Creating ESG scorecards for private companies presents unique challenges compared to public companies:
Less information is available in the public domain (A): Private companies are not required to disclose as much information as public companies, which are subject to regulatory requirements for transparency and reporting. This lack of publicly available data makes it more difficult to assess and create comprehensive ESG scorecards for private companies.
Rating agencies are more critical of private companies (B): While rating agencies might have stringent criteria, the primary challenge is the availability of data rather than the critical nature of the rating agencies.
Management is more unwilling to disclose commercially sensitive information (C): While management's unwillingness to disclose information can be a factor, the fundamental issue is the overall lower level of mandatory disclosure for private companies. Public companies have established reporting standards and are legally obligated to provide certain information, making the data more readily accessible.
Therefore, the main reason why creating private company scorecards is challenging is due to the limited availability of information in the public domain, making it difficult to gather comprehensive ESG data.
References:
CFA ESG Investing Principles
MSCI ESG Ratings Methodology (June 2022).
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