Environmental, Social And Governance Scores Research Articles

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report Quality and Firm Value in Southeast Asia

This study examines the impact between the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) score and firm value described by market capitalization from the perspective of legitimacy theory. This study focuses on ESG disclosures from 608 companies in Southeast Asia for 5 years. This study tested three dimensions of the ESG Score (environmental, social, and governance pillar score) that most affect the value of the company. ESG Score is measured from the Thomson Reuters Eikon Refinitiv matrix and analyzed with multiple regression analysis. This research shows that ESG disclosure positively affects firm value. This finding shows that every ESG score increase affects the increase in market capitalization. Furthermore, the social score is the most affected by firm value. This study adds to ESG literature by examining three components of ESG score. Previous research focused on each component of ESG. This research uses three components of ESG and its relationship to firm value to examine which component has a strong effect on market capitalization.

Market capitalisation and environmental, social and governance ratings in the European Union

Purpose: The paper aims to study the relationship between market capitalisation and environmental, social and governance (ESG) ratings of the companies in the European Union (EU).Methodology: The authors analysed a sample of 1,456 companies over five years, from 2016 to 2020. The ESG combined score and market capitalisation of the companies were observed. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between the observed variables. The companies from twenty-one EU Member States have been analysed due to data availability.Results: The results showed that a negative correlation is statistically significant, which confirms the results obtained in previous research. Since the ESG scores are measured on a scale where a higher value means a lower rating, the results can be interpreted as valid, and they show that higher ESG ratings positively correlate with the company’s market capitalisation. Conclusion: According to the analysis results, the correlation between ESG ratings and market capitalisation has improved over the years. In the first two years of the analysis, the correlation was weak, while it became stronger in the last three years of analysis. It is crucial for companies to understand this information since it gives them recommendations for future actions. ESG reporting can improve their market position. Since ESG reporting is still voluntary, companies which incorporate ESG reporting into their business strategy can become market leaders.

Factors of ESG ratings assigned to commercial banks – the cultural and credit risk dimensions

The purpose of the study was to examine the impact of cultural differences and credit ratings on the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) scores assigned to commercial banks. The analysis was performed using ordered logistic regression. The Akaike information criterion (AIC) and the statistical significance of the explanatory variables were used as the method of comparing the models. Count R2 and adjusted count R2 were chosen as the measure of goodness of fit, but a non-diagonal element analysis of the contingency table was also performed. Based on the data of 330 banks from 50 countries the study proved that among all the clusters considered, the region with the highest ESG risk attributable to banks was the Arab countries, whereas regions with the lowest ESG risk were Western European and Nordic countries. Cultural variables found to influence ESG ratings were MAS (masculinity vs. femininity), PDI (power distance index), LTO (long-term orientation vs. short-term orientation), and UAI (uncertainty avoidance). In addition, a relationship between banks’ ESG and credit ratings was observed, i.e. an increase in the average credit rating reduces the chance of classifying a bank as high or medium ESG risk vs. ESG low risk. This is the first study focused on binding the cultural characteristics of a given country with the results of ESG risk assessments of banks registered in this jurisdiction as well as assessing the relation between ESG and credit risks. This kind of clustering with the use of an econometric model allows for capturing the interrelationships of many factors simultaneously with full interpretability of the results. An added advantage was the excellent accuracy of the model, even though the maximisation of the predictive power was not the key aspect of the research.

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Committees and Performance in Thailand

Manuscript type: Research paper Research aims: The study aims to investigate the extent and level of environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance of listed companies in Thailand, and test for the relationship between ESG committees and performance. Design/methodology/approach: Using the top 100 Thai listed companies (364 firm-year observations) from the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), the corporate annual reports during 2018 to 2021 are used to collect ESG board committee characteristics, while ESG performance is collected and measured by ESG scores from S&P Capital IQ and Capital IQ Pro databases. Descriptive analysis, correlation matrix, and multiple regression are used to analyse the data. Research findings: The average performance score of ESG in Thailand is 29.52. In addition, there was an increase of ESG performance by the top 100 firms in Thailand during the period under study. There is a significantly positive relationship between independent ESG committees and ESG performance, while dual positions between top management and ESG committees is negatively correlated with ESG performance. Theoretical contribution/originality: The findings of the relationship between ESG committees and performance demonstrates that agency theory can be used to explain the factors influencing ESG performance by Thai listed companies.

