News & updates

RepRisk participates in Third Party and Counterparty Relationship Risks conference in London

March 18, 2013 - RepRisk's UK-based Strategic Analyst, Stella Kenway, participated in the “Managing Third Party and Counterparty Relationship Risks” conference, held in London on March 11 and 12, 2013. Around 80 senior managers attended the event, which focused on the importance of due diligence and auditing in the context of strengthening management of third party relationships. Compliance managers of large corporations explained their approach to this issue, while legal experts explained the implications of current and forthcoming legislation in this area.

RepRisk's Philipp Aeby and Lauren Crockett interviewed on US radio's Rudd Report

March 07, 2013 - CEO, Philipp Aeby, and US-based Operations Manager, Lauren Crockett, spoke to Lauren Rudd, host of the Rudd Report in Florida, about RepRisk's methodology, the increasing awareness of the importance of ESG factors for investment analysis, and our new investment funds screening product. To listen to the interview, click on the link: http://sarasotatalkradio.com/2013/03/the-rudd-report-march-5th-2013/

RepRisk attends FISD Europe 2013

February 14, 2013 - On February 2013, RepRisk was invited to attend the FISD Europe 2013 conference hosted at the BT head office in St.Paul’s, London. The full day event was well attended by over 200 market and reference data professionals. At the event, Senior participants representing three constituent groups: Data Vendors, Data Exchanges and Data Consumers, were invited to discuss growing needs for stronger internal and external governance as well standardization of data at length. These key areas were highlighted to emphasize the growing needs for transparency in transactions and in general data handling, to meet the requirements of today’s regulations such as Basel III, MiFID and the Dodd Frank Act. The UK financial regulatory body, the FSA, contributed to the topic as well. Sessions were attended throughout the day by RepRisk Channel and Financial Data Provider Manager - Peter Ing, to meet and share insights into ESG data with members of the prestigious data community.

Conference in London: Governance, Risk and Internal Controls

February 10, 2013 - RepRisk joined forces with Ecofact AG to jointly sponsor the Governance, Risk and Internal Controls in Banking Conference that was held in London on February 4 – 5, 2013. Senior auditors from leading banks participated in the event to discuss the implementation of internal controls to minimize systemic and reputational risk through governance failings. Philipp Aeby, CEO of RepRisk, and Olivier Jaeggi, Chairman and Managing Partner of Ecofact, gave a presentation on managing ESG risks, and were joined by Yann Kermode, Executive Director, Environmental and Social Risk, UBS, who explained how his bank benefited from working with both companies.

Client Interview: Constantina Bichta, PhD, Principal ESG Researcher, Boston Common Asset Management

January 07, 2013 - RepRisk: Please explain a little about Boston Common and your role within the company CB: Boston Common Asset Management, LLC is an investment manager and a leader in global sustainability initiatives. It specializes in long-only equity and balanced strategies and pursues long-term capital appreciation by seeking to invest in diversified portfolios of high quality, socially responsible stocks. Through rigorous analysis of financial, as well as environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors it identifies what it believes are attractively valued companies for investment. As a shareholder, it urges portfolio companies to improve transparency, accountability and attention to ESG issues. I serve as Boston Common’s Principal Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Researcher. I conduct ESG research and analysis in both international and US securities considered for Boston Common’s portfolios. I also engage portfolio holdings on ESG issues, especially when they appear to fall behind industry practice related to ESG performance. The full interview can be found in the PDF below.

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RepRisk attends the Bloomberg Businessweek Global Green Summit in Singapore

December 06, 2012 - RepRisk Chief Executive Officer Dr Philipp Aeby participated in a panel session on Corporate Role Models in Singapore on December 4, 2012. Philipp was joined by Curtis Ravenel, Bloomberg's Global Head Sustainability Group, and Malcolm Preston, Global Leader Sustainability & Climate Change at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Philipp pointed out that the increased transparency in the corporate world, together with the rapidly changing expectations towards corporates puts a company's code of conduct, global policies as well as risk management and compliance firmly on the executive agenda. He suggested that the ten principles of the United Nations Global Compact are a good starting point with respect to corporate conduct in a globalized business and the challenge is to make sure these principles are adhered to before any form of malpractice is exposed by journalists, governmental agencies, NGOs or disgruntled employees.

RepRisk presents at Oikos Conference – Commodity Trade: Hotspot Switzerland

November 18, 2012 - Marta Lado, Office Administrator at RepRisk, was invited to talk about reputation risks in the commodity industry at the Oikos Conference 2012, which took place on November 15, 2012, at the University of St Gallen. Oikos International, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, is the worldwide leading student organization for sustainable economics and management founded in 1987 in Switzerland. After an introduction to ESG risks and RepRisk®, Marta led listeners through international guidelines and standards, linking them to the RepRisk Issues Scope Chart. She then went on to compare the subsectors Oil & Gas and Mining, their assessment in the RepRisk database, and RepRisk Indices.

RepRisk’s Asia-Pacific Representative, Anny Barlow, is interviewed by SRI Connect

August 17, 2012 - This week’s interview is with Anny Barlow, RepRisk Representative Asia Pacific, based in Vietnam. RepRisk is the leading provider of dynamic business intelligence on Environmental, Social and Governance risks (ESG). RepRisk’s business intelligence allows companies and financial institutions to proactively assess ESG issues and monitor risk trends that may present financial and enterprise, reputational and compliance risks. The database currently includes over 25,000 companies, 6,000 projects, 4,500 NGOs and 4,000 governmental bodies. It is updated continuously and the number of entities is growing daily and remains unlimited. Anny Barlow has been a RepRisk Representative in the Asian Pacific region since May 2011. Previously she worked as a strategic consultant for Just Screening and Marketing Director at Oceanic Imaging Consultants, Inc. Anny’s background, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Oceanography and a minor in Mathematics, have led her to focus on the environmental issues or ‘E’ factors that most interest sustainability analysts and investors, as well as why and how these measurements are integrated into analysis. The focus of her interest is deciphering if the correct indicators are being watched. Anny has a personal interest in obtaining global knowledge at cultural, interpersonal and social levels, leading her to explore many emerging market countries throughout South America and South East Asia over the past five years. Anny is currently based in Vietnam, where she works closely with a local socially responsible community organization, which uses sport to help develop individuals, KINN Pro Rider Team.

