Investor ratings

Investors are increasingly interested in the ethical and environmental performance of companies. Sustainable and responsible investment (SRI) funds that apply specific environmental and social criteria have grown significantly in the past few years. In Europe, the total SRI assets under management have increased from €2.7 trillion in 2007 to over €5 trillion by the end of 2009, a new high for the sector.

Kingfisher recognises that good CR performance can benefit the business by attracting investment from SRI funds. The company seeks to communicate with both mainstream and SRI funds through SRI investor roadshows and one-to-one meetings and by responding to a range of questionnaires. During 2011, we held SRI roadshows in Amsterdam, London and Paris. These were attended by 13 investment firms.

Kingfisher has been included for a number of years in two of the main socially responsible investment indices – the FTSE4Good and Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI). Kingfisher is one of the sustainability leaders in the general retail sector, and was selected for inclusion in the SAM Sustainability Yearbook 2012.

Kingfisher has achieved 'prime status' (i.e. absolute best-in-class) in the Oekom Corporate Responsibility Rating for the retail sector – qualifying for Oekom's ecologically and socially based investment. Oekom currently manages a total of €90 billion for clients on the basis of its sustainability research. Kingfisher's score has improved from C+ in 2010 to a B- in 2011. Kingfisher is also included in the Oekom Global Challenges Index.

Kingfisher is included in the 2011 Carbon Performance Leadership Index (CPLI), compiled by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). This recognises companies within the FTSE 350 which have demonstrated leadership in tackling climate change. The CDP represents 655 institutional investors with $78 trillion in assets under management. See news release: Kingfisher plc recognised by CDP for climate change disclosure

Kingfisher also participates in the annual Forest Footprint Disclosure (FFD) project, an initiative backed by 72 financial institutions to help investors identify the impact companies have on forests and how they can reduce their impact. Kingfisher is a long-standing supporter of greater transparency on timber sourcing and was one of the first companies to participate in this initiative.