Alpha-Centric ESG Research

Kyle Rudden

I am an ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) analyst with an alpha-centric approach to ESG research. After all, ESG investing is, first and foremost, investing. "Alpha-centric" does not mean apathetic, however. Quite the contrary. I believe global sustainability – i.e., environmental stewardship, social equality, and economic prosperity – is imperative, and private-sector capital is its cornerstone. Private-sector capital still has fiduciary responsibilities. Profitability is necessary for sustained impact. The Triple Bottom Line. People, Planet, AND Profit.

More importantly, you. I value your investment in Smartkarma research, and commit to Insights worthy of your time and money. That means giving ASEAN ESG the attention it deserves, and with Insights that are substantive and differentiated; the intersection of material and under-covered. You can expect investigative research into emergent ESG issues; data-driven analyses of deals (pre-IPO ESG research, ESG-focused M&A consequence analyses, etc.); and trading-oriented ideas like ESG short selling and playing ESG index constituency changes.

I bring both ESG expertise and traditional investing experience, as well as some rather unique perspectives on ESG (a lesson in governance from Enron, anyone?). I spent the last decade exclusively on ESG, researching links to equity returns, credit ratings, cost of capital, and yield spreads. I also contributed to ESG reporting standards (SASB and GRI), and the MBA curriculum (Impact Investing) at the Kellogg School of Management. Previously, I was an Institutional Investor and Wall Street Journal All-Star sell-side analyst at J.P. Morgan.

Please, feel free to contact me about anything.

"Delisting Deceitful Chinese Companies Act" Not a Slam Dunk and Has More Bark Than Bite if It Passes

Gravity Works As WeWork Doesn't; Now Plan B

In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/delisting-deceitful-chinese-companies-act-not-a-slam-dunk-and-has-more-bark-than-bite-if-it-passes" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:40025" rel="noopener">"Delisting Deceitful Chinese Companies Act" Not a Slam Dunk and Has More Bark Than Bite if It Passes</a>, I made three "predictions." First, the U.S. House of Representatives would not get around to voting on the "delisting act" before the end of the Congressional session. Second, if the House does vote, it would likely pass the bill. Third, if the bill passes, it would have more bark than bite.As a bloke called Meat Loaf once sung, "two out of three ain't bad."On Wednesday, the House voted and passed Senate Bill 945, titled the "Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act." That the House managed to vote amidst the dual chaos of a raging pandemic and an unhinged President – so close to adjourning this 116th Congress – is a surprise. That it voted to pass S945 is not at all surprising, however, given widespread bi-partisan support for the bill.The real epiphany comes from additional details provided during House testimony just prior to the vote. Not many, but those details that were disclosed (plus the tone in which they were articulated) shed light on how S945 will be implemented and enforced by the SEC, and why foreign issuers and investors should duly-cautious but not overly-concerned. And why this "delisting bill" is ...... more bark than bite.This Insight presents an updated analysis of S945 (general and China/Hong Kong-specific aspects), shares new details provided by Representative Brad Sherman, offers an opinion on the SEC's likely approach to writing and enforcing S945 rules, analyses China/Hong Kong stocks most at risk under S945, and stocks affected by the France/Belgium angle (similar to China/Hong Kong).

In "Delisting Deceitful Chinese Companies Act" Not a Slam Dunk and Has More Bark Than Bite if It Passes, I made three "predictions." First, the U.S. House of Representatives would not get around to voting on the "delisting act" before the end of the Congressional session. Second, if the House does vote, it would likely pass the bill. Third, if the bill passes, it would have more bark than bite.As a bloke called Meat Loaf once sung, "two out of three ain't bad."On Wednesday, the House voted and passed Senate Bill 945, titled the "Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act." That the House managed to vote amidst the dual chaos of a raging pandemic and an unhinged President – so close to adjourning this 116th Congress – is a surprise. That it voted to pass S945 is not at all surprising, however, given widespread bi-partisan support for the bill.The real epiphany comes from additional details provided during House testimony just prior to the vote. Not many, but those details that were disclosed (plus the tone in which they were articulated) shed light on how S945 will be implemented and enforced by the SEC, and why foreign issuers and investors should duly-cautious but not overly-concerned. And why this "delisting bill" is ...... more bark than bite.This Insight presents an updated analysis of S945 (general and China/Hong Kong-specific aspects), shares new details provided by Representative Brad Sherman, offers an opinion on the SEC's likely approach to writing and enforcing S945 rules, analyses China/Hong Kong stocks most at risk under S945, and stocks affected by the France/Belgium angle (similar to China/Hong Kong).

House Passes "Delisting Act" Giving SEC 90 Days to Write Its Rules (And Yes, More Bark Than Bite)

Alibaba Group Holding

House Passes "Delisting Act" Giving SEC 90 Days to Write Its Rules (And Yes, More Bark Than Bite)