Client interview: Pablo Valverde - Secretariat for the Council on Ethics, Norwegian Pension Fund Global

August 16, 2012 - RepRisk: Can you explain the role of the Secretariat for the Council on Ethics and briefly outline the Council’s specific mandate / ethical guidelines? Pablo Valverde: The Secretariat assists the Council on Ethics in carrying out its mandate as determined by the Guidelines for the Observation and Exclusion of Companies from the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global (the Ethical Guidelines). In particular, the Secretariat’s tasks include identifying possible cases to be brought to the Council’s attention, researching and documenting cases for the Council, writing the text of recommendations and contacting the companies under assessment on behalf of the Council. The Council’s mandate is found in section 4 of the Ethical Guidelines. The Council recommends the exclusion of companies which themselves, or through entities they control, a) produce weapons that violate fundamental humanitarian principles through their normal use, b) produce tobacco or c) sell weapons or military material to certain states. Furthermore the Council recommends the exclusion of companies if there is an unacceptable risk that the company contributes to, or is responsible for, serious or systematic human rights violations, serious violations of the rights of individuals in situations of war or conflict, severe environmental damage, gross corruption, or other particularly serious violations of fundamental ethical norms. Where there is doubt as to whether the conditions for exclusion have been met or uncertainty about how the situation will develop, the Council may also recommend the observation of companies.

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Reputation Risk in Supply Chain at BASF - RepRisk interview with Dr Eike Messow, Head of Sustainability in Procurement

August 07, 2012 - RepRisk: What is BASF and what is the scope of your Sustainability challenge? Eike Messow: BASF is headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and employs more than 110,000 people. Our tier 1 supplier network consists of more than 40,000 suppliers. Our total supplier network is in excess of millions around the world. In 2011, BASF purchased approximately 500,000 different raw materials, technical goods, plant construction, and maintenance and logistics services. We procure raw materials from more than 6,000 suppliers. BASF Group’s purchasing volume in 2010 amounted to GBP 30.1 billion, excluding merchandise. BASF’s special products for the nutrition industry meet the highest safety standards and comply with global regulatory requirements for food.

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RepRisk presents at Interactive Data’s Prime Terminal event at the Widder Hotel in Zurich

July 04, 2012 - A select crowd of private bankers and asset managers attended the Prime Terminal event, hosted by the Swiss branch of Interactive Data Managed Solutions (IDMS) on June 28, 2012. The focus was on the use of IDMS’ Prime Terminal tool and the importance of customized data platforms for enhanced investment processes. Topics discussed included how to meet increasing customer demands and regulatory requirements whilst competing against a growing number of new financial products. RepRisk CEO Philipp Aeby then presented the newly integrated RepRisk environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) data available in Prime Terminal, IDMS’ first and currently only set of ESG data available on their platform. Dr Aeby offered insights into usage scenarios, which included comparing a company’s ESG exposure against its share price performance or using RepRisk data for value-based exclusions. IDMS representatives demonstrated the ease of accessing RepRisk data within the Prime Terminal tool and emphasized the importance of the steps they have taken to include this ESG data.

Responsible Investor Corporate Access conference chaired by RepRisk CEO

July 03, 2012 - RepRisk Chief Executive Officer Dr Philipp Aeby chaired the Responsible Investor Corporate Access Conference on July 2, held at the Swiss Stock Exchange in Zurich. The conference, which was jointly organized by Fair Impact and Tradeinfo, focused on energy efficiency and consisted of speeches and plenary discussions as well as individual meetings between corporate representatives and investors. Energy efficiency was presented as not only being good for the environment but also as a smart business practice that provides financial opportunities for operating companies and investors alike. The case for corporate responsibility and responsible investments in general is much less clear-cut however. With transparency for business activities increasing thanks to the world-wide web and booming number of mobile devices, as well as the shifting expectations of clients, regulators and the general public, the management of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues is quickly moving beyond the public relations arena. As the Head of Corporate Social Responsibility of Dutch retail property investor Corio put it: “The world is changing and in retail it is changing very, very fast. If we don’t adapt, we will fail.” In his closing remarks, Philipp stressed that initiatives such as the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investments (UNPRI) in the corporate and investment world, respectively, only remain relevant if they incorporate transparency on the corresponding actions of the signatories and if they establish performance standards as benchmarks instead of a principle-based approach only.

RepRisk presents at SAM Sustainability Congress in Berlin

June 28, 2012 - On June 14, 2012, RepRisk CEO Philipp Aeby presented on reputational and ESG risks at the SAM Sustainability Awards conference in Berlin. Sponsored by SAM’s parent company Robeco, the conference was attended by investment managers and executives of German multinationals. The presentation outlined the differences in managing ESG risks in banking, asset management, and within multinationals. The Equator Principles used in project finance were highlighted as an example because they are based on clearly defined performance standards and transparency. Many banks have thus modeled their ESG risk management on the Equator Principles. It is anticipated that the increasing call for transparency and the emergence of international standards will act as an incentive for asset managers, asset owners and multinationals to follow suit in the near future.

RepRisk attends Spring Symposium event in London March 27-28

March 28, 2012 - Stella Kenway, Strategic Analyst of RepRisk attended the Spring Symposium from March 27-28 in London. Hosted by US SIF, UKSIF and Eurosif, the international symposium provided Stella with the opportunity to discuss developments and emerging issues in sustainable and responsible investment internationally. It also provided an opportunity to discuss different corporate engagement strategies between North America and Europe, meet some of the leaders in ESG investment in Europe, as well as network with Chief Executive Officers of national and regional SRI organizations.

RepRisk Attends Responsible Business 2012

March 14, 2012 - RepRisk's strategic analyst Stella Kenway attended UK event, Responsible Business 2012, a two-day, not-for-profit event developed through a strategic partnership between UBM and Business in the Community (BITC). Speakers included ASDA, BAA, Goldman Sachs, Coca Cola, Prudential and Heineken. The event was attended by diverse range of business leaders including CEOs and senior executives from CR, Environment, Finance, HR, Procurement & Marketing.

RepRisk nominated as a finalist for the OG25 2011 Innovative Green Start-up Award

November 18, 2011 - RepRisk is pleased to announce that it was nominated as a finalist for the OG25 2011 Innovative Green Start-up Award in the US. The 3rd annual green startup competition recognized twenty-five of the most innovative eco-startups. OG25 Innovative Green Startup finalists were showcased on November 11 at the Annual Opportunity Green Conference, held in Los Angeles.

