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.

Social Bonds: Here Come the Next Green Bonds

February has seen several very large ESG-linked and sustainability bond issuances, some in double-digits billions of dollars and setting records. Issuers include <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lg-chem-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3583:1" rel="noopener">LG Chem (051910 KS)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anheuser-busch-inbev-sa-nv" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:865:1" rel="noopener">Anheuser Busch Inbev (ABI BB)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hennes-mauritz-ab" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22380:1" rel="noopener">Hennes &amp; Mauritz Ab (HMB SS)</a>.Unlike green bonds, the proceeds from which usually finance one specific project, these deals allow issuers to invest proceeds in multiple areas of sustainability/ESG like renewable energy, recycling, and various Social-pillar initiatives. This has the potential to create a virtuous cycle, as it were.Importantly, a common characteristic of the deals discussed herein is that interest rates are tied to sustainability or ESG performance; if issuers fall short of targets the cost of servicing the debt goes up. Demand has been strong; H&amp;M's was seven times over, and it was able to price at lower rates.More than US$15 billion, just one month into the year.

February has seen several very large ESG-linked and sustainability bond issuances, some in double-digits billions of dollars and setting records. Issuers include LG Chem (051910 KS), Anheuser Busch Inbev (ABI BB), and Hennes &amp; Mauritz Ab (HMB SS).Unlike green bonds, the proceeds from which usually finance one specific project, these deals allow issuers to invest proceeds in multiple areas of sustainability/ESG like renewable energy, recycling, and various Social-pillar initiatives. This has the potential to create a virtuous cycle, as it were.Importantly, a common characteristic of the deals discussed herein is that interest rates are tied to sustainability or ESG performance; if issuers fall short of targets the cost of servicing the debt goes up. Demand has been strong; H&amp;M's was seven times over, and it was able to price at lower rates.More than US$15 billion, just one month into the year.

Recent ESG-Linked and Sustainable Bond Issues Are Breaking Records in Size and Demand

LG Chem Ltd

Recent ESG-Linked and Sustainable Bond Issues Are Breaking Records in Size and Demand