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance and firm performance in India

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the impact of environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance on the firm performance of select Indian companies.Design/methodology/approachThe present paper is a cross-section study based on secondary data with a sample of 222 Indian firms. The ESG performance for Indian companies is based on the Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited (CRISIL) ESG score, and the financial data are extracted from the ACE Equity database. Both accounting- and market-based measures of firm performance are used. Ordinary least squares and simultaneous quantile regression models are used for empirical investigation.FindingsThe study reveals that Indian firms focus much more on governance and social parameters than environmental ones. The results indicate that ESG performance and its components are positively associated with firm performance. The results of quantile regression show that the impact of ESG is different at different locations of the conditional distribution of firm performance and the positive impact is more pronounced at upper quantiles.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study in India based on the CRISIL ESG score for analyzing the ESG and firm performance relationship. Furthermore, in the Indian context, a modest attempt is made to study the influence of ESG performance at different locations of the distribution of firm performance by using quantile regression.

The relationship between ESG and firm value. Case study of the automotive industry

The automotive industry is set to face a series of fundamental changes in the following years. Along with the transition to electric vehicles or production of autonomous cars, companies are also expected to better address sustainability issues, usually divided into environmental, social and governance (ESG) aspects. The present paper aims to explore the relationship between non-financial sustainability, measured by ESG scores, and firm value in the automotive industry, where empirical evidence is scarce. A structural equation modelling (SEM) approach has been taken on a novel dataset of 131 listed companies worldwide across 6 years. Our results indicate a mixed influence of the E, S, G scores on firm value in the analyzed period, with some inconclusive effects, especially from the social score. The findings are beneficial for investors, fund managers and automotive companies’ executives. Further research directions are also provided.

Capital structure and speed of adjustment: the impact of environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance

Purpose This study aims to examine the impact of sustainable practices as proxied by the environmental, social and governance (ESG) score on capital structure. It also investigates whether ESG performance influences the speed of adjustment (SOA) to target leverage in firms. Design/methodology/approach The sample covers 116 non-financial firms listed on the main stock exchanges from five Southeast ASEAN countries (Bursa Malaysia, Indonesia Stock Exchange, Philippines Stock Exchange, Singapore Stock Exchange and Stock Exchange of Thailand) over the period 2012–2019. The study adopts the OLS regression and system-GMM estimators to perform the data analysis. Findings The authors show that the ESG score is positively associated with book leverage, suggesting that firms increase their debt capital through sustainable practices. However, they find that the ESG score is negatively associated with market leverage across our model estimations. The authors also reveal that environmental, social and governance pillar scores produce about 7.82%, 2.88% and 0.47% SOAs, respectively, higher than the SOA of the traditional SOA without the ESG factor. The aggregate ESG score has about 3.41% SOA higher than the baseline SOA without the ESG factor. Practical implications This study is of interest to investors, corporate firms and policymakers. The study demonstrates that the ESG score increases the firm’s SOA to target leverage. By disaggregating the ESG score, the authors establish that ESG pillar scores produce higher SOAs than the traditional SOA (without ESG), with the environmental score inducing the fastest SOA. Practically, the study implies that environmentally sustainable activities reduce environmental transaction costs, benefit firms through better information transparency and enhance a trustful climate between the firm and suppliers of capital. Therefore, this study demonstrates that firms do not only incur the cost of disseminating ESG information but also benefit from lower information asymmetry and a higher SOA with better tax-deductible advantages. Social implications The findings have combined advantages for both stakeholders and directors who monitor and manage the firms’ resources to improve the quality of ESG practices and initiatives. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to establish that sustainable practices induce higher debt capital. Secondly, unlike prior research focusing on the cost of capital, the authors examine whether ESG performance affects capital structure patterns. Thirdly, it documents the extent to which sustainable practices influence the SOA towards target leverage in firms. The authors contribute to corporate finance literature that firms reach faster to their target leverage in the presence of ESG performance. Theoretically, through the notion of the stakeholder proposition, the study establishes that the firms’ pursuance of stakeholder goals further enhances the prediction of the trade-off theory.

