SUSTAINABLE-INVESTING Practice Questions

Many Japanese companies use a statutory auditor system (Option B) instead of board committees for

oversight. In this approach:

A statutory board of auditors (kansayaku) monitors management rather than a traditional audit or

governance committee.

This structure is legally permitted in Japan and is different from Western corporate governance

models that require independent board committees.

Option A (cross-shareholding practice) refers to companies holding each other’s shares to maintain

business stability but does not directly explain the lack of board committees.

Option C is incorrect because Japan’s Corporate Governance Code allows the statutory auditor

model.

Reference:

Japan’s Corporate Governance Code (2021 Revision)

Tokyo Stock Exchange: Corporate Governance Reports

OECD Corporate Governance Factbook

Dual-class shares typically favor the founders of a company by giving them greater voting power

compared to other shareholders, allowing them to retain control over decision-making even if their

economic ownership of the company is diluted. This mechanism is often used to protect the

founders' vision and strategy for the company.ESG Reference: Chapter 5, Page 241 - Governance

Factors in the ESG textbook.

According to the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) materiality map, certain ESG

issues are deemed material for specific industries. For healthcare companies, customer welfare is a

significant material ESG risk. This includes aspects such as patient safety, quality of care, access to

healthcare, and patient privacy. These factors are critical in the healthcare sector due to the direct

impact on patients' well-being and regulatory scrutiny.

Customer welfare (A): This is a core material issue for healthcare companies as it directly impacts

patient safety and quality of care, which are critical aspects of healthcare services.

Competitive behavior (B): While competitive behavior can be material in many industries, it is not

the primary material ESG risk for healthcare companies according to SASB's materiality map.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (C): GHG emissions are more material for industries with significant

energy consumption and environmental impact, such as utilities and manufacturing. While

healthcare companies do have environmental impacts, customer welfare is more directly relevant to

their core operations.

Reference:

Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Materiality Map

CFA ESG Investing Principles

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CDP (formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project) is a nonprofit organization that focuses on

helping companies, cities, states, and regions disclose and manage their environmental impacts. It

operates a global disclosure system that encourages transparency and accountability on climate

change, water security, and deforestation.

Nonprofit Organization: CDP is structured as a nonprofit organization, meaning it operates for the

public good rather than for profit. Its mission is to drive environmental disclosure and action among

businesses and governments globally​​​​.

Global Environmental Disclosure: CDP runs a comprehensive environmental disclosure platform

where thousands of entities report their environmental data. This data is used to assess and manage

environmental risks and opportunities.

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The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights encourage institutional

investors to work together on human rights and social issues. These principles provide a global

standard for preventing and addressing the risk of adverse impacts on human rights linked to

business activity, promoting collaborative efforts among investors to uphold human rights standards​​​​.

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Conduct-related exclusions are applied when a company is excluded from an investment portfolio

due to specific behaviors or incidents that violate certain ethical or legal standards. In this case, the

exclusion is based on the company's actions rather than the nature of its business.

Conduct-Related Exclusion: This type of exclusion arises from specific behaviors or practices that are

deemed unethical or illegal. Examples include violations of labor rights, corruption, environmental

damage, or other significant breaches of conduct. The decision to divest from a company accused of

preventing union formation fits this category as it directly relates to the company's conduct​​​​.

Universal Exclusion: This refers to broad-based exclusions applied to entire sectors or industries

based on certain ethical principles or ESG criteria. It is not specific to the behavior of individual

companies but rather to the nature of the industry.

Idiosyncratic Exclusion: These are exclusions that do not have broad consensus and are based on

individual or specific institutional criteria. They are not generally applied universally or based on

common ethical standards​​​​.

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Wastewater treatment facilities are highly capital intensive to develop. The development of these

facilities involves significant upfront investments in infrastructure, technology, and construction.

Infrastructure Costs: Building a wastewater treatment facility requires substantial investment in

infrastructure, including pipelines, treatment plants, and equipment. These costs can be very high

due to the scale and complexity of the systems needed to treat wastewater effectively.

Technology and Equipment: The technology and equipment used in wastewater treatment, such as

filtration systems, chemical treatment processes, and monitoring tools, are expensive to acquire and

install. Advanced technologies that improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact further

increase costs.

Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring that the facility meets regulatory standards and environmental

guidelines adds to the capital costs. Compliance with regulations often necessitates additional

investments in specialized equipment and processes.

Reference:

MSCI ESG Ratings Methodology (2022) - Discusses the capital-intensive nature of developing

sustainable infrastructure projects, including wastewater treatment facilities​​.

ESG-Ratings-Methodology-Exec-Summary (2022) - Highlights the high upfront investment required

for infrastructure projects aimed at improving environmental outcomes​​.

The underlying principle of the corporate governance code in most markets is "comply or explain."

This principle mandates that companies either comply with the established governance guidelines or

explain why they have not done so. This approach allows for flexibility while encouraging

transparency and accountability in corporate governance.

Flexibility and Adaptability: The "comply or explain" approach provides companies with the flexibility

to adapt the guidelines to their specific circumstances. If a company believes that a certain

recommendation is not suitable for its situation, it can choose not to comply, provided it explains the

reasons for this decision.

Transparency: By requiring companies to explain their non-compliance, this approach promotes

transparency. Stakeholders, including investors, can assess the company’s governance practices and

make informed decisions based on the explanations provided.

Encouragement of Best Practices: This principle encourages companies to strive towards best

practices in governance, while allowing for deviations when justified. It balances the need for high

standards with the recognition that one size does not fit all.

Reference:

MSCI ESG Ratings Methodology (2022) - Discusses the principles of corporate governance codes and

highlights the "comply or explain" approach as a common standard in various markets​​.

ESG-Ratings-Methodology-Exec-Summary (2022) - Provides insights into how corporate governance

codes are designed to promote transparency and accountability through the "comply or explain"

principle​​.

Interest by retail investors in responsible investing has been growing over time. This trend is driven

by increased awareness of ESG issues and the recognition that sustainable investing can align with

both personal values and financial goals.

Growth in interest: Surveys and market data consistently show that more retail investors are

considering ESG factors in their investment decisions. This trend is supported by the increasing

availability of ESG-related investment products and greater transparency from companies regarding

their ESG practices.

Drivers: Factors contributing to this growth include heightened awareness of environmental and

social issues, the impact of regulatory changes promoting ESG disclosures, and the perception that

ESG investing can mitigate risks and uncover opportunities.

Reference:

CFA ESG Investing Principles

Market surveys and reports on trends in responsible investing

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Globalization has contributed to a reduction in social structural inequality. By integrating economies

and increasing access to global markets, globalization has created opportunities for economic growth

and development in many regions, helping to reduce poverty and inequality.

Reduction in social structural inequality (C): Globalization has enabled the transfer of technology,

capital, and skills across borders, leading to job creation and economic development in less

developed regions. This has helped to reduce structural inequalities by providing more equal

opportunities for people in different parts of the world.

Regulation (A): Globalization has often led to an increase in regulation, particularly in areas such as

trade, finance, and environmental standards, as countries cooperate to manage global issues.

Market efficiency (B): Globalization typically enhances market efficiency by increasing competition,

improving resource allocation, and fostering innovation.

Reference:

CFA ESG Investing Principles

Economic studies on the impacts of globalization

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