Verantwoord Beleggen

ESG en/of Verantwoord Beleggen?

Een samenvatting van onze presentatie op SG’s recente Diversified Trend-Following in 2020 Webinar.

juli 20205 min leestijd

Harold de Boer

Managing Director / Head of R&D

At SG Prime Services’ Diversified Trend-Following in 2020 Webinar on 29 July, we gave a presentation on ESG and Responsible Investing during which we discussed our latest thought pieces on these topics. We started with a poll, consisting of three investment arguments made by a hypothetical investment manager. The audience was invited to indicate whether they regarded these arguments as valid ESG arguments and/or valid Responsible Investing arguments.

ESG and/or Responsible Investing? (2020)

Download PDF
Argument 1

For the sake of the environment people should drive electric cars.

For that reason, we will not invest in stocks of automotive companies that produce (primarily) diesel and/or gasoline cars.


Please indicate whether you regard this as:

  1. A valid ESG argument (yes/no)
  2. A valid Responsible Investing argument (yes/no)

Those of you familiar with our Responsible Investment policy can probably guess our view on this one. We do not consider this to be a valid Responsible Investing argument, for the simple reason that it’s not an ‘investment argument’. It is not the role of investors to dictate what people should or shouldn’t do. Moreover, an investor who doesn’t buy, or for that matter buys, stocks of a company does not impact consumers’ preference for the products and services of that company. Nor does for instance buying and passively holding stocks impact the production decisions or other strategic choices made by that company.

Actief long/short beleggen helpt de markt vooruit (2020)

Lees artikel

Comparably, outside the equity space: buying commodity futures doesn’t automatically impact the demand for, or production of the commodity concerned, such as wheat, coffee, copper or oil. Nor does it automatically have an impact on how these commodities will be produced, including the important environmental and social aspects of such production.

Van hypotheken naar tarwe – deel 2 (2020)

Lees artikel

When the consequence of exclusion policies is that the ownership of companies transfers from those who care to those who don’t, they will be counterproductive.

Going back to the automotive argument: we do recognize that applying such an exclusion policy seems to meet some investor requests for a more sustainable way of investing their money. However, we believe that applying such a policy in the end only checks a box rather than that it effectively contributes to achieving ESG goals. When the consequence is that the ownership of companies – and therefore the ability to bring about change – transfers from those who care to those who don’t, they will be counterproductive.

Investors definitely have impact, also from an ESG point of view. But that impact is sometimes not so straightforward. To have a positive impact in our view requires an active approach. And such an active approach includes engagement together with well-considered market impact.

De markt is geen winkel (2019)

Lees artikel
Argument 2

We expect an accelerating consumer preference for driving electric cars, among others due to fiscal stimulation.

For that reason, we would rather buy shares in Tesla than in Fiat Chrysler.


Please indicate whether you regard this as:

  1. A valid ESG argument (yes/no)
  2. A valid Responsible Investing argument (yes/no)

Essentially, in this argument the misplaced ‘should’ from Argument 1 has been replaced by ‘will’. We consider this to be a good example of incorporating an ESG argument (i.e. the Environment) in the investment process. Arguments against often boil down to: “investment managers only do so because they want to make money!”. But does an argument only count as a valid ESG argument when it is at odds with sound economic arguments? We don’t think so. The willingness to (potentially) lose money may be one of the key roles of investors, but we will not make an investment when we expect to lose money on it, even when it seems to contribute to certain ESG goals. Such investments do not fit with our fiduciary duty. Investment management should not be confused with charity.

Responsible Investing and longer-term economic arguments go hand in hand. It’s all about sustainable returns.

However, we strongly believe that – surely in the long run – ESG arguments and economic arguments align. In the shorter run that might not always seem to be the case. But short-term interests aren’t leading in the choices we make. If the hypothetical investment manager’s argument would have been: “We expect that Wirecard will continue to be successful with committing fraud and getting away with it. For that reason, we will buy and hold its stock”, we would neither call this a valid ESG argument nor a valid Responsible Investing argument. The recent developments at Wirecard illustrate how Responsible Investing and longer-term economic arguments go hand in hand. It’s all about sustainable returns.

Argument 3

Our institutional clients want to make a positive impact on the environment with their investments.

For that reason, we will buy shares in Tesla for them, even at prices above their reasonable economic value.


Please indicate whether you regard this as:

  1. A valid ESG argument (yes/no)
  2. A valid Responsible Investing argument (yes/no)

Crucial in calling Argument 2 a valid Responsible Investing argument is the phrase ‘would rather buy’. In our view, buying something above its reasonable economic value never qualifies as a responsible investment. Admittedly, different investors and different investment managers will likely have a different view on the actual reasonable economic value of something. This is even necessary for markets to function properly. But if investors continue to buy above what they themselves regard as the reasonable economic value, yet another bubble is in the making. We fear this is not just a hypothetical risk. Poorly implemented ESG goals will likely lead to investment managers buying and holding ‘clean’ stocks at price levels way above their reasonable value if selling such stocks does not fit their investment guidelines. Bubbles don’t support sustainability goals. Bubbles burst.

Bubbles don’t support sustainability goals. Bubbles burst.

A basic Responsible Investing framework

We believe that exclusion policies at first glance may seem to contribute to sustainability goals, but we fear that in the end they will prove to be counterproductive. Surely when applied outside the long-term long-only equity space. And even more so when based on some form of standardized ESG rating. Such exclusion policies are a perfect excuse for investment managers to not have to explain the choices they make in their investment process.

Van hypotheken naar tarwe – deel 1 (2020)

Lees artikel

We believe that making choices, and the ability and willingness to explaining those choices, are the key elements of Responsible Investing. This forms the basis of our Responsible Investing framework. In every step of the investment process conscious choices have to be made, taking into account:

  1. The role of the underlying asset (financial instrument, commodity, company, etcetera) in society.
  2. The role of the market for (derivatives on) those assets.
  3. The particular investor’s role in that market.

This will probably result in different choices made by different market participants. Which is only healthy. Different participants fulfill different roles, in society as well as in the market. And just as important, different people have different beliefs. We should embrace this diversity. A healthy adaptive society requires that people can, and do, act upon their own beliefs.