Institutional Investors, Alternative Asset Managers, and ESG Preferences

We survey institutional investors to understand why they integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into their investment management processes. Using a unique data set, we find that limited partners (LPs) are motivated to incorporate ESG because they believe that ESG usage is more strongly correlated with financial performance. We find that general partners (GPs) are motivated to integrate ESG factors into their investment strategies in response to increased client demand for sustainable products. Furthermore, we find that private equity (PE) uses ESG factors more intensely than venture capital (VC) regardless of geography. We also find that PE firms use voice and exit strategies more extensively than VC funds in efforts to promote ESG activities in companies. When evaluating individual components of ESG scores, we find that the investors consider the governance score the most important component, followed by E, and then S.

From talk to action: the effects of the non-financial reporting directive on ESG performance

PurposeNon-financial reporting (NFR) is viewed as a major step towards organisational transparency and accountability. While the number of non-financial reports published every year has been growing exponentially over the last two decades, their quality and effectiveness in managing environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance have been questioned. Addressing these concerns, several jurisdictions, including EU Member States, introduced mandatory NFR regimes. However, the evidence on whether such regulation truly translates into enhanced ESG performance remains scarce. This paper aims to fill this gap in the literature by investigating the impact of the EU’s Directive 2014/95/EU (Non-financial Reporting Directive, NFRD) on the ESG scores of Polish companies.Design/methodology/approachDrawing upon institutional and strategic perspectives on legitimacy theory, the authors test the relationship between the introduction of the NFRD and the ESG scores derived from the Refinitiv database, using a sample of all those companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange whose disclosure allows for measuring ESG performance (yielding 171 firm-year observations from 43 companies).FindingsThis study’s findings show an improvement of ESG performance following the introduction of the NFRD. The difference-in-differences approach indicates that the improvement is larger for companies that are subject to the legislation when it comes to overall ESG performance, particularly for environmental and social performance. Nonetheless, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no significant effect is found for performance in the governance dimension.Originality/valueThis study investigates the role of transnational mandatory reporting regulation in the first years of its enactment. The evidence offers insights into the effects of disclosure legislation in the context of an underdeveloped institutional environment.

Responsible Investment and Stock Market Shocks: Short‐Term Insurance without Persistence

AbstractWe investigate the differential effect of the COVID‐19 shock on the share prices of firms with different levels of ESG (environmental, social and governance) scores. Thereby, we analyse whether and to what extent higher ESG ratings provided insurance for investors in the stocks of those firms during this shock. We focus our analysis on the European market, in which ESG investment plays a particularly important role. Using a broad sample of listed firms, we provide mixed evidence. On the one hand, we show that immediately after the start of the shock, firms with a higher ESG score outperformed their peers. On the other hand, this effect faded less than 6 weeks later. Given the quick recovery of the market, our findings support the idea that ESG stocks provide limited insurance and act as a risk‐mitigating device in severe crises.

Bank's funding costs: Do ESG factors really matter?

This study analyzes whether environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors affect the pricing of bank bonds in the primary market. Using a unique dataset of 19,106 fixed-rate senior bonds issued by a sample of 63 EU banks between 2006 and 2021, we find that, ceteris paribus, the cost at issuance is lower for banks with higher ESG scores. Interestingly, the results are not driven by the environmental friendliness of the issuer, but rather by high corporate governance standards and ESG reporting and transparency practices. Our results shed light on the effect of ESG practices on the cost of debt funding in the banking sector, and show a positive role of “sustainable” banking governance practices in reducing the cost of debt financing.

Bet on innovation, not Environmental, Social and Governance metrics, to lead the Net Zero transition

AbstractThe conventional Net Zero perspective with its emphasis on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) metrics represents linear cause‐and‐effect thinking. That is, implementation of the metrics will then change company behaviour with the eventual effect of a successful Net Zero transition. Different perspectives are presented, rooted in systems thinking. Numerous company examples explain why innovation, not ESG metrics, will be the prime mover in achieving Net Zero. The crux of the argument for systems thinking is that a company like Honeywell, currently given an ‘F’ ESG score, is delivering stellar innovations that will enable its customers to significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. As to behaviour, boards of directors should demand new information from management with particular attention to returns on capital versus the cost of capital under scenarios that include a price (tax) on carbon. The integration of corporate finance principles with systems thinking will improve decision‐making and facilitate an efficient Net Zero transition.

