investments, who have not worked in the investment or securities industry, and who currently own at least one mutual fund outside of their 401(k) investments.

Calvert is the largest family of socially responsible mutual funds in the United States with approximately $9 billion in assets under management, offering twenty-eight funds that allow individual and institutional investors to pursue a broad range of investment objectives within a single fund family. Calvert created the Calvert Social IndexÔ, a benchmark for measuring the performance of large, U.S.-based socially responsible companies, and also offers an extensive lineup of tax-free and taxable fixed income investments. For more information on Calvert, click on www.calvert.com.

Calvert mutual funds are underwritten and distributed by Calvert Distributors Inc., member NASD, a subsidiary of Calvert Group, Ltd