Broadridge Financial Solutions, a global fintech firm, and Third Economy, a sustainable investment research and consulting firm, have launched an environmental, social and governance (ESG) advisory service.
The service aims to help corporate issuers and asset managers improve sustainability strategies while effectively positioning their ESG programmes with stakeholders, the partners say.
It combines Broadridge’s data, technology and communications expertise and Third Economy’s methodology for systematically evaluating sustainable investment efforts of companies, enabling clients to move from strategy through execution to communication.
The service will involve benchmarking ESG efforts to peers and industry best practices to identify areas for improvement, and aligning ESG capabilities with emerging frameworks and standards. This also includes calculating carbon footprints and setting long-term environmental impact reduction goals and helping improve ESG ratings.
Users will also be guided through creating a roadmap for their “ESG journeys”, Broadridge says, including policy and programme development, as well as enhancing an ESG programme through all aspects of shareholder communications, and delivering them on the channels that investors and other stakeholders prefer and expect.
Broadridge promises to further assist issuers and asset managers in transforming their investor communications by optimising print while accelerating digital and paperless adoption.
Dorothy Flynn, president of corporate issuer solutions at Broadridge, says: “Companies are making corporate responsibility initiatives part of their business strategy as more retail and institutional investors raise ESG concerns and seek the long-term performance advantages and benefits of ESG-focused businesses.
“Investors and other stakeholders are increasingly looking at ESG disclosures as a fundamental expectation, driving the need for additional connectivity between companies, investors and other stakeholders.”
Elsewhere, Broadridge has partnered with the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, to become an approved securities financing transaction submitter
for the National Securities Clearing Corporation SFT clearing programme.
The proposed new SFT clearing service supports central clearing and settlement services for overnight borrows and loans of equity securities and will be offered by NSCC.
The central clearing service will significantly enhance market access and reduce risk and costs for DTCC clients, says Broadridge.
