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Redefining Corporate Value: The ESG-Driven Valuation Paradigm

Kanitsorn Terdpaopong

Rangsit University, Thailand

Email: Kanitsorn@rsu.ac.th

Presented to 9th ICoS, 9 November 2024

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Why is ESG important?

  • Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is important because it addresses the critical dimensions of a company's impact on the world, balancing financial performance with ethical considerations and long-term sustainability (Alkaraan et al., 2022).
  • Integrating ESG factors into business strategies helps companies manage risks, attract investment, meet regulatory requirements, satisfy stakeholders, and build a sustainable and resilient business model (Bhattacharya & Bhattacharya, 2023).
  • As the global business environment continues to evolve, ESG considerations are becoming indispensable for achieving lasting success and positive impact (Zumente & Bistrova, 2021).

Presented at Kia12 2024 JKT Indonesia 21 April 2025

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ESG in developing countries

  • In developing countries, the regulatory regarding ESG factors varies significantly, often being less comprehensive and formalized than in developed countries (Atan et al., 2016; Lozano& Martínez-Ferrero, 2022).
  • However, many developing countries are making strides toward incorporating ESG principles into their regulatory frameworks.

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General Trends in Developing Countries�

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International Influence: Developing countries often adopt or adapt international standards and frameworks, such as those from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI), and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

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Sector-Specific Regulations: Regulations may initially focus on key sectors like mining, agriculture, and energy, which have significant environmental and social impacts.

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Voluntary Guidelines: Many countries have issued voluntary guidelines and principles to encourage businesses to adopt ESG practices, often with the support of international organizations and NGOs.

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Stock Exchange Initiatives: Several stock exchanges in developing countries require listed companies to disclose ESG information, driven by initiatives like the Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative.

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Capacity Building: Efforts are often focused on building capacity and raising awareness among businesses and regulators about the importance of ESG factors.

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�Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) New Paradigm Shift

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The incorporation of ESG factors into business valuations represents a significant shift in how companies are assessed and valued.

This new paradigm goes beyond traditional financial metrics to include non-financial factors that can have a substantial impact on a company's long-term performance and risk profile.

Taliento & Netti, 2020

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Presented at Kia12 2024 JKT Indonesia 21 April 2025

1. Comprehensive Risk Assessment

2. Enhanced Value Drivers

3. Regulatory and Market Pressures

4. Investor Expectations

5. Improved Financial Performance

6. Stakeholder Engagement

7. Long-Term Value Creation�

New Paradigm Shift

Traditional Valuation 🡪 ESG Driven

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1. Comprehensive Risk Assessment

Traditional Valuation:

  • Focuses primarily on financial metrics such as revenue, profits, cash flow, and market conditions.
  • Evaluates tangible assets and short-term performance indicators.

ESG-Driven Valuation:

  • Incorporates a broader range of risks, including environmental (e.g., climate change, resource scarcity), social (e.g., labor practices, community relations), and governance (e.g., board structure, ethical conduct) factors.
  • Considers long-term sustainability and resilience against external shocks.

(Moro-Visconti, 2022)

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2. Enhanced Value Drivers�

Traditional Valuation:

  • Emphasizes financial value drivers like cost management, revenue growth, and capital efficiency.

ESG-Driven Valuation:

  • Identifies new value drivers such as energy efficiency, waste reduction, employee satisfaction, and strong governance practices.
  • Recognizes that companies with strong ESG performance can achieve better operational efficiency, lower costs, and improved brand reputation.

(Moro-Visconti, 2022; Schramade, 2016)

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3. Regulatory and Market Pressures�

Traditional Valuation:

  • Often reactive to regulatory changes and market trends.

ESG-Driven Valuation:

  • Proactively integrates regulatory requirements and market expectations related to ESG.
  • Anticipates future regulations and market shifts, positioning companies to adapt and thrive.

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4. Investor Expectations�

Traditional Valuation:

  • Historically focused on financial returns and short-term gains.

ESG-Driven Valuation:

  • Reflects growing investor demand for sustainable and responsible investments.
  • ESG considerations are increasingly important for attracting capital from institutional investors, who view strong ESG performance as indicative of lower risk and better long-term returns.

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5. Improved Financial Performance�

Traditional Valuation:

  • May not explicitly link ESG factors to financial performance.

ESG-Driven Valuation:

  • Evidence suggests that companies with robust ESG practices tend to outperform financially in the long run.
  • Strong ESG performance is associated with higher profitability, reduced volatility, and improved risk management.

(Gary, 2019)

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6. Stakeholder Engagement�

Traditional Valuation:

  • Primarily focused on shareholder value.

ESG-Driven Valuation:

  • Considers the interests of a broader range of stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers, communities, and the environment.
  • Enhanced stakeholder engagement can lead to better business outcomes and increased trust.

(Chang et al., 2022)

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7. Long-Term Value Creation�

Traditional Valuation:

  • Often prioritizes short-term financial gains.