Board Diversity and ESG Performance: Evidence from the Italian Banking Sector

This study examines the influence of the diversity of the board of directors (BoD) and the environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance of 105 Italian banks during the period 2017–2021. Our analysis investigates board diversity in terms of board attributes (board size, board age, board gender diversity, board independence and CSR (corporate social responsibility/sustainability committee) and measures ESG dimensions by using the ESG score provided by the Refinitiv database hosted by Thomson Reuters. The main empirical results reveal that the board size, board independence and the presence of a CSR/sustainability committee positively influence a bank’s ESG performance while no significant relationship between board average age and ESG performance is found. Additionally, the relationship between gender-balanced boards and ESG performance is positive but the impact of female directors on ESG performance is non-linear when a critical mass of women is reached. This paper comprises an in-depth inspection of the corporate governance (CG) in banks, since in Italy there is limited literature concerning diversity in BoDs despite the relevance of the topic. This study is the first that examines the impact of specific CG characteristics (board diversity) on ESG performance in the Italian banking sector, to date. The investigation is highly relevant to managers and investors considering ESG issues in their decision-making process. In addition, findings have implications for both regulators and practitioners, suggesting that policymakers and managers should pay more attention to corporate governance aspects to enhance ESG performance.

Exploring the relationship of ESG score and firm value using fsQCA method: Cases of the Chinese manufacturing enterprises.

The basic purpose of a business is to maximize value. With the increased expectations for companies’ social responsibility practices and sustainability, sustainability management has become a must for many companies to maximize value in the current competitive environment. Environmental, social and governance (ESG) are widely used indicators to evaluate corporate social responsibility performance. However, there is a lack of combined view on the three dimensions. This study aims to explore the sources of corporate value from the sustainability perspective. By using fsQCA (fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis), we proposes a configurational model consisting of environmental, social, governance, size and profitability to investigate the value-enhancing mechanisms of corporate social responsibility. The study shows that high enterprise value can be achieved through multiple paths, which can be categorized as resource-constrained type, slack resources type and good management type.

Stock market reaction to mandatory ESG disclosure

Employing an event-study approach, we examine stock market reaction to the enactment of the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Disclosure Simplification Act of 2021 by the United States House of Representatives. The Act mandates disclosure of standardized ESG metrics among American public companies. A significantly negative reaction of -1.1% is documented across all firms, which does not recover until the fifth day. Carbon-intensive firms and industries are more vulnerable to the negative market reaction. The negative reaction attenuates among firms with higher ESG scores.

Economic policy uncertainty and firm propensity to invest in corporate social responsibility

PurposeThis study aims to examine the impact of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on firm investment in corporate social responsibility (CSR)’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) dimensions. Additionally, the study examines whether firm size moderates the EPU–CSR relationship.Design/methodology/approachThe sample includes 2,017 US. firms from 2002 to 2018. Data on ESG scores are drawn from the Asset-4 database in Thomson Reuters to measure CSR investment. ordinary least square regression, including fixed effects at the year and industry level, is used as the main econometric specification. Moreover, the study employed the two-step system Generalized Method of Moments to address the endogeneity concerns.FindingsThe findings reveal that firms increase their CSR investment in response to high EPU. The results are consistent in all the three ESG/CSR dimensions: ESG. Moreover, the positive association between EPU and CSR is driven by firm size, indicating that large-sized firms have the resources and incentives to invest more in CSR. Our main findings remain consistent after addressing the endogeneity concerns and controlling for the effect of omitted variable biasness.Originality/valueUsing a unique sample of US firms, this study empirically contributes to the current literature on the association between EPU and CSR investment. Moreover, firm size plays a vital role in moderating this relationship.

