Press Releases
PRESS RELEASE
Media Report Shows that Ethics and Trust are Material to Investors (PDF of Report; PDF of Press Release EN, Press Release DE)
Brussels, 19 April, 2012 - Eurosif announces the launch of the Eurosif Media Sector Report 2012. The report, based on research by Ethix SRI Advisors, describes the key environmental, social and governance issues facing the sector and their importance in investment decisions. These include trust and freedom of expression issues as well as privacy and intellectual property, environmental and content diversity issues.
Executive Director of Eurosif, François Passant notes that “ Investors are aware that the media sector faces specific risks particularly relating to trust and ethics which can have very significant financial impacts, as seen in the UK’s phone hacking case. In our report we recommend that publishers are more transparent about the reliability of their sources, adhere to accepted ethical standards and distinguish more clearly, fact and opinion. By enhancing trust, publications grow their audience and advertising revenue, which appeals to investors.” Alma Media, a new case-study in the report, is experimenting with several imaginative techniques to build trust with its readers.
Ulrika Hasselgren, CEO Ethix SRI Advisors, said: “The media sector is going through huge changes driven by new technologies, the convergence of the media sector with the technology and communications sectors, and the need for companies to radically transform their business models as growing number of consumers expect to access content anywhere anytime, without charge. What this means is that companies need to be acutely aware that their business risk profile may be changing dramatically: software companies may be sued for breaches of copyright law, telecommunications companies may find that their overall footprint increases as they partner with traditional print media companies, all companies will be under pressure to properly manage personal data and information”.
Dr Rory Sullivan, Strategic advisor Ethix SRI Advisors commented: “From an investment perspective, it is very difficult to assess the investment implications of ESG issues at a sectoral level. Instead analysts will need to analyse these issues at the individual company level and frequently at the level of individual business lines. Moreover, this analysis is not static; the rate of change in the sector means that, now more than ever, investors need to look forward and try and understand how the company and the sector as a whole are changing”.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Renagh Christopher, Communications Manager, Eurosif
+32(0)2 274 14 35
Notes to Editors
1. The Eurosif Media Sector Report is the fifteenth in a series of sector reports http://www.eurosif.org/research/sector-reports. The report was researched by Ethix SRI Advisors and compiled by Eurosif.
2. Ethix SRI Advisors advises leading large institutional investors around Europe in the area of responsible investment including policy development, portfolio monitoring, engagement and communication www.ethix.se.
3. Eurosif (the European Sustainable Investment Forum) is a not-for-profit, think tank whose mission is to develop sustainability in European financial markets. Eurosif’s Board of Directors is drawn from the national Sustainable Investment Forums (“SIF”s) of France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Belgium. These SIFs assist Eurosif to represent their national members, in addition to Eurosif’s member affiliates, at a European level. As a multi-stakeholder organisation, Eurosif speaks authoritatively and broadly on SRI issues. As a discussion platform for its member affiliates, Eurosif nurtures best SRI practices and the sharing of experience on the implementation of SRI policies. Eurosif’s Member Affiliates include institutional investors, academic institutes, trade unions and NGOs. The association is a not-for-profit entity that represents assets totalling over €1 trillion through its Member Affiliates. A biography of François Passant, Executive Director of Eurosif is available here.
March 8, 2012, Brussels - Eurosif launches its Procurement report, the seventh in its theme report series, researched by Swiss private bank, Bank Sarasin. The report shows how investors are robustly auditing supply chain risks, including environmental and social challenges in the supply chain tiers.
Download the Procurement Report (PDF 1.48MB). Download the Press Release.
Today, Eurosif publishes its first-ever Corporate Pension Funds & Sustainable Investment Study. Created with the support of DB Advisors and HSBC Global Asset Management, the study examines to what extent and in what manner European Corporate Pension Funds have adopted sustainable investment practices. Download Press Release (PDF, English).
Eurosif, the European Sustainable Investment Forum, announces today the appointment of François Passant as the new Executive Director and Anders Nordheim as the new Head of Research. Both Mr Passant and Mr Nordheim are based in Brussels as Eurosif will seek to relocate its headquarters from Paris to the capital of Europe in the coming months. Read Press Release.
Today, Eurosif launches the Executive Director recruitment process, in partnership with a specialist agency to appoint the next Executive Director. Eurosif has plans to open an additional Brussels office to manage its public policy initiatives and to be more accessible to the EU decision-making actors on ESG matters. An Events Management and Administrative Coordinator is also to be recruited by June 2011 to join Eurosif's Paris office.
In early March, the leaders of sustainable and responsible investment associations around the world gathered for an unprecedented two-day strategic summit meeting in New York City. The seven representatives of major financial hubs and regions included Eurosif, UKSIF (United Kingdom), the Social Investment Organisation (Canada), Social Investment Forum (USA), in addition to ASrIA (Asia), RIAA (Australia and NZ), and AfricaSIF.
Read the Press Release (English).
Eurosif announced today that Matt Christensen, Executive Director since 2002, has resigned from the organisation effective 1st April 2011, by mutual agreement with the Board of Directors, in order to pursue a new opportunity as Global Head of Responsible Investment at AXA Investment Managers.
Download Press Release (English).
Infrastructure investments lag significantly behind population growth trends. Eurosif launches the Infrastructure Sector Report, with research provided by Dexia Asset Management.
Download Press Release (English). Download the Infrastructure Sector Report.
Eurosif submits Response to EC Consultation on non-financial reporting, reinforcing its lobbying position on ESG data disclosure: large listed and non-listed companies should be required to disclose environmental, social and governance (ESG) data, and investors should disclose how they incorporate ESG factors into investment decisions.
"ESG Reporting, finally poised to become mandatory across Europe?". Download Press Release (English).
Eurosif launches Emerging Markets Sector Report: Companies operating in emerging markets are progressively catching up with their developed market peers in terms of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) transparency and performance, despite significant country variations. Download Press Release (English).
