Other goals are more nuanced and require a creative approach, including no poverty (#1), or peace, justice and strong institutions (#16). These can be best served through non-business activities, such as establishing a charitable foundation, and through collaborative partnerships.
WHY THE GOALS ARE IMPORTANT
Understanding how a firm’s actions align with the SDGs should be important for all investors, not just those seeking to generate a positive social impact with their capital. For the latter, the SDGs provide a framework for evaluation and measurement. For all, SDGs can serve as a guide to understanding fundamental business prospects (something we refer to as “ESG externalities” at PIMCO).
The near collapse of the global banking system in 2008 highlighted these externalities sharply. Taxpayer-funded bailouts raised awareness of banks’ “social license to operate,” and the eight years that followed were marked by increased investor scrutiny, regulatory pressure and heated public debate. The outcome was higher capital requirements, de-leveraging of balance sheets and intense focus on issues of culture and conduct – a critical secular shift that investors needed to recognize.
Another secular shift occurred in energy during the 2000s, as European countries moved towards greater use of renewables – a change accelerated by events in Fukushima in 2011, which triggered a shutdown of nuclear reactors in Germany. German companies that had moved early to address the shift were rewarded with a cheaper cost of debt and healthier margins. Others had to catch up by drastically changing their organizational and legal structures, separating environmentally friendly businesses from their more polluting activities (coal, lignite, nuclear). Decarbonization and enhancing grid capacity – activities aligned with several of the SDGs – are key business objectives for most European utilities, and continue reshaping the competitive landscape.
WHAT CAN INVESTORS DO?
Many companies, large and small, are acknowledging their role within society, because they understand the importance of it to their long-term business prospects. All investors need to understand this too – and the SDGs are a good place to start.
But for those who want to go further, and use their capital to help achieve the goals, there are three main levers to pull:
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Asset Allocation
First, they can decide how and where to deploy capital. Although investing for impact is commonly associated with equities, fixed income can often provide a more direct way to achieve this objective.
For example, an investor seeking to foster economic growth through housing could invest in bank equities (as banks provide credit to the housing sector). However, they will be exposed to many additional risks related to the bank’s broader business, such as a leveraged balance sheet, investment banking exposure and non-residential lending. A more direct way to target housing is to invest in covered bonds, which are secured vehicles backed by residential mortgages. They have strong covenants, a measure of protection from the bank, and also provide a targeted way of directing capital for the purpose of social impact.
Covered bonds, municipals, mortgages, agencies, supranational and local government debt account for around 23% of the Barclays Global Bond Aggregate Index – investing in them offers extensive opportunities to target different SDGs. Investing in green bonds or social bonds provides an even more targeted approach. Allocating capital to any of these bonds can be consistent with promoting access to affordable and clean energy (goal #7), sustainable cities and communities (#11), clean water and sanitation (#6), and industry, innovation and infrastructure (#9), among others.
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Engagement
Investors seeking positive change can also promote engagement with companies. Similar to impact investing as a whole, engagement is most associated with equity investors. But fixed income investors can play just as important a role.
At the heart of engagement is a collaborative relationship between companies and investors. Most companies already report publicly on key ESG indicators, such as gender equality. Investors – both equity and fixed income – can build on what is already publicly available, and engage in a dialogue with firms to deliver greater transparency. Engagement can also serve to raise issues with firms that they may not be currently considering, but which could have a long-term impact on their business.
As part of the investment process, engagement can be very powerful, but it is also a choice. It requires active management, dedicated resources and a long-term commitment. These are the main reasons why the practice is not widespread among asset managers.
Measuring and reporting
While engagement may be powerful, transparent measurement and reporting are crucial for investors to see the impact of their capital, and for firms to evaluate their own position.
Yet reporting shouldn’t be the sole responsibility of the company. Investors need to provide guidance on information required and work collaboratively with firms to establish key performance indicators (KPIs) given the information available.
South Africa provides a good example of how this can work. Companies there have been mandated to provide integrated reporting since 2011, meaning they must include standardized information on ESG practices alongside financial disclosures. This has allowed ESG-focused investors to set measurable goals for companies and evaluate progress towards meeting them. Adopting this model more broadly, and coalescing behind the SDGs as a means of setting those goals, would be a big step forward in impact investing.
UNLOCKING A MULTI-TRILLION-DOLLAR UNIVERSE
Using the SDGs as a framework for impact investing has the potential to unlock the multi-trillion-dollar universe of core fixed income for the purpose of change. This is a much larger pool of capital than currently exists in the mainly equity-focused impact investment world. For those seeking to align financial goals with an ability to influence change, accessing core fixed income can provide a more holistic approach to impact investing, and better diversification within ESG-focused portfolios.
All investments contain risk and may lose value. Investing in the bond market is subject to risks, including market, interest rate, issuer, credit, inflation risk, and liquidity risk. The value of most bonds and bond strategies are impacted by changes in interest rates. Bonds and bond strategies with longer durations tend to be more sensitive and volatile than those with shorter durations; bond prices generally fall as interest rates rise, and the current low interest rate environment increases this risk. Current reductions in bond counterparty capacity may contribute to decreased market liquidity and increased price volatility. Bond investments may be worth more or less than the original cost when redeemed. Equities may decline in value due to both real and perceived general market, economic and industry conditions. Investing in foreign-denominated and/or -domiciled securities may involve heightened risk due to currency fluctuations, and economic and political risks, which may be enhanced in emerging markets.Mortgage- and asset-backed securities may be sensitive to changes in interest rates, subject to early repayment risk, and while generally supported by a government, government-agency or private guarantor, there is no assurance that the guarantor will meet its obligations. Income from municipal bonds may be subject to state and local taxes and at times the alternative minimum tax. Sovereign securities are generally backed by the issuing government. Obligations of U.S. government agencies and authorities are supported by varying degrees, but are generally not backed by the full faith of the U.S. government. Portfolios that invest in such securities are not guaranteed and will fluctuate in value. Diversification does not ensure against loss. Derivatives may involve certain costs and risks, such as liquidity, interest rate, market, credit, management and the risk that a position could not be closed when most advantageous. Investing in derivatives could lose more than the amount invested.
Statements concerning financial market trends are based on current market conditions, which will fluctuate. There is no guarantee that these investment strategies will work under all market conditions or are suitable for all investors and each investor should evaluate their ability to invest long-term, especially during periods of downturn in the market. Investors should consult their investment professional prior to making an investment decision.
This material contains the opinions of the manager but not necessarily those of PIMCO and such opinions are subject to change without notice. This material has been distributed for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not guaranteed. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission. PIMCO is a trademark of Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. in the United States and throughout the world.
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