RepRisk attends SRI in the Rockies Conference in New Orleans

October 11, 2011 - Lauren Crockett, Operations Manager, and Robert Szigeti, North American Sales Representative, attended the SRI in the Rockies conference in New Orleans, Louisiana from October 2 to 5. The SRI in the Rockies conference recognizes and encourages the efforts of people and organizations from North America and around the world working for social justice and environmental sustainability. The conference is designed to inspire innovation, support leadership efforts, and facilitate collaboration among those who seek to direct the flow of investment capital in transformative ways and to catalyze a shift to a more sustainable global economy. Robert and Lauren attended panels on the significance of gender equality in the workplace and its importance to the success of a business model, as well as many interesting discussions about the significant impacts of water scarcity on industries which involve mining, alternative energy and natural gas exploration. One of the major topics discussed was the current push in the US towards the extraction of shale gas through the process of 'fracking'. In the "Flaming Faucet" Panel discussion on fracking, a representative from the Environmental Defense Fund stressed that the risks the natural gas industry is facing are not limited to fracking practices, but also extend to the importance of disclosure of chemical compounds used in the processes and the potential damage the industry could have on local infrastructure including roads and pipelines.

RepRisk attends ESG Europe 2011 in Amsterdam

October 07, 2011 - Sales representative Robert Klijn attended the two day ESG Europe conference in Amsterdam where specialists on responsible investment gathered for various discussions on related topics. The majority of the sessions were panel discussions led by Hugh Wheelan, Managing Editor of responsible-investor.com. Dexia AM, one of the pioneers of responsible investing in Europe with some EUR 18 billion of SRI funds under management, was one of major issues discussed during the breaks. During the conference, participants received the news that parent firm Dexia has been struck down by the European sovereign debt crisis. Dexia will seek to sell off the fund arm. On the first day, the presentation of Alex van der Velden, Head of Investment, Responsible Equity Strategies at PGGM Investments, was most rewarding. He has been building a new investment team and process along the UN Principles of Responsible Investment for the past three years. His team currently manages a concentrated portfolio of 15-20 companies focused on developed markets. It realised a 17 percent outperformance since inception. Robert posed questions on how to involve mainstream portfolio managers, which is an area of considerable debate. The UN PRI, represented at ESG Europe 2011 by Chairman Wolfgang Engshuber, could be one of the organisations to lead the mainstreaming of ESG issues. On the second day, leading figures from the responsible investment industry voiced their opposition to the European Commission’s proposed Financial Trading Tax. Pension funds would move to investing in derivatives rather than directly. However, Faith groups such as the Methodist Church in the UK have welcomed the idea. It is intended to target high frequency trading – in the process raising up to EUR 55 billion a year for the European Union. The keynote lecture of Noreena Hertz, Professor of Globalisation, Sustainability and Finance at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Duisenberg School of Finance, related to a new mindset that drives innovation and opportunity was impressive. Harry Hummels, Managing Director at SNS Impact Investing and Professor of Ethics, Organisation and Society at Maastricht University, favours a radical change. He challenged the audience, asking who will be the new leader capable of changing the current mindset as Martin Luther did 400 years ago with his Enlightenment.

Interview with Robert Klijn, RepRisk Sales Representative, who recently attended the Clean Investor Conference 2011 in London

July 11, 2011 - Can you describe any novel concepts that came out at the Clean Investor Conference on June 30? At the conference in London I discovered that energy efficiency seems to be the new buzz word in the world of clean investment instead of renewable energy. Meanwhile, outside the conference centre in Westminster, public workers demonstrated for a better pension system. The UK government is now establishing the Green Investment Bank. Can you tell us a bit more about this new institution? This new government defines itself as “the greenest government ever”. The Green Investment Bank will be a publicly financed bank that will provide support for green investments like micro energy generation. An initial GBP 3 billion of public investment should lead to GBP 15 billion in private investments. In The Netherlands and in Chicago similar initiatives have also been started. What political trends emerged during the conference? An agreement at the climate change conference in Durban in December 2012 is not to be expected (as happened in Cancun and Copenhagen). Conclusions were that the nature, stability and credibility of a government’s policy are important factors. It should stimulate the interest of portfolio managers. Developing countries mostly lack a consistent policy and the number of deals to invest in infrastructure is very low. What is the latest on 'green' themes across different asset classes? Exchange traded-funds (ETFs) offer liquidity and if you trade them on market close, you do not pay bid-ask spread. Existing green bonds are not as liquid as the treasury market and the currency of the bond is important. In real estate, it is important to work together with the tenants. This could result in a green lease contract with low energy charges for the tenants. Not taking measures may lead to a discount risk. Traditional infrastructure finance has been disappointing. What was said about the presence of unions in relation to company performance? Retail companies that have employees with a strong union membership perform better on the stock markets, according to a union representative. For example, Kroger and Safeway have outperformed Walmart, Ahold and Tesco.

RepRisk wins award at the Sustainability Congress 2011

May 04, 2011 - On Tuesday May 3 2011, RepRisk received the award for ‘Most Important Innovation in Sustainability’ at the Sustainability Congress 2011 held at the World Conference Center in Bonn. The annual conference is one of the main event in the sustainable investment industry calendar, with this year’s sponsors including Sarasin, Pictet, Lacuna and Oekorenta. RepRisk CEO Philipp Aeby was in attendance to accept the award on the floor of the former German Parliament, presented by Chairman of the Jury Professor Thomas Meuser. Philipp Aeby said “We were delighted and honored to receive this prestigious award, which recognizes the uniqueness of what we do and the important role our ESG data plays in the sustainability arena.”

The RepRisk Tool presented as a sustainability solution at the ‘After the Crisis: Sustainable Investing?’ event

April 29, 2011 - As part of its fortnightly events, the Hub Zurich hosted ‘After the Crisis: Sustainable Investing?’ where the potential of sustainable investment was explored yesterday. The two guest speakers, Francisco Cabarrubia of Alternative Bank and Ivo Knoepfel of Onvalues, presented to a crowd of approximately 70. While Cabarrubia of Alternative Bank spoke of their clients opting for lower rates of return in exchange for secure knowledge about the social impact of their investments, Knoepfel spoke of sustainable investments not necessarily resulting in less financial reward, believing that, in particular, long-term investments could have even greater pay-offs in the future. The two presentations were followed by a group session where the hosts invited members of the audience to solve a question around the topic in allocated groups. Many opinions and ideas were exchanged, resulting in a range of interpretations about the definition of sustainable investment and raising questions over how we can measure the sustainability of a company and how we can quantify it. This was in part answered by a short introduction to RepRisk, which was given in combination with the announcement of the launch of a newly installed Demo Terminal at the Hub Zurich, given by Peter Ing. Hub members and visitors were consequently invited to discover how the RepRisk tool could provide a means to quantify the sustainability of a company or project as well as screen them for environmental, social and governance risks.

