The SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance recently released a statement that helps clarify the differences between ESG integration and ESG focused. The statement says that an issuer can integrate ESG factors into its business operations in two ways:
The first is through the outcome of their investment decisions, which may include considering environmental, social or governance (ESG) factors as part of their overall investment strategy.
The second way is to consider ESG factors when making certain types of investments or other business decisions ( e.g., using a particular procurement process) but not necessarily in all aspects of its operations.
Let’s Take A Look At ESG Integration
ESG integration is the process used by companies to consider, assess, and manage the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities related to their business activities.
This definition applies to both public companies and private companies required to file periodic reports with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC).
What are some ESG factors?
ESG factors include environmental, social and governance factors. The term “ESG” is commonly used to refer to an investor’s focus on the environment and social causes. However, it can also mean governance issues such as corporate structure or practices that impact long-term value creation.
These factors are not just about the environment. They also include social causes (such as human rights) or governance aspects of a company’s business practices beyond its environmental impacts (for example, whether it pays taxes). They may affect an investment’s long-term performance or risk profile in different ways than traditional financial indicators such as risk-adjusted returns or earnings growth expectations do.
How does the SEC define ESG integration?
You might be wondering about “The SEC defines ESG integration”. After all, it’s not often that you see a regulator define terms so explicitly. But the SEC does just that in its guidance on ESG integration in publicly traded companies. According to the commission, ESG integration is defined as an outcome of an ESG focused effort, which is a strategic approach used by management to align environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors with business strategy and operations.
The Process of Integrating ESG Factors
When it comes to the process of integrating ESG factors into investment decisions, there are two general approaches: integrated and nonintegrated.
- Integrated
The investor is able to consider one or more ESG issues (e.g., environmental, social, governance) in the context of an investment decision and make adjustments to their portfolio accordingly.
- Nonintegrated
The investor may still consider one or more ESG issues when making an investment decision but does not adjust their portfolio based on those considerations.
What does being ESG-Focused mean?
ESG Focused is an investment strategy that uses environmental, social and governance factors to determine the best investment options. ESG Focused investors look at ESG factors like climate change, human rights, and corporate governance when making investment decisions.
An ESG focused company makes a commitment to integrate ESG practices into its business strategy and operations. These companies are actively engaged in managing risks, monitoring opportunities and improving performance across the full range of environmental, social and governance issues. They use ESG information to make better decisions about their businesses, products and services.
The Difference Between ESG Integration and ESG Focused
ESG integration refers to an investment strategy that considers a company’s ESG factors when making investment decisions. An investor may integrate ESGs into their overall investment analysis by considering how a company’s ESG metrics affect its financial performance. This approach can help investors identify opportunities for long-term value creation.
On the other hand, ESG focused refers to an investor’s decision to invest in companies that are doing well on specific ESG metrics while excluding others from consideration.
A common example of this strategy is when an investor focuses exclusively on companies that have high levels of gender diversity in the boardroom or executive leadership positions (e.g., qualified women). The goal of an ESG focused strategy is to promote positive change within the company being invested in as well as other companies in its industry or industry group.
In Conclusion
The SEC’s definition of ESG integration is a guidance of what it means to integrate ESG factors into your investment strategy. ESG integration is a means of integrating ESG factors into existing investment processes. It’s a way to make sure you’re considering these factors alongside other aspects of the business when making decisions about whether to invest or not.
ESG focused is an approach that focuses exclusively on ESG factors and its impact on returns. It can take many forms, but it’s generally characterized by a focus on materiality and risk. Hopefully, the information highlighted above will help you make a well-guided investment decision.