ESG-Driven Valuation:

  • Emphasizes sustainable, long-term value creation.
  • Encourages companies to invest in initiatives that may not yield immediate financial returns but are crucial for long-term success and resilience.

(Zumente & Bistrova, 2021)

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Practical Implementation�

1. Integration into Financial Models

    • ESG factors are incorporated into discounted cash flow (DCF) models, adjusting future cash flows to reflect ESG risks and opportunities.
    • Scenario analysis and stress testing are used to account for ESG-related uncertainties (Schramade, 2016).

2. ESG Ratings and Scores

    • Companies are evaluated based on ESG ratings and scores provided by specialized agencies.
    • These ratings are used to adjust valuation multiples and assess relative performance within industries (Pagano et al., 2018)

3. Regulatory and Reporting Standards

    • Adherence to frameworks such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), and Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) enhances transparency and comparability.

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Conclusion�

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Integrating ESG factors into operational strategies is not just a trend but a fundamental shift in how businesses operate and create value.

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It enhances financial performance, manages risks, meets regulatory requirements, attracts investment, satisfies consumer and employee expectations, and builds a sustainable and resilient business model.

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As the global business environment continues to evolve, integrating ESG principles is essential for long-term success and competitiveness.

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References

Alkaraan, F., Albitar, K., Hussainey, K., & Venkatesh, V. G. (2022). Corporate transformation toward Industry 4.0 and financial performance: The influence of environmental social and governance (ESG). Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 175, 121423.

Atan, R. U. H. A. Y. A., Razali, F. A., Said, J. A. M. A. L. I. A. H., & Zainun, S. (2016). Environmental social and governance (ESG) disclosure and its effect on firm’s performance: A comparative study. International Journal of Economics and Management, 10(2), 355-375.

Bhattacharya, A., & Bhattacharya, S. (2023). Integrating ESG pillars for business model innovation in the biopharmaceutical industry. Australasian Accounting Business and Finance Journal, 17(1), 127-150.

Bose, S. (2020). Evolution of ESG reporting frameworks. In Values at work: Sustainable investing and ESG reporting (pp. 13-33).

Bossut, M., Hessenius, M., Jürgens, I., Pioch, T., Schiemann, F., Spandel, T., & Tietmeyer, R. (2021). Why it would be important to expand the scope of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and make it work for SMEs. Sustainable Finance Research Platform Germany.

Chang, X., Fu, K., Jin, Y., & Liem, P. F. (2022). Sustainable finance: ESG/CSR firm value and investment returns. Asia‐Pacific Journal of Financial Studies, 51(3), 325-371.

Cremasco, C., & Boni, L. (2022). Is the European Union (EU) Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) effective in shaping sustainability objectives? An analysis of investment funds' behaviour. Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment, 1-19.

Cuomo, F., Gaia, S., Girardone, C., & Piserà, S. (2024). The effects of the EU non-financial reporting directive on corporate social responsibility. The European Journal of Finance, 30(7), 726-752.

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References

Gary, S. N. (2019). Best interests in the long term: Fiduciary duties and ESG integration. U. Colo. L. Rev., 90, 731.

Lozano, M. B., & Martínez-Ferrero, J. (2022). Do emerging and developed countries differ in terms of sustainable performance? Analysis of board ownership and country-level factors. Research in International Business and Finance, 62, 101688.

Moro-Visconti, R. (2022). ESG-Driven Valuation: From Father Profit to Mother Nature. In Augmented corporate valuation: From digital networking to ESG compliance (pp. 235-314). Cham: Springer International Publishing.

Pagano, M. S., Sinclair, G., & Yang, T. (2018). Understanding ESG ratings and ESG indexes. In Research handbook of finance and sustainability (pp. 339-371). Edward Elgar Publishing.

Roolvink, G. J. (2024). Managing paradoxes in difficult times: Risk and opportunity for ESG (Master's thesis, University of Twente).

Schlacke, S., Wentzien, H., Thierjung, E. M., & Köster, M. (2022). Implementing the EU Climate Law via the ‘Fit for 55’ package. Oxford Open Energy, 1, oiab002.

Schramade, W. (2016). Integrating ESG into valuation models and investment decisions: the value-driver adjustment approach. Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment, 6(2), 95-111.

Taliento, M., & Netti, A. (2020). Corporate social/environmental responsibility and value creation: reflections on a modern business management paradigm. Business Ethics and Leadership, 4(4), 123-131.

Wolf, S., Teitge, J., Mielke, J., Schütze, F., & Jaeger, C. (2021). The European Green Deal—more than climate neutrality. Intereconomics, 56, 99-107.

Zioło, M., & Spoz, A. (2023). The Impact of EU Regulations on the Financial Sector and Enterprises in the Context of Sustainability. In Financing Regions Toward Sustainability in the Midst of Climate Change Risks and Uncertainty (pp. 55-76). IGI Global.

Zumente, I., & Bistrova, J. (2021). ESG importance for long-term shareholder value creation: Literature vs. practice. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology Market and Complexity, 7(2), 127.

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