The RepRisk Tool presented as a sustainability solution at the 'After the Crisis: Sustainable Investing?' event

April 28, 2011 - As part of its fortnightly events, the Hub Zurich hosted 'After the Crisis: Sustainable Investing?' where the potential of sustainable investment was explored yesterday. The two guest speakers, Francisco Cabarrubia of Alternative Bank and Ivo Knoepfel of Onvalues, presented to a crowd of approximately 70. While Cabarrubia of Alternative Bank spoke of their clients opting for lower rates of return in exchange for secure knowledge about the social impact of their investments, Knoepfel spoke of sustainable investments not necessarily resulting in less financial reward, believing that, in particular, long-term investments could have even greater pay-offs in the future. The two presentations were followed by a group session where the hosts invited members of the audience to solve a question around the topic in allocated groups. Many opinions and ideas were exchanged, resulting in a range of interpretations about the definition of sustainable investment and raising questions over how we can measure the sustainability of a company and how we can quantify it. This was in part answered by a short introduction to RepRisk, which was given in combination with the announcement of the launch of a newly installed Demo Terminal at the Hub Zurich, given by Peter Ing. Hub members and visitors were consequently invited to discover how the RepRisk tool could provide a means to quantify the sustainability of a company or project as well as screen them for environmental, social and governance risks.

Green Drinks event hosted by RepRisk

March 29, 2011 - The bimonthly event ‘Green Drinks’ held in Zurich, is aimed at bringing together people interested in the topic of sustainability. Organizer Falko Paetzold initiated Green Drinks in 2010 with the idea that it would be held each time at a different venue. Attendees stem from a wide range of backgrounds and industries, including investment professionals, environmentalists, academics and entrepreneurs, bringing differing perspectives and ideas, and ensuring lively discussions. On Tuesday evening, RepRisk was proud to host the Green Drinks community at its office, where it had set up several demonstration terminals at which attendees could test its online tool that collects ESG data on thousands of companies and projects. RepRisk also took the opportunity to display a preview of its company reports, which will be offered for online purchase following the launch of its webshop in May. Early in the evening, Falko gave a welcome address, in which he thanked RepRisk. He explained that his team at Vontobel Private Bank had been using RepRisk data for several years, and that during this time they had witnessed an increase in interest and a greater acceptance of the need to integrate such timely sustainability data within different areas of the bank. RepRisk CEO Philipp Aeby also addressed the crowd of approximately 75 people, focusing on the increasing call for transparency we have witnessed in recent years, and the changing expectations of investors and the public. RepRisk extends its thanks to everyone who attended and helped create such a dynamic atmosphere. We look forward to the next Green Drinks on May 31, which will be held this time at the Hub.

A Review of the ‘Rights & Responsibilities of Institutional Investors’ Conference in Amsterdam

March 10, 2011 - The Rights & Responsibilities of Institutional Investors conference, held on March 10 at the Renaissance Hotel in Amsterdam, addressed the theme “Protecting Assets through Responsible Fiduciary Practices”. The central question posed was: what is the appropriate fiduciary role for shareholders and investors? Participants agreed that shareholders have both the right and the responsibility to monitor corporate activities to ensure that value is being created and maintained by decision-makers and that those executives are held accountable. At the conference, compliance and legal officers, together with decision-makers from European public pension and insurance funds and mutual fund companies, shared information on how to best protect assets through responsible fiduciary practices. Attendees really liked a case study about Lehman Brothers. Much of what we have learned since suggests a systemic regulatory failure as well as a lack of honest disclosure and concealment of huge proportions. One panel discussed Investors’ Rights and Responsibilities in Emerging Markets. Panel members agreed that there is a correlation between ESG disclosure and share performance. Engagement with companies has started, but with the smaller companies there is a lack of experience and guidance. Brasilian IPOs are similar to London offerings as two-thirds of investors are foreign. The secondary markets are more difficult as transparency is flattening. Another panel discussed the shortage of staff of the SEC. A SEC settlement takes a lot of time and amounts are low. The general conclusion was that private actions are the better solution. The Panel Discussion “What Can We Learn from the BP Disaster?” was both informative and entertaining. Panellists, including RepRisk representative Robert Klijn, played roles of a lawyer defending five conservative opinions (business as usual) and roles of an activist defending five pro-active opinions (need for change). The themes involved bashing BP, blackswan/bad apple, predictable/preventable surprise, corporate reporting standards, investment research and active ownership. During the lively discussion, Claudia Kruse, Head of Corporate Governance at APG, mentioned RepRisk as useful tool for finding controversial issues. Finally Sir Richard Branson, Founder and President of Virgin Group, spoke about his own guiding principles: put staff and clients first, and this will lead to shareholder benefits; ensure staff are proud to work for your company; keep companies small to ensure an entrepreneurial environment. He also said that he is motivated to push new frontiers in the quest to improve our planet.

A Review of the 'Rights & Responsibilities of Institutional Investors' Conference in Amsterdam

