IFS, a provider of enterprise cloud and industrial artificial intelligence (A.I.) offerings, reports that it has launched a “sustainability management module” for the 24R2 version of IFS Cloud that is intended to support environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosure requirements, officials say. Officials say the new module was the result of a collaboration with PwC… Read More >>
Will a ‘Tech Sprint’ Spur ESG Data Innovations?
Fixes for ESG data management challenges may arise during a “Tech Sprint,” launched by PIMFA WealthTech, a market network and technology platform created via a trade association and principal partner Morningstar. On March 5, they officially kicked off a “Tech Sprint” for innovations in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, particularly for ESG data management…. Read More >>
ESG Data Will Be Normalized for Investing: Q&A
(Paul Fahey, head of investment data science, asset servicing, Americas, Northern Trust, took questions from FTF News about the concerns that operations staff have about the environmental, social, and governance [ESG] data and factors that they are likely to encounter as part of their support for the investment process. In his post at Northern Trust,… Read More >>
NY Pension Portfolio Companies Will Face DEI Probes
Thomas P. DiNapoli, the comptroller for the state of New York, is challenging the portfolio companies of the New York State Common Retirement Fund on several diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) fronts via a series of shareholder proposals and related initiatives. The New York State Common Retirement Fund (the Fund) was valued at $242.3 billion… Read More >>
FCA Targets False ESG Labels
Picture it, teatime at London’s Financial Adventurers Club. “I say, chaps,” says one disreputable fellow, “did you see what the Yanks have come up with? ‘Green investing’! ‘Sustainable’! Must be some way to pocket a few shillings peddling that to the punters.” That’s greenwashing, and you can add it to your list of financial scams…. Read More >>
Public Pension Funds Should Consider Fighting Climate Change: Q&A
(Investing according to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns is facing a major political backlash. A least 24 U.S. state governments are moving to stop public pension fund managers from making investment decisions based upon ESG principles. Those leading the backlash say that when fund managers apply the ESG filter to investment decisions, it leads… Read More >>
24 States Forbid ESG Investing via Public Pension Funds
A major Republican backlash is underway in at least 24 U.S. states against public pension fund managers making investment decisions based upon environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns and principles. Those leading the backlash say that when the ESG filter is applied to investment decisions, it leads to portfolio losses, which harm pensioners. Non-ESG investments… Read More >>
Get Ready for a Major Battle Over ESG
Call it a fight over conflicting ideological screening methods or a backlash against a backlash. But, regardless of the initial label, a major political battle over environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles is gathering steam. As conservative U.S. states fall in line against the usage of ESG principles for public pension investments, 13 state treasurers… Read More >>
Greenwashing Crackdowns Should Spur ESG Funds Review: Q&A
(For financial services firms, the term “greenwashing” refers to misleading marketing about investments based upon Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and sustainability concerns. The practice has been getting a lot of attention recently as major media have reported upon a raid by German authorities of Deutsche Bank’s DWS offices in an effort to gather evidence… Read More >>
BNY Mellon Unit & SEC Resolve ESG Omissions Case
BNY Mellon Investment Adviser (BNYMIA) is paying a $1.5 million penalty to the SEC to settle charges that it made “misstatements and omissions” about the mutual fund reviews that were intended to verify whether environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns were considered when investment decisions were made. As the SEC explains in its order, its… Read More >>
