ESG Performance Factors are important to a growing number of asset owners and managers. The ESG framework – considering environmental and energy issues and impacts, the company positioning and actions on social/societal issues, and effective corporate governance (or not) – is a style…an approach…an expanding set of guidelines….a framework…depending on the analyst and investor and their embrace of ESG factors in investment decision-making. ESG is not about intangibles or the non-financials – these factors are very tangible to investors and stakeholders. Yes, the financials are critical for all investors – but corporate performance on ESG factors is now a proxy for the quality of corporate management for many investors. And quality of management (and board) directly impacts the financials – determining access to capital markets, cost of capital, attractiveness to investors, buy-sell-hold decisions, and more. In these Highlights we offer the results of our continuous global scanning for news, commentary and research on ESG issues – for investors, and for the information of corporate boards, senior executives and managers. These are selections from the hundreds of public reports and original content contained in our Sustainability HQ™ platforms. We invite your comments, questions and inquiries. The Team at G&A Institute – your Sustainability Headquarters. ESG / Sustainability World Economic Forum focuses on sustainability of Asian countries video
(Source: Xinhuanet) The World Economic Forum on East Asia has kicked off in Jakarta, Indonesia. The 2-day forum brings together over 600 brilliant minds from around the globe to exchange ideas on the most pressing issues in the Asian region. With the US economy still trapped in a sluggish recovery and European countries mired in a lingering debt crisis, the world is shifting its focus to Asian economies led by China and India. The hope is they will help put the world's economy back on the fast-growth track. Associated Profiles :World Economic Forum Ban on domestic child labour urged
(Source: The News.com) THE provincial government must immediately ban child domestic labour by adding this to the schedule of banned occupations under the Employment of Children (Amended) Act 2011. This was said by Regional Manager Society for Protection of Rights of the Child (SPARC) Sajjad Cheema, during a press conference at Lahore Press Club in connection with the Child Labour Free Week (CLFW) which is celebrated every year from June 7-12. Associated Profiles : Associated Profiles : United Nations International Labour Organization Commentary Comments on SOP Advice: Rolling In
(Source: James McRitchie, CorpGov.Net) Sometimes the comments are as informative as the original post. The United States Proxy Exchange asked for comments on their/our draft say-on-pay voting guidelines aimed at retail investors. So far, that plea for help has attracted comments from growing list leading thinkers in the investment community. Thanks to each of you for taking the time to offer your advice. I’ll post some juicy tidbits to get readers thinking that no one should miss out on this opportunity to be heard. I encourage each of you to read the paper, the comments and to submit your own thoughts on the topic. Research World's biggest companies failing on water risk management
(Source: EDIE.net) A new report has concluded that only a tiny fraction of large global companies are taking action on managing water scarcity. The report is produced by EIRIS, the independent environmental, social and governance (ESG) research provider. Among the findings are that 54% of 2,000 global companies are exposed to water risks, but only 0.22% have adequate management systems, policies and reporting mechanisms in place to tackle the risks. Associated Profiles : Eiris RepRisk’s Special Report on Fracking
(Source: RepRisk) Hydraulic fracturing or ‘fracking’ refers to the process of extracting natural gas from shale by pumping large amounts of water mixed with chemicals over a thousand meters underground. RepRisk has been tracking criticism of the method, often voiced by smaller local newspapers and NGOs, for the past few years. Fracking has recently made it into the mainstream press due to concerns about its long-term environmental impacts. It also came into the spotlight as recently as May 2011 after the French government began debating a ban on the practice. Furthermore, there has been increasing interest from shareholders in regard to the risks involved and a number of corresponding resolutions. Associated Profiles : RepRisk Greening the Blue Oval: Ford Releases its 12th Annual Sustainability Report
(Source: PR NewsWire) Ford (NYSE: F) is offering the public a comprehensive look at the company's progress on environmental and social issues with the release of its 12th annual Sustainability Report. The 2010/2011 report, titled "Blueprint for Sustainability: Driving Change," provides updates on the company's progress in key areas of operations, product enhancements on vehicle safety and societal concerns including water usage and supply chain management. The report also designates areas in which the company deems as critical issues going forward. | Make SustainabilityHQ™ your daily headquarters for important news, commentary and research results – your HQs for Sustainability and ESG knowledge management. The key capital market players focused on Sustainability and ESG (environmental management, social issues and effective corporate governance) are profiled with an abundance of relevant information. Updates are continuous. The third party organizations helping to shape corporate valuations and corporate reputations are profiled and news about these players is updated every day. Log in and check it out! _______________________________
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Sovereign Wealth Funds Wealth gets wealthier
(Source: BBC News) Up to five trillion pounds - five thousand thousand million, with 12 zeros - is now swilling around the world on the books of sovereign wealth funds. It's an unimaginably large sum, but it could easily get very much bigger. That's according to research at Edinburgh University business school, set out at a seminar on the impact of these vast government-controlled assets. HKMA's crackdown on risky mortgages
(Source: GFS News) The maximum loan to value ratio for residential mortgages in Hong Kong has been lowered to 70 per cent in a bid to reduce volatility in the property market and to protect bank stability. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority said it was taking the measures in light of "renewed exuberance" in the property market following high transaction prices in recent government land sale auctions. Associated Profiles : Hong Kong Monetary Authority -- Investment Portfolio Commentary Why Is Libya in the Crosshairs of the West?
