Highlights

Who Cares Wins 2007 Report (PDF, 800kb) (December 2007)
The theme of the fourth annual Who Cares Wins conference was New Frontiers in Emerging Markets Investments. During discussions, it was pointed out that financial and risk impacts from environmental, social and governance issues are particularly relevant when it comes to emerging market investments. In a speech given at the conference, IFC's Environment and Social Development department director, Rachel Kyte, emphasized this point, saying that "IFC firmly believes that environmental and social issues are inextricably linked in emerging markets, and that an economic expression of those issues in terms of both risk and opportunities is inevitable." Download the publication...


Who Cares Wins 2006 Report (PDF, 1mb) (November 2006)
The Who Cares Wins conference, which gathers every year different actors from the investment chain, examined in 2006 the communication of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues between companies and investors. A major challenge remains the fact that ESG issues are not easily quantifiable and therefore tend to be put aside by mainstream financial analysts who do not know how to enter them in their valuation models. Download the publication...


The Promise of Private Equity (PDF, 2.62mb) (November 2006)
There is growing evidence that businesses can meet the demands of the commercial marketplace and still be environmentally and socially responsible. They can also become better prospects for investors as a result. This is demonstrated in IFC's new study "The Promise of Private Equity" through five case studies drawn from the portfolio of private equity funds in which IFC is an investor. The study shows how environmental and social sustainability was integrated successfully into core competencies and sound business management, thereby contributing directly to increased profits and better business performance. Download the publication...


IFC Awards Grant to CRISIL, Standard & Poor's, KLD, Trucost, and CLSA to Study Environmental and Social Data for Emerging Market Equity Investors - September 27, 2006
IFC awarded a $500,000 grant to CRISIL, Standard & Poor's, and KLD; and to Trucost and CLSA, the winners of its research competition "Capturing Value." Read more...


New Reports Offer Investors Guidance for Assessing Environmental, Social and Governance Factors in Asian Business
"Investors need a framework for assessing the growing and complex environmental, social, and governance issues that face companies in Asia today. This report begins the process of creating such a framework," said IFC's Director of Environmental and Social Development, Rachel Kyte. Read more...


Brazil's stock exchange promotes sustainability
To encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices and provide investors with a tool to monitor those companies, IFC has supported the creation of a Corporate Sustainability Index at the Sao Paolo Stock Exchange (Bovespa) the first of its kind in Latin America. Read more...


China: Reputex Corporate Social Responsibility Benchmark Released after IFC-Supported Consultation
Rating agency RepuTex today announced a new benchmark for socially responsible corporation in China, following a consultation process that was financed through IFC. Read more...