The Reporting Times: Looking inside the investment “black box” Read the complete article here Mainstream investors are becoming more sophisticated in the way they integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) information in their investmentBut they are often failing to explain to companies what information matters most to them, how it relates to their broader financial analysis and how itWe offer some insights. Integrated Reporting: Learning from industry leaders Read the Contrast Capital blogpost here To help companies develop their 2017 ESG communication strategies, we highlight a few practical examples of integrated reporting good practices from companies that were recognised as industry leaders in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index 2016 or the RobecoSAM Yearbook 2016. Cecile Biccari (neé Churet) to join Contrast Capital Cecile Biccari joins Contrast Capital as Managing Partner. Cecile joins from asset management firm RobecoSAM where she spent the last seven years of her career.
“I am delighted to leverage my experience in the asset management industry to offer concrete guidance to investors and asset managers seeking to implement responsible investment strategies” says Biccari. “Contrast Capital has built a great track record of providing independent practitioner-oriented advise in this space, so it is an exciting opportunity to contribute to moving the whole industry forward”. “It is excellent for the firms’ further development to count on Cecile as she brings a great deal of experience in discussing and finding the right sustainable investing solutions for our asset owners and managers clients and the right expertise to execute on the implementation processes required” says Founding Partner Stephanie Feigt. Rodrigo Amandi participated at the 2nd “Encuentro RS de Inversión Responsable & Sostenible” in Bogota, Colombia Rodrigo Amandi had the opportunity to open the event with a plenary speech where we provided an overview of new trends in Responsible Investing.
Introducción a las tendencias actuales de inversión responsable The event served to gauge the growing interest on this topic from a variety of market participants, corporates, asset managers and asset owners. Contrast Capital joins UN PRI working stream on Fixed Income The priorities of this work stream are to: explore the extent to which ESG factors are material to credit strength; provide guidance on, and examples of, implementation of the Principles; reach out to key stakeholders including credit rating agencies, media, regulators and intermediaries to promote understanding of responsible investment in fixed income. ~ Delivering Sustainable Value In keeping with global developments and driven by intrinsic values and instincts, Indian businesses are increasingly adopting sustainable business practice. For a while now, Indian companies have been featuring on the ESG related indices of CDLI, Dow Jones Sustainability Index, etc; howsoever, the number of companies appearing on the lists has been pretty stagnant.
In the latest sustainability yearbook released by Robeco SAM, i.e. the Sustainability Yearbook 2015, 6 Indian companies have featured in the best performers List. Wipro – RobecoSAM Gold Class Tata Consultancy Services – RobecoSAM Bronze Class Infosys Ltd, Tech Mahindra Ltd, Tata Steel, Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Ltd– Sustainability Yearbook Members Wipro, TCS and Infosys have had a consistent mention in the previous yearbooks as well, appearing for the past three years; wherein Wipro was rated as gold class in 2013 and bronze class in 2014. Infosys had been included in the bronze class in the year 2013 only, while TCS had finished as runner up. Tata Steel is the only other Indian company which had featured in previous sustainability yearbooks. M&M Financial Services and Tech Mahindra are the latest entrants to the list in 2015. In CDP leadership index, Wipro had managed to perform as a sector leader globally in the 2012 Climate Performance Leadership Index, but dropped out in 2013.
Several Indian companies in spite of a relatively higher score haven’t been able to feature in the global index. Both Infosys and TCS appeared on the leadership index in 2013 in the Information Technology sector. In the latest report released by CDP, i.e. CPLI 2014, 5 Indian companies have featured in the performance leadership Index, namely, Essar Oil, Larsen & Toubro, TCS, Tech Mahindra & Wipro. L&T, Essar Oil and Tech Mahindra are the new entrants on the list and are part of the leadership Index in their respective sectors. Though there has been an upshot on the number of companies featuring on sustainability rankings, as a region, India has a long way to go before being noticed by Responsible Investment community. Return to bfi's website Global design manufacturer Herman Miller (NASDAQ:MLHR) has once again qualified for inclusion in RobecoSAM’s 2017 Sustainability Yearbook, achieving Bronze Class distinction for industry-leading economic, environmental, and social sustainability performance.
The Yearbook is a listing of the world’s most sustainable companies as determined by their score in the annual Corporate Sustainability Assessment. Selection criteria for inclusion in the Yearbook becomes more rigorous each year, and only the top 15 percent of companies within each industry are selected. This is Herman Miller’s 13th consecutive appearance in the yearbook. “Since our founding days, we have believed strongly that our primary purpose as a company is to positively impact humanity,” said Michael Ramirez, Executive Vice President of People, Places, and Administration. “Whether we’re being good stewards of the environment, giving back to the community, or fostering a culture where inclusiveness can thrive, we are persistent in our efforts to create a better world.” RobecoSAM’s Corporate Sustainability Assessment measures financially material factors that impact a company’s core business value drivers. Factors including a company’s ability to innovate, attract and retain talent, and increase operational eco-efficiency are weighted heavily because of the impact on a company’s competitive position and long-term financial performance.
The Sustainability Yearbook is the world’s most comprehensive publication on corporate sustainability and has grown to become one of the leading reference guides for investors seeking out innovative approaches to integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into their portfolios. About Herman Miller, Inc. Herman Miller is a globally recognized provider of furnishings and related technologies and services. Headquartered in West Michigan, the global company has relied on innovative design for over 100 years to solve problems for people wherever they work, live, learn, and heal. Herman Miller’s designs are part of museum collections worldwide, and the company is a past recipient of the Smithsonian Institution’s Cooper Hewitt National Design Award. Known and respected for its leadership in corporate social responsibility, Herman Miller has earned the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s top rating in its Corporate Equality Index ten years in a row, was named a 2016 Top 100 Healthiest Employer, and has earned numerous global sustainability awards.