Ausbil Investment Mgmt's Carlsson on Top 2022 ESG Themes

The video discusses key themes for the year, focusing on decarbonisation, corporate culture, and modern slavery. It highlights the importance of ESG in investment, emphasizing the need for proprietary research and constructive engagement with companies. The discussion also covers the integration of ESG in mainstream funds and the challenges of addressing systemic issues like modern slavery.

What is one of the major themes highlighted for the year?

• Decarbonization

• Technological innovation

• Market expansion

• Financial deregulation

Why is culture considered an important theme for investors?

• It is easy to measure

• It directly impacts financial returns

• It is often self-reported by companies

• It has no impact on company valuation

What shift is occurring in the Australian funds management industry?

• Increased focus on short-term profits

• Reduction in investment diversity

• Complete disregard for ESG factors

• Consideration of ESG factors alongside financial returns

Why is proprietary research preferred by some investors?

• It requires no expertise

• It provides unique insights

• It is less time-consuming

• It is cheaper than external research

What is a challenge faced by smaller companies in ESG research?

• Lack of interest from investors

• Limited staff and resources

• Excessive regulatory support

• Overabundance of data

What approach is suggested for addressing systemic issues like modern slavery?

• Punitive measures only

• Ignoring the issues

• Constructive engagement and collaboration

• Complete reliance on government intervention

How can investors encourage companies to adopt best practices?

• By sharing insights from field trips

• By pointing fingers

• By reducing investments

• By ignoring company practices