March 10, 2011 - The Rights & Responsibilities of Institutional Investors conference, held on March 10 at the Renaissance Hotel in Amsterdam, addressed the theme 'Protecting Assets through Responsible Fiduciary Practices'. The central question posed was: what is the appropriate fiduciary role for shareholders and investors? Participants agreed that shareholders have both the right and the responsibility to monitor corporate activities to ensure that value is being created and maintained by decision-makers and that those executives are held accountable. At the conference, compliance and legal officers, together with decision-makers from European public pension and insurance funds and mutual fund companies, shared information on how to best protect assets through responsible fiduciary practices. Attendees really liked a case study about Lehman Brothers. Much of what we have learned since suggests a systemic regulatory failure as well as a lack of honest disclosure and concealment of huge proportions. One panel discussed Investors' Rights and Responsibilities in Emerging Markets. Panel members agreed that there is a correlation between ESG disclosure and share performance. Engagement with companies has started, but with the smaller companies there is a lack of experience and guidance. Brasilian IPOs are similar to London offerings as two-thirds of investors are foreign. The secondary markets are more difficult as transparency is flattening. Another panel discussed the shortage of staff of the SEC. A SEC settlement takes a lot of time and amounts are low. The general conclusion was that private actions are the better solution. The Panel Discussion 'What Can We Learn from the BP Disaster?' was both informative and entertaining. Panellists, including RepRisk representative Robert Klijn, played roles of a lawyer defending five conservative opinions (business as usual) and roles of an activist defending five pro-active opinions (need for change). The themes involved bashing BP, blackswan/bad apple, predictable/preventable surprise, corporate reporting standards, investment research and active ownership. During the lively discussion, Claudia Kruse, Head of Corporate Governance at APG, mentioned RepRisk as useful tool for finding controversial issues. Finally Sir Richard Branson, Founder and President of Virgin Group, spoke about his own guiding principles: put staff and clients first, and this will lead to shareholder benefits; ensure staff are proud to work for your company; keep companies small to ensure an entrepreneurial environment. He also said that he is motivated to push new frontiers in the quest to improve our planet.

RepRisk sits on judging panel for St Gallen MBA student presentations on corporate sustainability

February 21, 2011 - RepRisk's Head of Sales and Marketing, Charlotte Mansson visited the renowned MBA program at St Gallen on February 21, to serve on the judging panel of Professor Siegenthaler’s Corporate Ecology and Sustainability class. Students had to present an overview of the sustainability issues in selected sectors, such as retail, shipping and urban mining, and make recommendations for key players in that sector. Case studies focused on reducing carbon footprint, screening supply chains, developing innovative technologies, and branching out into more environmentally friendly products. The presentations were both well researched and engaging and the two best performing teams won equal first place. Best of luck to the students from these groups who proceed to apply for an internship with RepRisk!

RepRisk sits on judging panel for St Gallen MBA student presentations on corporate sustainability

February 21, 2011 - RepRisk's Head of Sales and Marketing, Charlotte Mansson visited the renowned MBA program at St Gallen on February 21, to serve on the judging panel of Professor Siegenthaler's Corporate Ecology and Sustainability class. Students had to present an overview of the sustainability issues in selected sectors, such as retail, shipping and urban mining, and make recommendations for key players in that sector. Case studies focused on reducing carbon footprint, screening supply chains, developing innovative technologies, and branching out into more environmentally friendly products. The presentations were both well researched and engaging and the two best performing teams won equal first place. Best of luck to the students from these groups who proceed to apply for an internship with RepRisk!

RepRisk joins global social enterprise network The Hub

February 09, 2011 - RepRisk Senior Analyst Christophe Diederich visited The Hub in Zurich, part of a global network for social enterprise that offers a free space for people to work in, supplied with desks and computers. Christophe gave a demonstration of the RepRisk tool, which will now be accessible there for free research by Hub visitors. RepRisk is excited to feature in this vibrant network and hopes that a new generation of social entrepreneurs will develop an appreciation of the reputational risks entailed in the environmental, social, and governance performance of their business relationships. For further information, please visit: http://www.hubzurich.org

Credit Suisse and RepRisk join forces to help launch Corporate Ecology and Sustainability module in St Gallen MBA

February 02, 2011 - John Tobin, Head of Sustainability Affairs at Credit Suisse, and Philipp Aeby, CEO of RepRisk, kicked off a new module of Professor Siegenthaler’s Corporate Ecology and Sustainability course at the St. Gallen MBA. In the first part of the seminar, MBA students had to assess the environmental and social risks associated with business activities in several sectors. In the second part, John Tobin and Philipp Aeby offered a framework on how to manage such risks from a banking perspective. Students will work on a corresponding assignment and conduct their research using the RepRisk database. They will then present their results to the class on February 21, 2011.

Credit Suisse and RepRisk join forces to help launch Corporate Ecology and Sustainability module in St Gallen MBA

February 02, 2011 - John Tobin, Head of Sustainability Affairs at Credit Suisse, and Philipp Aeby, CEO of RepRisk, kicked off a new module of Professor Siegenthaler's Corporate Ecology and Sustainability course at the St. Gallen MBA. In the first part of the seminar, MBA students had to assess the environmental and social risks associated with business activities in several sectors. In the second part, John Tobin and Philipp Aeby offered a framework on how to manage such risks from a banking perspective. Students will work on a corresponding assignment and conduct their research using the RepRisk database. They will then present their results to the class on February 21, 2011.

RepRisk takes part in FNG Sustainable Finance Industry Association Meeting

February 01, 2011 - Christophe Diederich of RepRisk took part in the Forum Nachhaltige Geldanlagen (FNG) Annual Meetting, held in Zurich. The FNG is the sustainable finance industry association for German speaking countries, with branches in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Two main subjects were discussed: global standards in sustainable investing, and a transparency stamp for financial products. The standards discussion touched on issues related to investments in BP; the question debated was whether an investor should avoid BP altogether or if they should instead invest and fully disclose their reasons. Avoidance illustrates a stock kicking investment strategy whereas full disclosure would be a sustainable investment strategy centered on transparency. The second discussion dealt with the transparency stamp, which was developed by the FNG together with Eurosif. Members were asked whether they could envision a broader application of the stamp to all funds. Here there was a majority of participants who viewed such a stamp as beneficial to the trust an investor puts in a fund. Overall, the event showed that sustainability is moving from a specific investment strategy to a general characteristic demanded across all types of investment strategies. For further information, please go to: http://www.forum-ng.org (German) and http://www.eurosif.org/sri-resources/sri-transparency-code

RepRisk takes part in FNG Sustainable Finance Industry Association Meeting

February 01, 2011 - Christophe Diederich of RepRisk took part in the Forum Nachhaltige Geldanlagen (FNG) Annual Meetting, held in Zurich. The FNG is the sustainable finance industry association for German speaking countries, with branches in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Two main subjects were discussed: global standards in sustainable investing, and a transparency stamp for financial products. The standards discussion touched on issues related to investments in BP; the question debated was whether an investor should avoid BP altogether or if they should instead invest and fully disclose their reasons. Avoidance illustrates a stock kicking investment strategy whereas full disclosure would be a sustainable investment strategy centered on transparency. The second discussion dealt with the transparency stamp, which was developed by the FNG together with Eurosif. Members were asked whether they could envision a broader application of the stamp to all funds. Here there was a majority of participants who viewed such a stamp as beneficial to the trust an investor puts in a fund. Overall, the event showed that sustainability is moving from a specific investment strategy to a general characteristic demanded across all types of investment strategies. For further information, please go to: http://www.forum-ng.org (German) and http://www.eurosif.org/sri-resources/sri-transparency-code

