Shift in Company-Investor Briefings to Include ESG Information

(London / New York, 24 October 2012) – Marking a major shift in communications between companies and investors, the United Nations Global Compact and the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) initiative today held their second call in the ESG Investor Briefing Series. EnelS.p.A outlined how Italy’s largest power company and one of Europe’s biggest integrated utilities is identifying and integrating material environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues into its operations and business strategy.

Leading the call, Luigi Ferraris, the company’s Chief Financial Officer, highlighted Enel’sfinancial sustainability, ESG strategy, and integration of strategic and sustainability priorities. The briefing was attended by more than 30 PRI signatories and their affiliates, including asset owners, investment managers and investment banks. It provided participants with the opportunity to learn more about which ESG issues Enel considers material to company value and performance, and to engage with senior management during and after the call. Access the presentation and recording of Enel’s ESG Investor Briefing call here.

Launched in July 2012, the ESG Investor Briefing Series is designed to improve company-investor communications on ESG information, and improve the ability of financial markets to properly value sustainability performance. With dialogue between companies and investors on ESG issues remaining outside of mainstream discussions on business strategy, the series explores how ESG value drivers can be communicated beyond sustainability reporting and be included in mainstream investor relations, such as quarterly analyst calls.

As part of the pilot initiative, 10 to 15 briefings will be held by the first half of 2013 – with each following a common ESG Value Driver Framework developed by Global Compact LEAD companies and PRI signatories.

PRI and the UN Global Compact encourage companies to host their own ESG Investor Briefing.

Upcoming ESG Investor Briefings:
AkzoNobel - 19 November 2012
NovoNordisk - Date TBD
Eni - Date TBD

About the Principles for Responsible Investment
The United Nations-backed Principles for Responsible Investment initiative (PRI) is a network of international investors working together to put the six Principles for Responsible Investment into practice. The Principles were devised by the investment community. They reflect the view that environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues can affect the performance of investment portfolios and therefore must be given appropriate consideration by investors if they are to fulfil their fiduciary (or equivalent) duty. The Principles provide a voluntary framework by which all investors can incorporate ESG issues into their decision-making and ownership practices and so better align their objectives with those of society at large.

Contact

Danielle Chesebrough
Manager of Investor Engagement
Principles for Responsible Investment
danielle.chesebrough@unpri.org