Alpha-Centric ESG Research

Kyle Rudden

<ul>
<li>On 23 November, the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) released a framework aimed at greater oversight and accountability of ESG ratings and data providers.</li>
<li>Generally, this is a positive for ESG investing. Implications for specific stocks, however, are still vague and depend on how regional regulators interpret and implement IOSCO's suggestions.</li>
<li>That said, one of IOSCO's concerns – conflicts of interest – could affect certain ESG ratings and data providers, especially those owned by the "Big Three" credit rating agencies.</li>
</ul>


On 23 November, the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) released a framework aimed at greater oversight and accountability of ESG ratings and data providers.
Generally, this is a positive for ESG investing. Implications for specific stocks, however, are still vague and depend on how regional regulators interpret and implement IOSCO's suggestions.
That said, one of IOSCO's concerns – conflicts of interest – could affect certain ESG ratings and data providers, especially those owned by the "Big Three" credit rating agencies.


ESG Ratings and Data Providers Subject to Greater Oversight Under IOSCO Framework

Index Rebalance and Special Situations, Quiddity Advisors

Afridi Reyal

Index Rebalance and Special Situations

Quiddity Advisors

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>The ES50 Index is one of the most highly tracked European indices. The annual index review takes place in September, with index weights rebalanced every quarter.</li>
<li>The final rankings for the September 2026 review will be decided based on data as of the close of 31st August 2026.</li>
<li>We currently see two ADDs and two DELs for the September 2026 review, with the possibility of one more ADD/DEL pair.</li>
</ul>


The ES50 Index is one of the most highly tracked European indices. The annual index review takes place in September, with index weights rebalanced every quarter.
The final rankings for the September 2026 review will be decided based on data as of the close of 31st August 2026.
We currently see two ADDs and two DELs for the September 2026 review, with the possibility of one more ADD/DEL pair.


Quiddity Leaderboard ES50 Sep26: Annual Review Incoming; Two Changes So Far; US$3.8bn+ One-Way

Two days ago the U.K. Financial Reporting Council announced 125 successful signatories (aka "not greenwashers") to the revised U.K. Stewardship Code. Signatories are integrating stewardship and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) factors into investment decisions, to high standards.Whilst this is ostensibly limited to U.K. pension assets, ramifications are more far-reaching than it might at first appear (one indication is the number of North American and Asia Pacific signatories, in addition to the expected European names). More specifically, the broad relevance is because it:<ul>
<li>Affects firms doing business with U.K. asset managers/owners not just the managers/owners.</li>
<li>Is a quasi-blueprint for similar anti-greenwashing initiatives taking root in the U.S. and Asia.</li>
<li>Greenwashing is having an increasing impact on stocks prices (e.g., DWS Group last month).</li>
</ul>This is one battle in an emerging global war on greenwashing. The U.S. SEC has its own agenda to fight greenwashing and Asia isn't far behind (e.g., regulators in Japan stepping up scrutiny). There is more to come, and a lot to learn from this including who is (and is not) on the signatory list.

Two days ago the U.K. Financial Reporting Council announced 125 successful signatories (aka "not greenwashers") to the revised U.K. Stewardship Code. Signatories are integrating stewardship and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) factors into investment decisions, to high standards.Whilst this is ostensibly limited to U.K. pension assets, ramifications are more far-reaching than it might at first appear (one indication is the number of North American and Asia Pacific signatories, in addition to the expected European names). More specifically, the broad relevance is because it:
Affects firms doing business with U.K. asset managers/owners not just the managers/owners.
Is a quasi-blueprint for similar anti-greenwashing initiatives taking root in the U.S. and Asia.
Greenwashing is having an increasing impact on stocks prices (e.g., DWS Group last month).
This is one battle in an emerging global war on greenwashing. The U.S. SEC has its own agenda to fight greenwashing and Asia isn't far behind (e.g., regulators in Japan stepping up scrutiny). There is more to come, and a lot to learn from this including who is (and is not) on the signatory list.

The War on Greenwashing: UK Stewardship Code "Successful Signatories" Has Broader Implications

More and more, companies are using cryptocurrency (especially Bitcoin) as part of their corporate treasury management strategies, discussed in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/bitcoin-on-balance-sheets-indirect-crypto-exposure-considerations-for-crypto-leery-esg-investors" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:52207" rel="noopener">Bitcoin on Balance Sheets: Indirect Crypto Exposure Considerations for Crypto-Leery ESG Investors</a>. That trend is behind the topic of this report.Greater mainstream corporate and institutional use of Bitcoin is driving the growth in demand for cryptocurrency custody services, and banks around the world are rushing to fill that demand. It is a logical and relatively safe foray into the cryptocurrency space, albeit not without some risk.For ESG investors wishing to avoid direct or indirect cryptocurrency exposure, perhaps due to their views on crypto's wretched Environmental footprint, the banks herein will have significant indirect crypto exposure. However, I personally find it hard to be categorically bearish on this theme.Whilst the theme in the first Insight (holding Bitcoin on balance sheets) represents real risk, this is different. It could be argued that crypto custody perpetuates <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bitcoin-usd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25895:1" rel="noopener">Bitcoin (XBT)</a>'s climate impacts, thus is a bad thing. Perhaps, from a purely idealistic ESG viewpoint, that is partially true.However, the connection from custody service to carbon emissions is so far removed, and the risks associated with entering the crypto custody space are so comparatively minimal, that the opinion on this theme should be "neutral" at worst, and definitely not across-the-board "negative."But really, that is for each investor to decide, because the crypto/ESG issue is highly subjective.

