In recent years, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues have gained increasing attention from investors, regulators, and the public at large and brought attention to the importance of ESG factors in investment decision-making. Here are the five most famous ESG controversies in recent years:

‍

          1. Volkswagen's Emissions Scandal

In 2015, German car manufacturer Volkswagen admitted to using software to cheat emissions tests in its diesel cars. The scandal led to a significant decline in Volkswagen's stock price, as well as legal and regulatory action against the company. Volkswagen was fined billions of dollars by regulators, and many of its top executives resigned in the wake of the scandal.

• Losses in share value: Following the news of the scandal, Volkswagen's share price dropped by more than 30%, causing significant losses for investors who held shares in the company. According to reports, the scandal wiped off around $25 billion of Volkswagen's market capitalization.
• Impact on asset managers: The scandal also impacted asset managers who held shares in Volkswagen. For example, Norway's sovereign wealth fund, which was one of the largest investors in the company, reportedly lost around $4.2 billion as a result of the scandal.

‍

        2. Wells Fargo's Account Fraud Scandal

In 2016, Wells Fargo was caught up in a scandal when it was revealed that the bank had opened millions of unauthorized accounts in its customers' names. The scandal resulted in a significant decline in Wells Fargo's stock price, as well as regulatory action against the bank. Wells Fargo was fined hundreds of millions of dollars by regulators.

• Losses in share value: Following the news of the scandal, Wells Fargo's share price fell by more than 10%, causing losses for investors who held shares in the company. According to reports, the scandal wiped off around $26 billion of Wells Fargo's market capitalization.
• Impact on asset managers: The scandal also impacted asset managers who held shares in Wells Fargo. For example, Berkshire Hathaway, led by Warren Buffett, was one of the largest shareholders in the company, and its holdings in Wells Fargo declined by around $2.6 billion in the wake of the scandal.

‍

         3. Facebook's Data Privacy Scandal

In 2018, it was revealed that Facebook had allowed a political consulting firm, Cambridge Analytica, to access the personal data of millions of Facebook users without their consent. The scandal led to a significant decline in Facebook's stock price, as well as regulatory action against the company. Regulators fined Facebook billions of dollars, and the scandal led to the resignation of the company's CEO.

• Losses in share value: Following the news of the scandal, Facebook's share price dropped by more than 18%, causing significant losses for investors who held shares in the company. According to reports, the scandal wiped off around $80 billion of Facebook's market capitalization.
• Impact on asset managers: The scandal also impacted asset managers who held shares in Facebook. For example, Fidelity, one of the largest shareholders in the company, reportedly lost around $6.4 billion in the wake of the scandal.

‍

         4. The 2018 Monsanto scandal

In 2018, a court in the US ordered Monsanto to pay $289 million in damages to a groundskeeper who claimed that the company's Roundup weed killer had caused his cancer. The case raised questions about the safety of pesticides and the responsibility of companies to protect human health and the environment.

• Losses in share value: Following the news of the scandal, Monsanto's share price dropped by more than 10%, causing losses for investors who held shares in the company. According to reports, the scandal wiped off around $11 billion of Monsanto's market capitalization.
• Impact on asset managers: The scandal also impacted asset managers who held shares in Monsanto. For example, BlackRock, one of the largest shareholders in the company, reportedly lost around $244 million in the wake of the scandal.

‍

         5. BP's Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, owned by BP, exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, causing the largest marine oil spill in history. The spill caused significant environmental damage and harmed the livelihoods of many people who rely on the Gulf for their income. Regulators fined BP billions of dollars, and the scandal led to significant reputational damage for the company.

• Losses in share value: Following the news of the spill, BP's share price dropped by more than 50%, causing significant losses for investors who held shares in the company. According to reports, the spill wiped off around $100 billion of BP's market capitalization.
• Impact on asset managers: The spill also impacted asset managers who held shares in BP. For example, BlackRock, one of the largest shareholders in the company, reportedly lost around $5.5 billion in the wake of the disaster.

‍

Conclusion

‍In each of the cases presented above, losses in share value, legal costs, and reputational damage have been significant for the companies involved, with some asset managers losing billions of dollars in the wake of these scandals. These scandals demonstrate the potential risks associated with investing in companies with poor ESG practices, emphasizing the need for greater transparency and accountability in corporate decision-making. Asset managers and investors must consider the potential financial and reputational impacts of ESG risks when making investment decisions and prioritize responsible investing practices to mitigate these risks.

‍

‍

We at Wequity support asset managers in monitoring ESG controversies and risk in real time.

Find out more via https://wequity.app

‍