New IBA report provides insight into growing importance of ESG considerations in capital market transactions
Tuesday 16 May 2023
A new report from the International Bar Association (IBA)’s Capital Markets Forum and Securities Law Committee provides valuable insights into the growing importance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations in capital market transactions across the world. With input from more than 30 jurisdictions, the IBA Capital Markets Forum and Securities Law Committee ESG survey 2022 (ESG Survey 2022) provides an overview of how different countries regulate ESG disclosures and whether, and to what extent, these disclosures are now mandatory due to prevailing regulatory trends and institutional investors’ demands.
David Flechner, Vice Chair of the IBA Mergers and Acquisitions Subcommittee of the IBA Securities Law Committee, and Partner at Allen & Overy, New York, United States, remarked: ‘This survey is a fantastic example of how the convening power of the IBA can facilitate the production of a cutting-edge analysis across the globe, covering a broad and diversified sample set of leading practitioners ready to share their expertise and insights about the present and future developments in ESG disclosure regulation in global financial markets. It was a delight to work alongside such esteemed peers on the preparation and execution of this valuable initiative and resource.’
ESG disclosures were mandatorily required to be made in the vast majority of jurisdictions reviewed in the ESG Survey 2022, indicating a growing global trend towards greater transparency in ESG reporting. Listed companies and large corporations were reported in the survey as the main addressees of ESG reporting duties, highlighting the importance of this activity for companies which have a significant impact on the environment and society. Another noteworthy finding of the survey was the lack of globally accepted standards for ESG reporting, something which could create challenges for companies operating in multiple jurisdictions and for investors seeking to compare ESG performance across companies.
Rabel Z Akhund, Membership Officer of the IBA Capital Markets Forum, and Founder of Akhund Forbes, Pakistan and Bangladesh, commented: ‘The findings of this survey highlight the growing importance of ESG disclosures in capital market transactions and the need for greater transparency and consistency in ESG reporting. It was a pleasure to work with our colleagues from the IBA Securities Law Committee and the Capital Markets Forum in producing this survey which showcases the depth and breadth of the IBA’s global reach and expertise.’
Other key takeaways from the survey regarding ESG disclosures in capital market transactions include:
- A number of corporations are already making voluntary public disclosures, even when this is not mandatory;
- Monetary sanctions are the most commonly used penalties imposed for false or misleading ESG disclosures, but criminal sanctions are also prevalent in some countries, including Colombia, Egypt, Finland, France, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Ireland, Japan, Poland, Singapore and Turkey;
- Most countries surveyed required some type of quantitative, or qualitative, climate change disclosures as part of the ESG disclosure regime;
- The majority of survey respondents said that ESG disclosures were not standardised; and
- A small majority of respondents said that it was unclear whether ESG disclosure regulations in their respective jurisdictions aided investor value creation or resulted in a greater compliance burden.
Factors relating to ESG are becoming increasingly important to investors, and companies that fail to provide transparent and accurate ESG disclosures risk losing investor confidence and facing reputational damage. Left unaddressed, the lack of clear regulations and guidance around ESG disclosures could lead to inconsistent and inadequate reporting, making it difficult for investors to make informed decisions. This could ultimately result in a lack of trust in the capital markets and, in turn, negatively impact the legal profession and society as a whole.
Patrick Schleiffer, Website Officer of the IBA Securities Law Committee, and Partner at Lenz & Staehelin, Zurich, said: ‘Failure to address environmental, social, and governance issue disclosures could result in increased regulatory scrutiny and legal liability for companies that do not comply with regulations. Overall, the importance of addressing ESG issues lies in ensuring transparency and accuracy in ESG reporting, which is critical for sustainable and responsible investing and a healthy capital market ecosystem. We are very grateful to all our colleagues for their incredibly valuable contributions. I urge companies across the globe to take note of the results of this survey and adopt a more comprehensive, standardised approach to ESG disclosures in order to future-proof their businesses and build trust in investors and other stakeholders.’
ENDS