More and more, companies are using cryptocurrency (especially Bitcoin) as part of their corporate treasury management strategies, discussed in Bitcoin on Balance Sheets: Indirect Crypto Exposure Considerations for Crypto-Leery ESG Investors. That trend is behind the topic of this report.Greater mainstream corporate and institutional use of Bitcoin is driving the growth in demand for cryptocurrency custody services, and banks around the world are rushing to fill that demand. It is a logical and relatively safe foray into the cryptocurrency space, albeit not without some risk.For ESG investors wishing to avoid direct or indirect cryptocurrency exposure, perhaps due to their views on crypto's wretched Environmental footprint, the banks herein will have significant indirect crypto exposure. However, I personally find it hard to be categorically bearish on this theme.Whilst the theme in the first Insight (holding Bitcoin on balance sheets) represents real risk, this is different. It could be argued that crypto custody perpetuates Bitcoin (XBT)'s climate impacts, thus is a bad thing. Perhaps, from a purely idealistic ESG viewpoint, that is partially true.However, the connection from custody service to carbon emissions is so far removed, and the risks associated with entering the crypto custody space are so comparatively minimal, that the opinion on this theme should be "neutral" at worst, and definitely not across-the-board "negative."But really, that is for each investor to decide, because the crypto/ESG issue is highly subjective.

Banks on the Bitcoin Bandwagon: Cashing in Through Crypto Custody Services

Silver Point

Thomas J. Monaco

Silver Point is a boutique research firm that focuses on the broader financial services sector, with a particular focus on troubled institutions globally. 

Asia Ex Japan

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

*A Market With Little Discipline: Too many market participants have very little discipline, and to make matters worse, central banks have been all too happy to remove the moral hazard involved with excessive risk taking. This has resulted in the creation of a giant vortex of liquidity which could be as large as USD 1 quadrillion;*Broken Credit Ratings Agency Model: In our view, the credit ratings agency model is permanently broken as waterfall risks in various rated pools and tranches have become increasingly significant with the markets unable to self-regulate and regulators either unable to regulate (or told not to regulate);  and*SEC Far From Being Aggressive With Enforcement: In reality, the fines paid by Kroll/DBRS are not even a drop in the bucket compared with the USD 1.5 bn and USD 864 mn fines paid by S&amp;P (MH) and Moody's (MCO.US), respectively, to settle similar charges associated with the GFC. Whether this reflects more of a lower level of violations or a much less aggressive SEC regulator can be debated. It will be interesting to see is whether these investigations are expanded to include 2018-19 deals which appear to have even greater conflicts - particularly under Biden administration.

*A Market With Little Discipline: Too many market participants have very little discipline, and to make matters worse, central banks have been all too happy to remove the moral hazard involved with excessive risk taking. This has resulted in the creation of a giant vortex of liquidity which could be as large as USD 1 quadrillion;*Broken Credit Ratings Agency Model: In our view, the credit ratings agency model is permanently broken as waterfall risks in various rated pools and tranches have become increasingly significant with the markets unable to self-regulate and regulators either unable to regulate (or told not to regulate);  and*SEC Far From Being Aggressive With Enforcement: In reality, the fines paid by Kroll/DBRS are not even a drop in the bucket compared with the USD 1.5 bn and USD 864 mn fines paid by S&amp;P (MH) and Moody's (MCO.US), respectively, to settle similar charges associated with the GFC. Whether this reflects more of a lower level of violations or a much less aggressive SEC regulator can be debated. It will be interesting to see is whether these investigations are expanded to include 2018-19 deals which appear to have even greater conflicts - particularly under Biden administration. 

Germany

Deutsche Bank AG is a global financial service provider delivering commercial, investment, private, and retail banking. The Bank offers debt, foreign exchange, derivatives, commodities, money markets, repo and securitization, cash equities, research, equity prime services, loans, convertibles, advice on M&A and IPO's, trade finance, retail banking, asset management, and corporate investments.

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Deutsche Bank (DBK GR)

ESG Ratings and Data Providers Subject to Greater Oversight Under IOSCO Framework

ESG ratings and data are largely unregulated, despite growing relevance to capital markets. That is why IOSCO decided it is time for greater...

Kyle Rudden

Quiddity Leaderboard ES50 Sep26: Annual Review Incoming; Two Changes So Far; US$3.8bn+ One-Way

The two ADDs and two DELs are well-flagged — the real question is whether Societe Generale can squeeze past the sector threshold test, which would...

Afridi Reyal

The War on Greenwashing: UK Stewardship Code "Successful Signatories" Has Broader Implications

Telegraph from European front in global war on greenwashing. U.K. names stewardship victors ("not greenwashers"). Many notable casualties. Anti...

Kyle Rudden

Banks on the Bitcoin Bandwagon: Cashing in Through Crypto Custody Services

Bitcoin holdings by issuers and investors is driving crypto custody demand. Big banks are stepping. A big opportunity, but some ESG investors might...

Kyle Rudden

Ratings Agencies – Beyond Repair

*A Market With Little Discipline: Too many market participants have very little discipline, and to make matters worse, central banks have been all...

Thomas J. Monaco

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