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ESG Research Australia unveils 2011 best practice equity research awards as 50th member signs up

09 Dec 2010
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ESG Research Australia (ESG RA) today opened nominations for its second annual research awards, to be held in March 2011. The awards reward excellence in research by Australia’s broking community of environmental, social and governance (ESG) impacts on listed corporations.

Chair of ESG RA, Rob Fowler, said: “We are delighted to have recently signed on our 50th member, CommInsure.  Pleasing as it is to have reached 50 members, the most important thing is that ESG RA is really making a difference in broker attitudes to the incorporation of ESG in their research.  Most major broking houses are now producing ESG research, and we have seen that research increase in quality and volume.  That is a real change from where we were when ESG RA started in 2009.

“We are now getting the cut-through that we really want.  We firmly believe that the incorporation of ESG factors into equity research will drive deeper understanding of company operations, more accurate valuations and better investment decisions.

“This ultimately will lead to better returns for superannuation fund members,” he said.

The awards will acknowledge research completed and published in 2010, and will cover:

  • Best Piece of ESG Research by an Individual Analyst or Team; and
  • Best ESG Broking Firm as Voted by Investment Managers.

Chair of the ESG RA’s Research Evaluation group, Amanda McCluskey, said: “We think it is important to publicly acknowledge excellence in the field of ESG research. While the Australian research in this area is increasing, we hope these awards further encourage and promote high quality ESG broker research into Australia equities”.

ESG RA is part of a global trend in focusing on better financial analysis.  There is, for example, a very direct connection between ESG RA and the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) – even though there is no requirement for ESG RA members to be signatories to the UNPRI.  ESG RA offers a practical way for UNPRI signatories to fulfil some of their key obligations.

The ultimate aim is to have ESG analysis included in mainstream financial research.  As Rob Fowler said, “We want ESG to be considered as integral to the core business of fund managers and stock brokers – we want ESG RA to be a catalyst in changing ESG from a niche to a mainstream activity”.

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