Alpha-Centric ESG Research

Kyle Rudden

I am an ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) analyst with an alpha-centric approach to ESG research. After all, ESG investing is, first and foremost, investing. "Alpha-centric" does not mean apathetic, however. Quite the contrary. I believe global sustainability – i.e., environmental stewardship, social equality, and economic prosperity – is imperative, and private-sector capital is its cornerstone. Private-sector capital still has fiduciary responsibilities. Profitability is necessary for sustained impact. The Triple Bottom Line. People, Planet, AND Profit.

More importantly, you. I value your investment in Smartkarma research, and commit to Insights worthy of your time and money. That means giving ASEAN ESG the attention it deserves, and with Insights that are substantive and differentiated; the intersection of material and under-covered. You can expect investigative research into emergent ESG issues; data-driven analyses of deals (pre-IPO ESG research, ESG-focused M&A consequence analyses, etc.); and trading-oriented ideas like ESG short selling and playing ESG index constituency changes.

I bring both ESG expertise and traditional investing experience, as well as some rather unique perspectives on ESG (a lesson in governance from Enron, anyone?). I spent the last decade exclusively on ESG, researching links to equity returns, credit ratings, cost of capital, and yield spreads. I also contributed to ESG reporting standards (SASB and GRI), and the MBA curriculum (Impact Investing) at the Kellogg School of Management. Previously, I was an Institutional Investor and Wall Street Journal All-Star sell-side analyst at J.P. Morgan.

Please, feel free to contact me about anything.

"Delisting Deceitful Chinese Companies Act" Not a Slam Dunk and Has More Bark Than Bite if It Passes

"Delisting Deceitful Chinese Companies Act" (Update): Purgatory, Subtexts, and Laughing to the Bank

Gravity Works As WeWork Doesn't; Now Plan B

In past Insights, I have covered Senate Bill 945, titled the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (aka the "delisting Chinese stocks act"). In two reports, I laid out my thesis as to why passage of S945 is unlikely during the current session of Congress. Those two reports are:<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/delisting-deceitful-chinese-companies-act-not-a-slam-dunk-and-has-more-bark-than-bite-if-it-passes" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:40025" rel="noopener">"Delisting Deceitful Chinese Companies Act" Not a Slam Dunk and Has More Bark Than Bite if It Passes</a></li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/delisting-deceitful-chinese-companies-act-update-purgatory-subtexts-and-laughing-to-the-bank" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:41144" rel="noopener">"Delisting Deceitful Chinese Companies Act" (Update): Purgatory, Subtexts, and Laughing to the Bank</a> </li>
</ul>I still feel that the passage of S945 is more unlikely than likely, but there are recent developments surrounding this issue that warrant an update. So, here it is. This Insight briefly discusses two of those developments pertaining this bill, and delisting more generally. Specifically, they are:<ol>
<li>SEC pushing its own regulation akin to S945, which it hopes to formally propose by year end.</li>
<li>The House of Representative voting on S945, scheduled for this week (Wednesday U.S. time)</li>
</ol>

In past Insights, I have covered Senate Bill 945, titled the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (aka the "delisting Chinese stocks act"). In two reports, I laid out my thesis as to why passage of S945 is unlikely during the current session of Congress. Those two reports are:
"Delisting Deceitful Chinese Companies Act" Not a Slam Dunk and Has More Bark Than Bite if It Passes

"Delisting Deceitful Chinese Companies Act" (Update): Purgatory, Subtexts, and Laughing to the Bank 
I still feel that the passage of S945 is more unlikely than likely, but there are recent developments surrounding this issue that warrant an update. So, here it is. This Insight briefly discusses two of those developments pertaining this bill, and delisting more generally. Specifically, they are:
SEC pushing its own regulation akin to S945, which it hopes to formally propose by year end.
The House of Representative voting on S945, scheduled for this week (Wednesday U.S. time)


Update On "Delisting Chinese Stocks Act" – SEC Activity and a House Vote This Week

Alibaba Group Holding

Update On "Delisting Chinese Stocks Act" – SEC Activity and a House Vote This Week