Ravi Gupta MD is the COO, co-founder and managing member of Viking Capital Investments, LLC (Viking Capital). His focus is operations, value-add renovation, asset management and ESG. Additionally, he directs Viking Capital’s Charitable arm. Ravi is also the founder and managing member of Peak Health and Wellness, a functional medicine company. His interests include reading, travel, nutrition, charity, environmental activism, and spending time with his wife and kids.
ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing is becoming increasingly popular, as more investors recognize the potential financial benefits of considering a company's environmental and social impact in addition to its financial performance. However, there are also a number of issues that have arisen with ESG investing.
Our event will discuss a few of the many issues that have arisen with ESG investing. However, it's important to note that as the ESG investing field matures and more data and guidelines become available, these issues may be addressed. However, we think that the playbook that is being written can not be is incomplete and needs to take in points of view from a diverse section of stakeholders, not just financial professionals.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is the primary federal regulator of securities markets in the United States. The SEC has not established specific regulations or guidelines for ESG investing, but it has issued guidance to companies and investment advisers regarding their disclosure of ESG-related information.
In February 2020, the SEC issued interpretive guidance that addresses the application of existing SEC rules and regulations to climate change-related disclosures by companies, in particular, “in the context of their business and their financial condition, including how their businesses and financial condition may be impacted by climate change risks and how companies are managing those risks.”
The SEC also clarified that ESG disclosures and performance should not be misleading or inconsistent with other financial disclosures to the SEC, and that companies should be consistent in the way they report their ESG data and performance.
As for investment advisors, SEC has provided guidance stating that Advisers to investment companies, should consider how Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors may be relevant to the fund’s investment goals and strategies, and how they would integrate such considerations into their investment process.
In summary, while the SEC has not established specific regulations for ESG investing, it has issued guidance that companies and investment advisers should be transparent and consistent in their disclosure of ESG-related information and not making misleading claims.
Resources listed below provided courtesy of Duel Glass, Principal
1. Blanket bans on fossil-fuel funds will entrench poverty An article in Nature.
2. Household air pollution World Health Organization article
4. Saudi Aramco: Biased ESG Policies Will Undermine Energy Security | OilPrice.com
5. Why The White House Is Wrong About Oil Major Share Buybacks | OilPrice.com
6. Bettering Human Lives - Liberty Energy ESG Report - libertyenergy.com
7. Liberty CEO, Chris Wright, Responds to WSJ Article - libertyenergy.com
8. Chris Wright - Energy & Health Presentation.
9. The Dual Challenge: Energy and Environment | Scott Tinker | TEDxUTAustin
10. The Switch Documentary - YouTube
14. Archive - Energy Talking Points by Alex Epstein
15. Resources from Alex Epstein | Center for Industrial Progress
16. The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels | Alex Epstein | Talks at Google - YouTube
17. MCFF Handout 20160708 Summary of The Moral Case For Fossil Fuels
Speakers: James Trapp, Rick Stone, Theresa Gusman, Duel Glass, and Ravi Gupta MD
Viking Capital is a national multifamily investment firm with over 700 million dollars of assets acquired with a near term goal of $1 Billion. Focused on acquiring key assets across major metropolitan statistical areas (MSA’s) demonstrating consistent rent growth and low vacancy. Viking’s value-add business plan repositions properties through operational efficiencies, moderate to extensive renovations and complete rebranding. We believe in doing good through real estate by impacting communities, tenants, investors, and the environment.