ESG research

With responsible investment assets accounting for an estimated 7 percent of actively managed funds worldwide ($6.8 trillion in 2009 according to the United Nations), environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues are increasingly gaining traction in the financial mainstream.

Furthermore, with data providers such as Bloomberg delivering company-specific ESG information, we believe that investors who are able to interpret ESG factors and relate them to a company’s future prospects may develop a competitive advantage in stock selection processes over the longer run.

As a result, UniCredit Research expanded its ESG analysis from the German to the European equity markets in 2010, while backed by its ongoing strategic partnership with oekom research, one of the world’s leading rating agencies.

Below are several examples demonstrating our work in ESG research.

The Halo's Creed

This report outlines UniCredit's new ESG research methodology, which is based on maximising both shareholder and broader stakeholder returns. Our framework follows the ten thematic principles of the European Sustainable Development Strategy and aims to incorporate the effects of ESG issues into stock valuation and selection processes.
 

Unlocking sustainable alpha

This report delivers an ESG-oriented analytical framework within a portfolio management context. It concludes that ESG risks are increasingly reflected in the risk profile of companies, despite that implied performance gains remain to be fully realized by financial markets.

Monitoring Germany's ESG leaders - the UCRESGLG Index

This report introduces the group's Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Leaders Germany Index Monitor (Bloomberg ticker: UCRESGLG Index), which delivers certain benefits relative to the majority of existing Responsible Investment Indices.

Contacts

Patrick Yves Berger

Head of Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Equity Research

phone: +44. 20 7826 7952

e-mail: patrickyves.berger@caib.unicreditgroup.eu