Manulife pilots ESGpedia for better ESG data visibility on sustainable bonds

MANULIFE Investment Management has partnered with fintech company Hashstacs (Stacs) to pilot innovative investment monitoring techniques for sustainable investments.

The cooperation will allow Manulife to leverage environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) data and digital tools on Stacs’ ESGpedia, a central ESG registry for specific financial datasets, and provide better visibility of ESG data at the asset and portfolio levels.

The asset management industry faces challenges around ESG data, with a lack of forward-looking disclosure, real-time data and common taxonomy. 

“Data is fragmented and presented in either narrative or unstructured form, with no ‘golden’ copy data architecture of investible instruments, hindering effective sustainable investment decisions,” said the companies in a joint statement on Thursday (Nov 3). 

Having access to Stacs’ ESGpedia portfolio monitoring tool would allow the investment manager to see greater asset level details, such as the green certifications of the buildings financed by green bonds, thus supporting its due diligence and monitoring of investee companies, said Eric Nietsch, Manulife’s head of sustainable investing.

A pilot phase of the arrangement is currently underway.