SAM and Oikos invite RepRisk to present at UN PRI’s Young Scholars Finance Academy in Zurich

January 28, 2011 - At the request of asset manager SAM and the student organization Oikos, Luca Bortolani and Philipp Aeby of RepRisk presented at the UN PRI Young Scholars Finance Academy on the integration of reputational risks into investment decisions. This relatively new development in investment management has been triggered by the recent global financial crisis and the BP oil spill in 2010. It offers some exciting research opportunities for academics and students who will tap into RepRisk’s database on environmental, social, governance and associated reputational risks, which has collected information on thousands of companies since 2005. Initially, it is suggested that research may quantitatively assess the correlation of those risk factors with the share price and share price volatility through a focus on specific cases.

SAM and Oikos invite RepRisk to present at UN PRI's Young Scholars Finance Academy in Zurich

January 28, 2011 - At the request of asset manager SAM and the student organization Oikos, Luca Bortolani and Philipp Aeby of RepRisk presented at the UN PRI Young Scholars Finance Academy on the integration of reputational risks into investment decisions. This relatively new development in investment management has been triggered by the recent global financial crisis and the BP oil spill in 2010. It offers some exciting research opportunities for academics and students who will tap into RepRisk's database on environmental, social, governance and associated reputational risks, which has collected information on thousands of companies since 2005. Initially, it is suggested that research may quantitatively assess the correlation of those risk factors with the share price and share price volatility through a focus on specific cases.

RepRisk attends SRI in the Rockies conference

December 01, 2010 - US Sales Representative Robert Szigeti attended the SRI in the Rockies conference in San Antonio, Texas, from November, 18 - 21. The SRI in the Rockies is an annual gathering of investment professionals working to direct the flow of investments in a more positive, healthy and sustainable way. The conference was an excellent platform to meet and listen to passionate leaders from all corners of the sustainable and socially responsible investor community. One of the major topics discussed, particularly during the Jantzi Analytic presentation, was the methods of quantifying and measuring reputational risk and human rights abuse.

RepRisk attends SRI in the Rockies conference

December 01, 2010 - US Sales Representative Robert Szigeti attended the SRI in the Rockies conference in San Antonio, Texas, from November, 18 - 21. The SRI in the Rockies is an annual gathering of investment professionals working to direct the flow of investments in a more positive, healthy and sustainable way. The conference was an excellent platform to meet and listen to passionate leaders from all corners of the sustainable and socially responsible investor community. One of the major topics discussed, particularly during the Jantzi Analytic presentation, was the methods of quantifying and measuring reputational risk and human rights abuse.

RepRisk and Hermes EOS co-host Stewardship Code event in London

November 30, 2010 - On Wednesday November 24 at the London Stock Exchange, RepRisk, along with co-host Hermes Equity Ownership Services, held an event entitled ‘The Stewardship Code: Implementation and Challenges’. The UK Code, which has received a great deal of attention from abroad, focuses on active ownership and how this can be achieved. The diverse panel members for the discussion included Susannah Haan, formerly of the Financial Reporting Council, the body responsible for developing the Code, as well as Colin Melvin of Hermes, Frank Curtiss of Railpen, Philipp Aeby of RepRisk and Henk de Bruin of Philips Electronics. Speakers presented their perspectives on the Code and how it can best be implemented by all signatories. Philipp Aeby presented RepRisk as a tool that can aid parties in adhering to Section 4 of the voluntary Code that states that institutional investors should intervene to address any concerns about a company arising from poor governance or risks related to environmental and social matters. Henk de Bruin’s presentation offered a very interesting insight into Philips Electronics’ vision and its attempts to achieve transparency and good governance for the benefit of all stakeholders. The event was extremely well attended by a range of asset owners and managers, who provided a lively discussion afterwards during the question time. Concerns were raised about the wording of the Code and in particular, what is expected from signatories in terms of reporting as of 2011, in accordance with its ‘report or explain’ principle.

RepRisk and Hermes EOS co-host Stewardship Code event in London

November 30, 2010 - On Wednesday November 24 at the London Stock Exchange, RepRisk, along with co-host Hermes Equity Ownership Services, held an event entitled 'The Stewardship Code: Implementation and Challenges'. The UK Code, which has received a great deal of attention from abroad, focuses on active ownership and how this can be achieved. The diverse panel members for the discussion included Susannah Haan, formerly of the Financial Reporting Council, the body responsible for developing the Code, as well as Colin Melvin of Hermes, Frank Curtiss of Railpen, Philipp Aeby of RepRisk and Henk de Bruin of Philips Electronics. Speakers presented their perspectives on the Code and how it can best be implemented by all signatories. Philipp Aeby presented RepRisk as a tool that can aid parties in adhering to Section 4 of the voluntary Code that states that institutional investors should intervene to address any concerns about a company arising from poor governance or risks related to environmental and social matters. Henk de Bruin's presentation offered a very interesting insight into Philips Electronics' vision and its attempts to achieve transparency and good governance for the benefit of all stakeholders. The event was extremely well attended by a range of asset owners and managers, who provided a lively discussion afterwards during the question time. Concerns were raised about the wording of the Code and in particular, what is expected from signatories in terms of reporting as of 2011, in accordance with its 'report or explain' principle.

TBLI Conference in London sheds light on current ESG landscape

November 23, 2010 - Head of Sales and Marketing, Charlotte Mansson, together with Senior Analyst Lauren Crockett from the RepRisk team, attended the TBLI Conference Europe 2010 on November 11 and 12 in London. The conference was meant to present a platform to exchange ideas and information as to how ESG policies and issues can be implemented into the current financial landscape. Several speakers at the conference addressed the challenges of developing a specific and quantifiable approach to incorporating ESG issues into the investment analysis process, while others were in search of ways to measure these risks in connection to the bottom line. Charlotte gave a speech at the “Future of ESG Research” workshop where she presented RepRisk as a tool that could be used to anticipate and/or prevent future ESG controversies from damaging clients’ portfolios. At the workshop entitled “Sustainability Indices”, participants discussed the importance of a company’s attitude towards disclosure and transparency in regard to ESG risks. Several participants expressed the opinion that such issues will only be resolved through engagement with companies found to be in violation of set standards rather than with a swift divestment policy. Another ‘hot topic’ at the conference was the implementation of the recently introduced UK Stewardship Code into investment practices. Participants discussed the ‘comply or explain’ policy of the code as well as the actual gains that could be identified by using the Code. A Hermes Equity Ownership Services panel member for the discussion expressed the idea that “the code should be used as a tool, not a rule”.

