West Midlands Pension Fund, Wolverhampton, England, issued an RFP for an environmental, social and governance advisory services provider, said Brian Bailey, director of pensions for the £8.6 billion ($13.7 billion) fund.
Pensions Investment Research Consultants is the current provider; its contract expires March 31, 2012. PIRC is invited to rebid.
The mandate will include proxy voting services pertaining to direct equity investments as well as corporate governance analysis, among other related services. According to the fund's latest annual report for the year ended March 31, 2011, about 58% of the total assets are invested in equities.
No consultants are involved. Appointments are expected in the first quarter of 2012. Further information can be obtained at the fund's website.