Investors speak out in support of proposed European non-financial reporting legislation

Eurosif, Eumedion, CDP, CDSB, EFFAS, UNEP-FI,  ICGN and IIGCC strongly support the European Commission proposal (1) published on April 16th mandating large European companies to report material non-financial information and their diversity policy in their annual reports. While some aspects of the proposed legislation can be strengthened, the legislation must not be weakened by the
co-legislators.

The above group of investor-led platforms or initiatives represents over 700 institutional investors or financial institutions, of which a large part is based in Europe, and assets over EUR 65 Trillion.

Investors’ interest in corporate non-financial information is growing. As of end of 2011, assets managed under investment strategies incorporating non-financial information represented in excess of EUR 10.5 Trillion (2) globally, of which almost two thirds are managed by European investors (3). In addition, investors managing in excess of EUR 65.8 Trillion Assets under Management support the disclosure of corporate greenhouse gas emissions and climate change data (4). This growth is in part fuelled by the mounting evidence that there are links between how well a company manages environmental and social issues and its financial performance or access to lower cost of capital.

The proposed legislation will help investors by making more relevant information available from a larger number of European companies.

It therefore represents a significant step forward for European and international investors who seek  timely, material, comparable and forward-looking information on  non-financial risks and opportunities, in order to make better informed investment decisions. Failure to adopt the legislation will make such decisions more difficult and costly for investors, and will increase the risks of harming European companies’ international competitiveness.

By offering greater flexibility and avoiding the imposition of overly costly requirements on European  companies, especially small and medium sized ones, the legislative proposal should not be seen as a burden on companies, but an opportunity to increase European companies’ long term competitiveness and therefore Europe’s long term sustainable growth prospects.

The signatories to this press release therefore jointly urge the European Parliament and the Council to adopt the legislation proposed by the European Commission without weakening the provisions of the text.
ENDS

References

(1) COM(2013)207
(2) Source: Global Sustainable Investment Review, 2012.
(3) Source: Eurosif, 2012.
(4) Source: CDP website.

Notes to Editor
The Proposal COM(2013)207 referred to in the above release can be found at:
http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/accounting/docs/non-financialreporting/com_2013_207_en.pdf

About CDP
CDP is an international, not-for-profit organization providing the only global system for
companies and cities to measure, disclose, manage and share vital environmental information.
CDP works with market forces, including 722 institutional investors with assets of US$87 trillion,
to motivate companies to disclose their impacts on the environment and natural resources and
take action to reduce them. CDP now holds the largest collection globally of primary climate
change, water and forest risk commodities information and puts these insights at the heart of
strategic business, investment and policy decisions. Please visit www.cdp.net or follow us
@CDP to find out more.

About CDSB
The Climate Disclosure Standards Board, managed as a CDP special project and chaired by
the World Economic Forum, is an international consortium of business, investor, and
environmental organizations committed to the integration of climate change-related information
into mainstream corporate reporting. CDSB’s Climate Change Reporting Framework is a tool to
help companies present climate change information in the context of a mainstream financial
report in a way that is of most use to investors. The Framework does not create a new
standard; it harmonizes existing financial and greenhouse gas reporting standards. CDSB’s aim
is to promote aligned reporting practices to reduce reporting burdens and provide comparable
information to capital markets. For more information on CDSB visit www.cdsb.net.

About EFFAS
Founded in 1962, the European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies (EFFAS) is a Pan-
European grouping of 26 National Societies of Financial Analysts, bringing together leading
experts from all of Europe's Equity and Fixed Income markets (more than 17.000 investment
professionals in Europe). EFFAS’ overall aim is to set standards for investment professionals in
the fields of communications, ethics, and qualifications, to actively bring our influence to bear on
relevant EU guidelines whilst recognizing and respecting regional market characteristics
(www.effas.net).
Contact: Claudia Stinnes. claudia.stinnes@effas.com or +49 69264848300.

About Eumedion
Eumedion is the Dutch based corporate governance and sustainability forum for institutional
investors. Eumedion has 70 Dutch and non-Dutch participants – all with a long term investment
horizon – and its general aim is to promote good corporate governance and sustainability in
Dutch listed companies. Participants include a wide range of institutional investors: pension
funds, mutual funds, asset managers and insurance companies. Together they have more than
€ 1 trillion assets under management and around 20% of Dutch listed shares. Eumedion’s
position on the European Commission’s legislative proposal can be found at www.eumedion.nl.
Contact: Rients Abma, Eumedion, Executive Director, rients.abma@eumedion.nl or +31 70
2040 303.

About Eurosif
Eurosif, the European Sustainable Investment Forum, is the leading pan-European investment
membership association whose mission is to develop sustainability through European financial
markets. Eurosif works as a partnership of Europe-based national Sustainable Investment
Forums (SIFs) with the direct support and involvement of over 65 member affiliates drawn from
the industry and related services and representing assets exceeding €1 trillion. Eurosif’s
position on the European Commission’s legislative proposal can be found here.
Contact: Francois Passant, Eurosif, Executive Director, francois@eurosif.org, +32 2 274 14 35.

About UNEP-FI
The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is a unique global
partnership between the United Nations Environment Programme (UENP) and the global
financial sector. UNEP FI works closely with over 200 financial institutions who are Signatories
to the UNEP FI Statements, and a range of partner organisations to develop and promote
linkages between sustainability and financial performance. Through peer-to-peer networks,
research and training, UNEP FI carries out its mission to identify, promote, and realise the
adoption of best environmental and sustainability practice at all levels of financial institution
operations. http://www.unepfi.org/about/index.html

About ICGN
The International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN) is a global membership organisation
of around 600 institutional and private investors, corporations and advisors from 50 countries.
Our investor members are responsible for global assets of US$18 trillion. The ICGN’s mission is
to raise standards of corporate governance worldwide. In doing so, the ICGN encourages
cross-border dialogue and influences corporate governance public policy through its
Committees. It promotes best practice guidance, encourages leadership development and
keeps members informed on emerging issues in corporate governance through publications
and the ICGN website. www.icgn.org.
Contact: Kerrie Waring, Acting Head, kerrie.waring@icgn.org, +44 (0)207 612 7085.

About IIGCC
The Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC) is a forum for collaboration on
climate change for European investors. It provides investors with a collaborative platform to
encourage public policies, investment practices, and corporate behaviour that address longterm
risks and opportunities associated with climate change. IIGCC currently has over 80
members, including some of the largest pension funds and asset managers in Europe,
representing around €7.5trillion in assets.
Contact: Stefanie Pfeifer, Executive Director, spfeifer@iigcc.org, +44 (0)207 960 2987.