TBLI Conference in London sheds light on current ESG landscape

November 23, 2010 - Head of Sales and Marketing, Charlotte Mansson, together with Senior Analyst Lauren Crockett from the RepRisk team, attended the TBLI Conference Europe 2010 on November 11 and 12 in London. The conference was meant to present a platform to exchange ideas and information as to how ESG policies and issues can be implemented into the current financial landscape. Several speakers at the conference addressed the challenges of developing a specific and quantifiable approach to incorporating ESG issues into the investment analysis process, while others were in search of ways to measure these risks in connection to the bottom line. Charlotte gave a speech at the 'Future of ESG Research' workshop where she presented RepRisk as a tool that could be used to anticipate and/or prevent future ESG controversies from damaging clients' portfolios. At the workshop entitled 'Sustainability Indices', participants discussed the importance of a company's attitude towards disclosure and transparency in regard to ESG risks. Several participants expressed the opinion that such issues will only be resolved through engagement with companies found to be in violation of set standards rather than with a swift divestment policy. Another 'hot topic' at the conference was the implementation of the recently introduced UK Stewardship Code into investment practices. Participants discussed the 'comply or explain' policy of the code as well as the actual gains that could be identified by using the Code. A Hermes Equity Ownership Services panel member for the discussion expressed the idea that 'the code should be used as a tool, not a rule'.

RepRisk presents at Forum on Reputational Risk Management in London

November 03, 2010 - Head of Sales and Marketing Charlotte Mansson attended the Third Forum on Reputational Risk Management hosted by ECOFACT AG and Deutsche Bank on October 25 and 26 in London. The Forum was attended by 16 major international banks, amongst them JP Morgan, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, and Barclays. The Forum brought together reputational risk management practitioners to discuss best practices and developments since the last Forum in 2008. From the presentations and speeches it became clear that most major banks have a policy in place for managing reputational risks, however, in practice it is challenging to implement the policies. Reputational risks can damage banks both in terms of their own reputations taking a hit but also in terms of potential profit loses from controversial deals and transactions. As such, it is vital to “Know Your Client” whether it be a project, merger prospect, or new client. Charlotte gave a presentation on how RepRisk can help banks screen their clients and transactions with the help of our dynamic ESG risk tool.

Philipp Aeby invited to give a lecture at Lucerne University on reputation risk management

November 03, 2010 - On October 30, Philipp Aeby, the CEO of RepRisk AG, was invited by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences to lecture on reputational risk management as part of the advanced studies course on corporate communications. He first presented a reputational risk management framework used in the banking industry that compares pre-crisis risk assessment to post-crisis communication. In the second part of the lecture, Philipp analyzed the environmental and social exposure of BP, Foxconn, Goldman Sachs, Siemens, Sinar Mas Group, and Vedanta Resources for the last four years by using the RepRisk database. If you are interested in receiving a copy of the presentation, please email contact@reprisk.com.

Philipp Aeby invited to give a lecture at Lucerne University on reputation risk management

November 03, 2010 - On October 30, Philipp Aeby, the CEO of RepRisk AG, was invited by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences to lecture on reputational risk management as part of the advanced studies course on corporate communications. He first presented a reputational risk management framework used in the banking industry that compares pre-crisis risk assessment to post-crisis communication. In the second part of the lecture, Philipp analyzed the environmental and social exposure of BP, Foxconn, Goldman Sachs, Siemens, Sinar Mas Group, and Vedanta Resources for the last four years by using the RepRisk database. If you are interested in receiving a copy of the presentation, please email contact@reprisk.com.

Conclusions from ESG Europe 2010 Conference

October 19, 2010 - ESG Europe 2010 was held in Amsterdam on October 12-13 and was attended by RepRisk sales representative Robert Klijn. Robert’s impression was that it was a fantastic event, with 250 delegates from 175 institutions participating. These included a good mix of brokers, consultants, ESG researchers, governmental organisations, institutional investors, NGOs and private banking teams Some conclusions Robert came away with: 1) The new trend is stakeholder engagement instead of shareholder engagement. Engagement is a better route than exclusion. 2) Several participants believe that the development of a universal set of KPIs is unrealistic, with new initiatives such as EFFAS not being well communicated and confusing the market. 3) Standardised reporting about ESG needs to be developed. GRI and the national accounting boards could do this. The current systems are not fit for this purpose. 4) There is still a great deal of work to be done in regard to the implementation of the report by UN Special Representative Ruggie on Business and Human Rights. 5) One speaker viewed regulation as the partial answer to capital market dysfunctionality. Giants funds are the solution as long-term investment is key (not trend following, like hedge funds).

RepRisk takes part in Swiss Equity Cleantech Event in Zurich

October 14, 2010 - Swiss Equity Magazine’s Cleantech Day took place on Tuesday October 12 in Zurich. RepRisk was invited to participate and was represented by Christophe Diederich, a Senior Analyst. The event was held at the Convention Point of SIX Group, one of RepRisk’s partners. Christophe presented the RepRisk tool to attendees who included members of the financial and clean technology industries. All seemed to share the view that supplementing research with third-party data is essential. It is important for us to keep in touch with the clean tech community, particularly as investors looking into this area are often interested in controlling environmental risks associated with their investments in general. RepRisk thanks swisscleantech and Swiss Equity Magazine for giving us this opportunity to present.

