ESG-Services

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Overview

The issue of sustainability (ESG for environmental, social and governance) is on everyone’s lips and continues to gain in importance among both institutional and private investors. Complementa provides clients with targeted support in answering the relevant questions and in developing and implementing appropriate solutions, all based on the client’s individual commitment to sustainability. To this end, Complementa runs a center of excellence in which expertise and experience for ESG assignments are bundled. Through structured reporting and evaluation of sustainability in the implementation process, management bodies are enabled to assess the development, adjust it if necessary, and communicate to stakeholders (e.g. beneficiaries) as required (e.g. annual report or website).

ESG Workshop & ESG Concept

Investors are not legally obliged to invest assets sustainably. However, for pension funds, for example, the mission to consciously address this issue can be concluded from the fiduciary duty of care.

Sustainable investing – there is no single definition of what this actually means. In both practice and science, various terms exist, such as sustainability, CSR, ESG, or corporate responsibility. Even among management executives, there are different understandings and convictions of sustainability. So how should investments be made sustainable?

Each investor (or its management body) must therefore define its own orientation framework for dealing with sustainability. The creation of a common understanding of sustainability is a prerequisite and also the starting point for the implementation in the portfolio. However, this is often a major challenge for management bodies, especially since managers usually express different views. Complementa can support this crucial first step and provide know-how in ESG workshops through practical examples and a moderated discussion. Instead of prescribing ESG definitions, the first step is to compare the different expectations and understandings of ESG. In this structured way, the common denominator for the further process is to emerge.

By means of an ESG concept, the jointly determined understanding of sustainability becomes a verifiable commitment to sustainability. Complementa translates the understanding of values, the principles of action and selection, and the monitoring into a written concept and examines the extent to which adjustments to the investment guidelines are necessary.

 

ESG Implementation

Complementa supports investors in the implementation of the ESG concept, so that it does not remain a mere piece of paper but is rather adequately implemented in the portfolio. Based on the individual requirements, we look for suitable asset managers or products that take the sustainability principles into account in the best possible way (manager selection). Quantitative analyses as well as qualitative studies including ESG-related evaluations are an integral part of our systematic approach.

 

ESG Reporting

Monitoring and managing the portfolio on the grounds of sustainability aspects requires transparency. Our sustainability reporting is therefore based on analyses and ratings from the three dimensions of environment, social affairs and governance. This enables investors to review their investment portfolio for risks and opportunities in accordance with their ESG objectives.

Our ESG reporting focuses on traditional assets (equities, bonds). We systematically analyze and report these portfolio components with regard to sustainability rating, controversial business areas and climate risks (CO2 intensity & carbon transition scoring) and compare them with reference portfolios.

ESG Portfolio Assessment

In contrast to standard ESG reporting, which covers liquid assets such as equities and bonds (lack of structured independent sustainability information e.g. for alternative investments), the ESG portfolio assessment allows the sustainability of the entire investment portfolio to be evaluated.

For example, for indirect real estate products, carbon dioxide (CO2) values are collected and GRESB data (Global Real Estate Sustainability Rating) is evaluated. We furthermore gather data on the ESG approaches (exclusion, integration, best-in, etc.), processes and sustainability activities of the mandated asset managers. We qualitatively assess the sustainability approaches of the products and asset managers used on your behalf. The ESG portfolio assessment thus offers an in-depth qualitative understanding of the sustainability of all investments, in addition to ESG reporting.