(Source: Foreign Policy Journal) The thaw in US-Libyan relations came in 2003, when Qaddafi abandoned his WMD program, renounced terrorism, opened up the oil sector to Big Oil, and compensated the victims of the 1986 Berlin disco attack and the 1988 Lockerbie bombing. George Bush rewarded him by waiving the sanctions on Libya in 2004. Qaddafi was happily shipping off Libyan oil to European ports. He was buying their weapons. He had invested in the US’s private equity firms and big banks. He shared crucial intelligence with the West on Al Qaeda. Then why did he come in the line of fire? Associated Profiles : Libyan Investment Authority United States Pension Funds Treasurer: State pension overcharged $20M on foreign-exchange trading ‘abuses’
(Source: Boston Herald) The Massachusetts state pension fund has been overcharged by at least $20 million by Bank of New York Mellon over the past four years because of “abuses” in foreign currency trading, Treasurer Steven Grossman claimed today. “These overcharges are unacceptable and we will take every step available to recover lost funds and prevent this from happening in the future,” Grossman said in a statement. Associated Profiles : Pension Reserves Investment Management Board (Massachusetts) CalPERS has been automatically deleting emails after 60 days
(Source: LA Times) The California Public Employees' Retirement System has begun automatically deleting any emails older than 60 days, raising concerns among watchdog groups that the giant pension fund could be destroying evidence of misdeeds. CalPERS has been under state and federal investigation over allegations that former executives and board members improperly influenced the fund's investment decisions and strong-armed a medical benefits vendor to retain a former board member as a consultant, according to an internal review ordered by the fund and released in April. Associated Profiles : California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS Research Public pension problem could be shrinking: survey
(Source: Reuters) As the issue of underfunded public pensions in the United States takes center stage at city council meetings, state budget drafting sessions, congressional hearings and public protests, a report released on Wednesday says the problem may be getting better. "Public pension funds are experiencing a robust recovery from the historic market downturn of 2008-2009 -- reporting strong investment returns, growing assets and funding levels on track to meet obligations," said the National Conference of Public Employee Retirement Systems. Watching the Watchers  onValues
Headquarters: Zurich, Switzerland
Established: 2002
ESG/Sustainability Focus: Yes.
KEY PARTNERS:
Values for Money reports with SustainAbility, Germanwatch and World Microfinance Forum Geneva for reports OVERVIEW / MISSION
onValues summarizes its work as: “onValues Ltd. is a specialist investment consulting and research company with approximately 10 billion euro assets under direct advice. Its distinguishing feature is a focus on investment strategies that take into consideration long-term value drivers, including environmental, social and governance issues.” Clients include institutional and private investors, foundations, asset managers, and banks News Sweeps Tata Steel Launches Valueabled – a digital platform on Values and Beliefs
(Tuesday - June 14, 2011) Associated Profiles : onValues - Tata Steel today launched Valueabled.Com an online campaign targeted towards all who wish to make a difference. It seeks to provide a forum for Indians, especially the youth, to come forth, discuss and debate on ... Tata Steel launches interactive e-campaign on social issues
(Tuesday - June 14, 2011) Associated Profiles : onValues - PTI As the country grapples with issues like corruption and blackmoney, Tata Steel, a flagship company of Tata Group, has launched an online campaign via a web portal asking citizens to be part of the ... [more] DC ethics bill is a poor vehicle for cleaning up scandal-ridden government
(Saturday - June 11, 2011) Associated Profiles : onValues - A mayoral administration that campaigned on values of character and integrity is off to a bad start. Energy that should be focused on critical issues facing the District is instead spent on disgraces involving luxury ... [more] |