RepRisk partner Responsible Research reviews the PRI in Person conference

October 14, 2010 - PRI in Person; Responsible Investment goes Mainstream? by Responsible Research The Principles of Responsible Investment (PRI), a UN backed investor initiative, gathered for their annual conference in San Francisco on October 5. Over 300 asset managers, owners and service providers gathered to celebrate a significant increase in the number of signatories since the previous year. There are now over 800 signatories, of which 80 percent manage or own assets, who have committed to the six principles of responsible investment. The total funds represented now total over USD 22 trillion, although only a fraction of those are currently run with a specific sustainability mandate. As some of the larger US pension funds, such as T Rowe Price and Legg Mason have now signed, we expect the trend to continue and the total PRI AUM to rise exponentially. This means the potential for PRI to have a positive impact on mainstream asset classes and returns will become clearer and easier to quantify. The conference addressed many of the most pressing issues of sustainable and responsible investors with the large number of US fund managers present focusing particularly on active ownership and engagement services, such as those provided by Hermes EOS, and governance challenges. Of the E,S and G components, the latter seems to generally attract the most attention amongst the US investor base who felt that governance should anyway incorporate the management and policy setting on environmental and social impacts which could affect shareholder value. One important topic included this year was the dialogue on Sustainable Stock Exchanges, as a follow on to the UNCTAD/PRI event in Xiamen in September this year. For this event investors were briefed with the Responsible Research report outlining the challenges and opportunities ahead for the global exchanges, many of whose ownership, governance structures and missions are ill aligned with a potential change of mandate towards improved sustainability reporting. There was significant interest in this dialogue, spearheaded by Aviva, due to the potential of increasing transparency on ESG issues. This will, in turn, make adherence to PRI much easier for investors. One theme from the UK, which seems to be gaining ground is a renewed focus on ‘stewardship’ rather than ‘management’ of assets, spearheaded by F&C. This seems to be a healthy and balanced way forward. The initiative incorporates positive inclusions and negative exclusions (tobacco, alcohol, adult content, nuclear, weapons, gambling etc) as well as strong and active ownership to improve holdings corporate responsibility and reduce deleterious impacts on the the environment, communities, consumers and employees. Companies which supply the basic necessities of life in a sustainable manner or improve qualities of life by using new low impact technologies are especially targeted. Those with excellent levels of communication on ESG issues would be more likely to be selected as targets for acquisition. The PRI itself has come under some criticism recently for the lack of enforcement of the principles, resulting in many signatories simply using their association with the framework as a market positioning tool to attract funds to a new SRI asset class. We believe PRI signatories themselves should publicly commit to integrate the principles throughout their organisations within a specific time frame and diligently report on progress towards structural adherence, rather than just labelling some funds as ‘responsible’, sustainable’ or ‘green’. Reporting should include identifying how ESG issues are considered in the investment process and which research, tools and processes are being used by analysts and portfolio managers. We have identified First State Investments as having exemplary reporting in place which other investors could regard as current best practice. The principles and membership subscription to PRI are, at present, still voluntary and there is no third party verification of adherence to the principles. With the number of signatories increasing almost daily, however, the task of tracking performance of signatories becomes harder. To this end we notice that, not only has PRI stated that fees will be mandatory in 2011 but they are also building up a team responsible for supporting the signatories with their reporting questionnaire. This conference, and our conversations with the PRI executives, investors, asset owners and other service providers, leads us to believe that the Principles are still relevant and well positioned to achieve success. The organisation continues to support investors as they navigate the murky waters of fiduciary duty, independence of their research providers, delivering on mandates and maximising returns whilst tackling the thorny issues such as the use of child labor, unsustainable palm oil supply chains, independence of board committees and planning for water price increases. The good news is that services are available to assist investors with these issues; RepRisk is a global online screening tool which can identify key areas where companies are at the receiving end of third party criticism; sustainability indices, such as the Asian Sustainability Rating methodology, can be used to spot companies which are not acknowledging, measuring and reporting on their ESG risks. There is also excellent in-depth sectoral and thematic work available focusing on non-financial risk which can guide investors and advise them on which are the key areas for future engagement. www.responsibleresearch.com www.asiansr.com

RepRisk attends Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) conference in Sydney

September 15, 2010 - 'Strategically Aware Investing'. At the risk of creating another TLA (three letter acronym) for SRI, ESG and RI, Dr Matthew J. Kiernan, founder of Innovest and now CEO, Inflection Point Capital Management opened the conference by postulating that we may like to think about what our pursuit of ESG integration into mainstream investment analysis really means. He went on to point out that this (RI) is not an 'idealogically driven investment style' but rather a 'sensible risk management exercise'. Food for thought for the risk management community. The 400 delegates in the room seemed to agree. Are we preaching to the converted at a conference such as this however? The presence of a greater number of traditional fund managers than previous years may demonstrate that the UNPRI is taking hold in Australia and New Zealand. Indeed some 70% of the delegates were Australian and New Zealand based with good representation by senior from executives Canada, UK, US, China and Asia. If we listen to Dr Kiernan, this is simply sensible risk management and we as the ESG industry should look to 'remove the double standard' and put the ball back in the court of the industry financial analysts and ask them how they are pricing and communicating ESG risks to their clients. The rest of the conference dealt with operational issues within the RI industry in Australia. How do we get the best information/ research to the right people at the right time? How do we create fit-for-purpose RI investment products? Is there in fact demand? How do we know this? How do we train and engage the financial planning community in case of retail investing. Likewise for institutional clients, at what stage will asset consultants be recommending RI products to their clients? The standout presentation from an interest perspective was on ESG disclosure in China by Professor Hu Ruyin - Director, Research Centre, Shanghai Stock Exchange. Professor Hu's presentation highlighted that China has created a Shanghai Stock Exchange corporate governance index with 240 companies represented. Those companies are diverse large locally listed as well as those dual listed in China and overseas. Evidently the Industrial Bank of China was the first Chinese Bank to sign the Equator Principles. Furthermore, the 17th September was an important date in Chinese CSI ECPI ESG Sustainable Development 40 Index which is made up of 40 domestic companies listed either on the Shanghai or the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, both joint owners of CSI. The index constituents will be the best Chinese companies meeting its sustainability criteria. Interesting times in global ESG/ RI/ SAI. Could we see China perform in the global ESG industry in a manner akin to their performance in global Cleantech markets?

RepRisk CEO Philipp Aeby presents at CFA event in the UK: 'Can you afford to ignore environmental and social risks?'

September 13, 2010 - Philipp Aeby, the CEO of RepRisk AG, was invited by the CFA Society of the UK to answer questions on how to manage exposure to environmental and social risk (ESG risk). He presented RepRisk's Reputational Risk Index as an indicator of a company's reputational and compliance risks. In addition he provided specific examples of an in-depth company analysis of ESG issues using some of the 15,000 companies in the RepRisk database. Finally, he discussed the integration of a more comprehensive ESG risk rating into the investment decision-making process. In his opinion, such risk screens and risk ratings should be part of any investment analysis, irrespective of an "ethical overlay" to the investment processes.