Mass Transfer of Article 8 Funds to ESG Basics ‘Not a Good Outcome’, Says EU Official
European Commission asset‑management chief warned that the upcoming SFDR 2.0 regime will trigger a mass migration of funds currently classified under Article 8 to the more generic Article 2 “ESG basics” category. The official described the outcome as “not a good outcome”, emphasizing that tighter definitions aim to weed out superficial ESG claims. Under the new rules, only funds with verifiable sustainable investment objectives will retain the Article 8 label. Managers will need to overhaul disclosures and data collection to meet the stricter criteria.
SpaceX IPO Plans Trigger Pension Fund Governance Concerns
SpaceX is preparing for a high‑profile initial public offering that could value the company at roughly $30 billion. Pension fund managers in the UK and US are raising red flags over the company’s dual‑class share structure, which grants Elon Musk and...
Follow This Proposal at Equinor Backed by 21% of Independent Shareholders
A shareholder resolution urging Equinor to continue Barents Sea exploration has secured the support of 21% of independent shareholders, with an additional 9% of non‑state investors voting in favor. The proposal arrives as the European Union intensifies pressure on Arctic...
BaFin Finds Widespread ‘Deficiencies’ in Bank Sustainability Risk Management
Germany’s financial regulator BaFin has uncovered widespread shortcomings in banks’ sustainability risk management frameworks, flagging 79 specific issues that require remediation. The regulator has mandated that affected institutions address these deficiencies within prescribed timelines, signalling a tougher supervisory stance on...
Manulife Adds Energy Transition Funds, Winding Down Oil and Gas Portfolio
Manulife, the Canadian insurer, announced a strategic pivot toward energy‑transition investments, adding a suite of new funds managed by external general partners. The firm will concurrently wind down its oil and gas portfolio, aiming for a gradual reduction over the...
Asset Owners Can Use Physical Risk Data Boom to Push Managers, Says Nomura
Nomura Asset Management’s head of sustainable fixed income says the rapid expansion of physical climate‑risk data gives pension funds and sovereign wealth funds a new lever to press investment managers for more granular, forward‑looking disclosures. By setting clear data expectations...
EU Parliament SFDR Draft Fails to Fully Address Investor Concerns
The European Parliament has released a draft amendment to the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) that extends the transition period for many obligations while accelerating the deadline for entity‑level reporting. Although the extra time is welcomed by asset managers, the...
Real Estate’s Physical Risk Challenge
Physical climate risk has become the top material concern for real‑estate investors, eclipsing decarbonisation. Yet investors struggle with wildly divergent third‑party hazard models, especially outside the UK where flood maps are not universal. The industry is grappling with how to...
Review of EU Shareholder Rights Law Must End National Fragmentation, Say Stakeholders
Stakeholders have urged the European Commission to end the national fragmentation of shareholder rights law during its ongoing review of the Shareholder Rights Directive. Investors highlighted the need for hybrid annual general meetings, stronger oversight of proxy advisers, and a...
Comment: SFDR 2.0 Opens the Door to Social Washing. Here’s What to Do
The European Commission’s November 2025 proposal for SFDR 2.0 adds a classification framework to curb greenwashing, but it leaves the social dimension under‑defined, raising the risk of social washing. The draft mistakenly cites the UN Global Compact instead of the UN Guiding...
How to Improve Conversations with Portfolio Companies
The Responsible Investor Podcast released a new episode featuring Sallie Pilot of the Investor and Issuer Forum, who shares practical guidance on improving dialogue with portfolio companies. Pilot emphasizes structured, data‑driven engagement and the role of ESG metrics in shaping...
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People & Appointments: Tim Mohin Appointed GHG Protocol CEO
Tim Mohin has been appointed chief executive officer of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, the globally recognized standard‑setter for corporate carbon accounting. The appointment follows the retirement of long‑time GHG Protocol board member Sylvia van Waveren and the departure of Rick...
European Parliament Ups SFDR Ambition in First Draft Report
The European Parliament has released its first draft report that raises the ambition of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). The proposal tightens taxonomy‑alignment obligations for all investment funds and introduces more granular disclosure rules for ESG Basic funds. At...
Sovereign Bonds May Get SFDR Reprieve From EU Member States
The EU Council is working toward a draft compromise this month that could let sovereign bonds issued by transitioning economies qualify for Article 7 Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) funds. Member states are debating whether to extend the green‑finance label to...
The Big Interview: Cambria Allen-Ratzlaff on 20 Years of the PRI
Cambria Allen‑Ratzlaff, interim CEO of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), sat down for a candid interview marking two decades of the initiative. She highlighted that PRI now boasts over 4,000 signatories managing roughly $100 trillion in assets, cementing its role...