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The sustainability studies below provide a detailed
analysis of individual sectors of the economy. They
focus mainly on the different areas of investment
and the corresponding value chains. This is because
it has been shown that those companies in the areas
of investment that meet strict sustainability criteria
are better prepared for sustainable, long-term success
than their competitors. The purpose of the studies
is to highlight any investment opportunities that
may arise for investors.
Water: A Market of the Future - Investment Opportunities in the Water Sector
Climate change is putting increasing pressure on the world’s water supply, even as the global population grows and more water of better quality is required. Given those circumstances, water is becoming a valuable commodity and, in response, innovative companies are opening up new, high-margin business fields that center on H2O. Those are the findings of the recently published SAM study entitled “Water – a market of the future”.
SAM Healthy Living Study (Focus on Obesity - A Heavy Burden)
The SAM Sustainable Healthy Living Fund was in spring 2007. This innovative investment product focuses on leading companies in the areas of nutrition, activity & wellbeing, and healthcare. The importance and understanding of good health has increased enormously in recent years. This change affects many areas of society and is gradually transforming people’s lives. The World Health Organization estimates that 1.6 billion people are currently overweight, with some 400 million classed as obese. Companies offering products, technologies and services in these areas stand to benefit from strong demand generated by the prevention and mitigation of obesity, as well as the need to deal with its consequences. Solutions in the fight against obesity include a healthy diet, consumer products that provide healthier lifestyle choices and services for patients to make their life more convenient.
WWF and SAM Group launch Study "Carbonizing Valuation"
German power producer RWE could potentially lose of its value if its business strategies fail to take into account climate change policies. A new report Carbonizing Valuation by SAM Group and WWF shows why corporate value is at risk in a future with stricter laws restricting carbon emissions. The report assesses German utility RWE by modelling cash flows from a selection of RWE’s power plants. The authors demonstrate the significance of carbon exposure on the value of the company: if RWE treats carbon emissions as Business-As-Usual it could lose up to 17% of its net-equity value.
WWF an SAM Group study: Carbonizing Valuation
SAM/WRI: Transparency Issues with the ACEA Agreement: Are Investors Driving Blindly?
SAM and the World Resources Institute (WRI) released in March 2005 the results of an analysis of the risks and costs that are associated with the European automotive industry’s voluntary commitment. That agreement is targeted at substantially reducing CO 2 emission rates of vehicles sold in the European Union.
The company-specific obligations from this commitment – known as the ACEA Agreement – have not been disclosed. Relevant data to understand the companies’ positioning including sales-weighted CO 2 emission figures are not publicly available.
Our analysis finds that companies face a range of possible financial and competitive impacts. However, without clarity on structure of the agreement, investors face many uncertainties regarding the competitive implications of the ACEA Agreement.
Changing
Drivers - The Impact of Climate Change on Competitiveness
and Value Creation in the Automotive Industry
SAM and the World Resources Institute (WRI) released
in November 2003 a detailed analysis of how emerging
climate change policies, or "carbon constraints",
will affect the financial performance and relative
competitiveness of ten leading global auto companies.
Carbon constraints, national emissions standards
and voluntary codes adopted by industry associations
to reduce fleet consumption – are exerting
additional competitive pressure on global automotive
industries and could have a substantial effect
on the shareholder value of individual car manufacturers.
Changing Drivers clearly positions the main automotive
shares in terms of carbon constraints and can
therefore be used as a basis for long-term portfolio
management in the automotive sector.
Changing
Climate in the Energy Sector
The energy sector holds the key to sustainable
economic development. Three trends are driving
the current transition taking place in this industry:
the liberalisation of the electricity and gas
markets, environmental awareness and climate policy
and the increasing demand for energy in developing
and emerging countries. Innovative companies with
leading-edge products and services have above-average
opportunities for growth. SAM has subjected current
trends to thorough analysis and derived conclusions
from it to provide successful investment strategies.
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