Determinants of becoming an M&A acquirer or target: evidence from the US insurance industry

PurposeThis paper explores which fundamental aspects of US insurance firms are significant factors in determining whether a firm will be a target or acquirer firm.Design/methodology/approachBy focusing on 251 mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals (119 target firms and 132 acquirer firms) over the period between 1990 and 2019, multinomial logistic regression results identify the determinants associated with becoming targets or acquirers.FindingsUS insurance firms are more likely to become targets if they are smaller, have lower cash holdings, are non-life, and do not have environmental, social and governance (ESG) scores. Insurance firms are more likely to be acquirers if they have higher profitability, higher cash flow and higher intangibles, and if they are non-life and do not have ESG scores. Moreover, the likelihood of becoming an acquirer decreases in times of global financial crises (GFCs) as compared to non-GFC times.Originality/valueThis paper is the first to utilize multi-period multinomial logistic regression analysis to investigate the determinants of selection decisions of M&A targets and acquirers in the US insurance industry.

ESG controversies and the cost of equity capital of European listed companies: the moderating effects of ESG performance and market securities regulation

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the effect of environmental, social and governance (ESG) controversies on the cost of equity (COE) capital, exploring the moderating role of both positive ESG performance and market securities regulation.Design/methodology/approachThis paper adopts a sample of 2,599 time observations related to European listed companies for which the authors examine a set of 30 negative ESG scores across the three pillars in terms of controversies, compliance and other negative issues. This study uses the average of seven implied COE estimates.FindingsThe results show that negative ESG performance, particularly environmental controversies, increases the COE, although this impact is mitigated when associated with company efforts to improve environmental performance. Besides, environmental controversies are likely to increase the COE in countries where the market regulation is stronger, as a consequence of higher investors’ expectations towards the scrutiny role of more efficient markets against companies’ controversies.Practical implicationsCompanies should take care seriously of environmental issues such as biodiversity, product impact and resource impact, because investors do react accordingly. As despite no direct effects of positive ESG performance are observed in terms of COE reduction, the mitigating role on the ESG controversies–COE relationship makes ESG practices still significant for European investors.Social implicationsThe effects of ESG performance on company financial performance should be investigated under the assumption that bad events weight more than positive ESG performance.Originality/valueBecause no prior studies have specifically assessed the effect of the European listed companies’ ESG controversies on their COE, this paper delivers insights into the relationship between positive and negative ESG performance and their effects on capital market financing.

The impact of audit committee characteristics on ESG performance in the European Union member states: Empirical evidence before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

The purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of audit committee characteristics on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance for European listed companies. This paper aims to understand how audit committee characteristics, namely, independence, expertise and tenure, influence ESG scores. The reported ESG scores and audit committee characteristics are collected from a sample of companies included in the Refinitiv Eikon database and analysed using a panel data analysis at both the country and industry levels. The sample is composed of 13 member states of the European Union and covers the period from 2018 to 2020. The results show a significant positive effect of audit committee independence and expertise on ESG performance. Moreover, audit committee tenure is found to be negatively associated with the ESG performance. These results are even statistically stronger during the pandemic period. This paper partially validates the significance of audit committee characteristics in improving ESG performance. Our analysis has implications from different perspectives, adding further information and considerations to the ongoing debate that tests the impact of the audit committee quality on ESG performance before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Does it pay to deliver superior ESG performance? Evidence from US S&P 500 companies

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between a company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance and its financial performance. This paper also investigates the relationship between ESG performance and a company’s market valuation. This paper provides convincing empirical evidence that delivering superior ESG performance pays off financially.Design/methodology/approachThe financial data and ESG scores of 150 publicly traded companies listed in the Standard and Poor’s 500 index for 2017–2020, comprising 5,750 observations, were collected. STATA was used to run a fixed-effect regression and a weighted least squares model to analyze the panel data.FindingsThe results of the empirical analysis suggest that companies with superior ESG performance perform better financially and are valued higher in the market compared to their industry peers. The ESG rating score impacts both return-on-capital-employed as a proxy for financial performance and Tobin’s Q as a proxy for the market valuation of a company.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the existing research on ESG performance and financial performance relationship by providing empirical evidence to resolve confusion in the existing literature caused by contradictory evidence. Taking advantage of worldwide crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, this study shows that a positive relationship between ESG performance and a company’s market valuation holds even during times of unexpected crises. Further, this study contributes to business practitioners’ knowledge by showing that ESG aspects constitute highly relevant non-financial information that impact the market’s perception of a company and that investing in sustainability positively impacts a company’s bottom line.