BMG5103: Write a business report on your assigned company using the company’s annual report, sustainability report,website, news media reports, and other external sources such as ESG ratings. Corporate Governance and Sustainability assignment

Module / Subject / School:

BMG5103 Corporate Governance and Sustainability

National University of Singapore

Requirements:

A listed company will be assigned to you. The major sources of information for writing your report are the company’s annual report, sustainability report, website, news media reports, and other external sources such as ESG ratings.

The following structure and contents should be covered in the report (to the extent they are available from the latest annual and sustainability reports; company website; and other public sources):

Part I: About the company
This part should include, among other matters:

stock exchange(s) on which company is listed, including primary and secondary listings (if any)
latest market capitalisation
primary industry sector(s)
corporate structure (showing the overall group structure and major
companies within the group)
ownership structure, such as presence of substantial or controlling
shareholders and distribution of shareholdings, including percentage held by institutional shareholders
summary of financial fundamentals such as financial and share price performance over at least the past 3 years

Provide a summary of the above in the main body of the report and put detailed information in an appendix.

Part II: Board of directors and senior management

This part should include, among other matters:

how many directors are on the board
how many are executive, non-independent non-executive, and
independent non-executive directors
educational qualifications, skills and working experience of the directors (focus in particular on whether any of the non-executive/independent directors have backgrounds relating to sustainability/ESG, such as holding management positions in NGOs involved in ESG)
diversity of the board, such as in terms of gender, age, ethnicity and
country they are from
board committees that the company has established. Provide a summary of the above in the main body of the report and put detailed information in an appendix.

Part III: Sustainability governance practices

This part should include, among other matters:

the sustainability governance structure of the company (a graphical
illustration is highly recommended)
who at the board level are responsible for overseeing sustainability/ESG issues (these can include, for example, the board as a whole, a board sustainability committee or other board committee(s))
who at the management level are responsible for management of
sustainability/ESG issues (these can include, for example, group
sustainability committee comprising management, sustainability council, advisory committee, steering committee, task force, etc.)
whether the company has any “experts” in sustainability/ESG in the
board, board committees, management, advisory committees, etc.
whether the company has a chief sustainability officer (CSO) or equivalent, their educational and prior work experience (e.g., prior experience in sustainability-related roles, technical expertise in sustainability, corporate communications background, etc.); whether the role is a dedicated role (i.e., is this their only role or do they hold another management position, such as a business role); and who they report to.
whether the company discloses that it has conducted a materiality
assessment of ESG/sustainability factors, how is it presented, who were involved in the materiality risk assessment (e.g., the board, whether external stakeholders were consulted, etc.), and what are the most material factors identifed (you can include up to 10, ranked if possible)
whether the company discloses how the materiality assessment of ESG factors is incorporated and linked to the company’s strategies, policies and practices
whether the company’s sustainability report is aligned with the materiality assessment (e.g., are the most material ESG factors given the most prominence in the sustainability report?)
what goals, measures, key performance indicators, metrics, etc. are set for the material ESG factors, including climate-related ones, and
timelines for achieving them (e.g., net zero by 2030 or 2050)
whether the company discusses how sustainability/ESG factors are
linked to executive/employee remuneration (you may wish to refer to the “10 questions” in the report “Integrating ESG factors into executive remuneration” for guidance on what to cover)
did the company disclose whether there is any assurance provided on the sustainability report, for example, internal assurance and/or external independent assurance, and the identity of the parties providing the assurance
if there is external independent assurance, is the firm providing this the same as the external auditor, or affiliated with it

Detailed information can be put in an appendix.

Part IV: Other sustainability issues
This part can include, among other matters:

any positive or negative news reports relating to the company’s ESG
practices, including any criticisms by NGOs, activists, etc.
how the company fares on external ESG ratings (if any)
any major sustainability initiatives announced by the company
any other issues that you believe are relevant to the company’s sustainability practices, especially sustainability governance

Detailed information, such as excerpts of news reports, can be put in an
appendix.

Part V: Summary and overall assessment
Create a table using the items stated in Parts I to IV and summarise the
information you found using yes, no, or brief details.

Provide your brief overall assessment of the quality of the sustainability
governance practices of the company, focusing on strengths and areas for
improvement.

What we score:

74%

Our Writer’s Comment

This assignment tests students on their understanding of the concepts.

Based on the assignment requirements provided, here are some comments to help students score well on this assignment:

Part I: About the company

Ensure to cover all the required information in this section, including stock exchange listings, market capitalization, primary industry sector, corporate structure, ownership structure, and financial fundamentals.
Use both the main body of the report and the appendix to present detailed information. This helps maintain clarity in the main report while providing a deeper understanding in the appendix.

Part II: Board of directors and senior management

Present a clear breakdown of the number of directors on the board and their classification into executive, non-independent non-executive, and independent non-executive directors.
Focus on the educational qualifications, skills, and work experience of the directors, especially highlighting any backgrounds related to sustainability/ESG.
Emphasize diversity within the board, covering gender, age, ethnicity, and nationality.
Discuss the various board committees established by the company, showcasing your understanding of their roles.

Part III: Sustainability governance practices

Use graphical illustrations to present the sustainability governance structure of the company, making the report visually appealing and easier to comprehend.
Clearly identify those responsible for overseeing sustainability/ESG issues at both the board and management levels.
Highlight the presence of sustainability/ESG experts within the company’s key committees or management positions.
When discussing the chief sustainability officer (CSO) or equivalent, focus on their educational and prior work experience, whether it’s a dedicated role, and their reporting lines.
Provide detailed insights into the company’s materiality assessment of ESG/sustainability factors, including the most material factors identified and their integration into the company’s strategies, policies, and practices.
Analyze how the company’s sustainability report aligns with the materiality assessment, and if the most material ESG factors receive appropriate prominence.
Address the setting of goals, key performance indicators (KPIs), metrics, and timelines for achieving material ESG factors, including climate-related ones.
Cover how sustainability/ESG factors are linked to executive and employee remuneration based on the provided “10 questions” in the report “Integrating ESG factors into executive remuneration.”
Address whether the company provides assurance on its sustainability report and identify the parties responsible for providing assurance.

Part IV: Other sustainability issues

Make sure to include any positive or negative news reports related to the company’s ESG practices, as well as any external ESG ratings it has received.
Highlight any major sustainability initiatives announced by the company to show their commitment to sustainability practices.
Consider including any other relevant sustainability issues that might impact the company’s governance practices.

Part V: Summary and overall assessment

Utilize a table format to summarize the information found in Parts I to IV, using “yes,” “no,” or brief details to provide a clear overview.
In your overall assessment, focus on the strengths of the company’s sustainability governance practices, highlighting areas where they excel. Also, address areas where improvements can be made to enhance their sustainability efforts further.

General Tips:

Ensure that the report is well-organized, with each part clearly delineated and labeled.
Use a professional and academic writing style throughout the report, avoiding jargon or colloquial language.
Cite all sources appropriately, using a consistent citation style.
Pay attention to the formatting and presentation of the report, making it visually appealing and easy to read.
Double-check for any grammatical errors or typos before finalizing the report.

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Sample Assignment

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