In the wake of the Newtown tragedy, is divestment the answer?

Zachary Paris 

Zachary Paris Client Relations Adviser

The recent mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT and the subsequent public outcry has spurred government officials and political leaders into a major policy debate. The scope of the debate has expanded beyond the manufacturers and retailers of firearms and ammunition to include major equity holders and providers of capital. The direction and outcome of the debate poses significant reputational, regulatory and financial risks to companies and investors involved in the firearms industry. In an upcoming Analyst Insight, Sustainalytics explains the issue and explores the key players involved, the response of public and private investors, investment strategies based on differing levels of risk exposure and the tools that can be used to implement these strategies. 

Corporate Action: Glencore and Xstrata merge

Alberto Serna Martin

Alberto Serna Martin Associate Analyst

On November 20, 2012 shareholders approved a merger between two of the biggest players in mining and commodities, Xstrata PLC and Glencore International PLC. The deal also pairs an ESG leader (Xstrata) with a performance laggard (Glencore), and raises important questions for responsible investors. In this article, associate analyst Alberto Martin considers the ESG profile of the new entity and outlines potential risks to investors. Read the full article. 

UN forum on Business and Human Rights: Assessing the Ruggie Framework

Ilse Griek 

Ilse Griek Responsible Investment Associate

In December 2012, Sustainalytics attended the first session of the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights. Responsible investment associate Ilse Griek reflects on the so-called "Ruggie Framework" 18 months later and looks at the road ahead for companies and their investors.  Read the full article. 

Dutch ruling opens door for foreign suits

Alberto Serna Martin & Dayna Linley-Jones

A Dutch court recently ordered Royal Dutch Shell to compensate a Nigerian farmer for property damage caused by a sabotaged well. This precedent-setting ruling exposes Dutch companies with foreign operations to new legal risks. Sustainalytics examines this particular case and the broader implications for responsible investors. Read the full article. 

Wilco van Heteren - Director, Research Products, Amsterdam

Wilco provides guidance and management to a growing analyst team. He will also play a role in further enhancing our research of financial institutions and sovereign funds. 

Stephen Scofield - Associate Director, Institutional Relations, San Francisco 

Stephen works closely with our regional and international teams, with primary responsibilities for business development, marketing, and client engagement. 

 

 

 

  

Max Zehrt - Senior Manager, Advisory Services, Toronto

Max assists global clients in integrating Sustainalytics' research within their investment processes. He brings to this role an understanding of the dynamics involved in developing an RI program.

 

 

Sustainalytics also welcomes Melissa Brown as our newest board member. Melissa is a partner at Daobridge Capital and former executive director at the Association for Sustainable & Responsible Investment in Asia (ASrIA). She brings to the board a deep understanding of ESG and responsible investment especially in Asia. 

 

To learn more about Wilco, Stephen, Max and Melissa visit: www.sustainalytics.com/team.

 

In other news, Sustainalytics has closed its office in Madrid, Spain. Spanish clients  will now be served out of the Paris and Amsterdam offices. Blanca Vega de Seoane, responsible investment associate, will join the team in Amsterdam and Francesco Mazzeo has transitioned to the institutional relations team in Paris.

 

Sustainalytics-Schoemaker Internship Award

 

Daan Schoemaker

In collaboration with the Dutch section of International Commission of Jurists on Human Rights (NJCM), Sustainalytics is launching the Sustainalytics-Schoemaker Internship Award in memory of Daan Schoemaker. The aim of the award is to foster expertise in the area of business and human rights, by providing a dedicated internship opportunity to a Master's-level student in the Netherlands with a stated interest in this field. The winner of the award will receive an internship position in one of Sustainalytics' offices, and an opportunity to conduct research and publish a paper on a business and human rights-related theme. The launch will be announced during the NJCM Seminar "Human Rights Violations as a Business Risk: From soft law to hard law," in Amsterdam on Thursday, February 14, 2013.

Sustainalytics in the Media

  

Recent Environmental Finance articles highlight the dangers of Arctic oil and gas exploration and examine the likelihood of BP fully recovering its status as an industry leader following the Deepwater Horizon explosion and spill (subscription required). Investments and Pensions Europe also examines the oil industry's claims to have cleaned up its act enough to be trusted in the Arctic. 

Michael Jantzi, CEO, shared his views on why companies should care about CSR and sustainability on the Network for Business Sustainability blog.    

Senior analyst Dayna Linley-Jones was also interviewed for an article in ToyoKeizai weekly. Read the full article (in Japanese).