Support & services

Black Sun is a global stakeholder communications agency, with offices in London and Singapore.

We help businesses to communicate authentically how they deliver value to their stakeholders. We believe that inspiring strategic communications can spark positive change and drive long-term, sustainable performance. 

We are powered by a unique mix of strategic insight, creative inspiration, and technology advantage, and are united by a common purpose: making businesses more valued in the eyes of their stakeholders.

Sustainable investor relations services

The advisory and insight team bring investor engagement, ESG subject-matter expertise and storytelling to assist you develop quality content and strategic thinking to land with your stakeholders.

• Corporate reporting advisory
  Annual Report advisory including strategic communications advice and regulatory and best practice guidance
• ‘Core and more’ reporting suite advisory and specialist impact reporting (e.g. ESG) advisory work, including key frameworks including SASB, TCFD etc.
• Sustainability communications
  Research and insights to appraise existing materials including content audits, peer assessment, and gap analysis including key theme identification
• Designing and delivering sustainability communications, planning executions and measuring resulting impact
• Positioning, including messaging hierarchy, value drivers, channel deployment advice and narrative development

Sustainability report editorial guidelines and development of supplementary disclosure formats data books/factsheets

ESG/Sustainability advisory

• Desktop peer and competitor reviews and gap analysis preparation. ESG raters and investor framework gap analysis landscape exploration
• ESG policy and strategy development and articulation including creating (e.g. using workshops)
• Sustainable Development Goal reviews and assessment and reporting
• Deep dive on climate reporting and disclosure (e.g. TCFD support) and subject matter expertise across the sustainability spectrum of issues and risks
• Materiality assessments – desktop reviews including company documents, internal and external stakeholder surveys to validate and rank issues identified, followed by prioritisation; Follow-up interviews/focus groups to validate prioritised issues in advance of finalising the most material issues, impacts and risks

Our Theory of Change

In this decisive decade, the need to shift to an inclusive, net zero economy could not be more urgent or important. This requires collective effort by business, government, civil society and citizens. To turn this vision into reality, BSR works to mainstream sustainable business practices in the global economy by promoting business transformation and powerful collaborations that take progress to scale. The role of business is to create and deliver products and services in a way that treats people fairly, meets peoples’ needs and aspirations within the boundaries of our planet, and encourages market and policy frameworks that enable a sustainable future. BSR’s role is to provide insights which help business leaders see a changing world more clearly, advice to create long-term strategic value, and collaborations that scale impact.

Corporate Citizenship is a global consulting firm specialising in responsible and sustainable business, working with companies to accelerate change towards a future where our society and planet can thrive.

For over 20 years they have been helping clients develop and implement strategies focused on long-term value creation for all stakeholders. Sustainable investor relations services We believe that IR and Sustainability have a shared ambition: to create sustained, long-term value for a company’s shareholders and stakeholders. Our services focus on identifying the barriers and seeking solutions to closer cooperation, enabling a mindset shift within corporations. With heightened investor expectation for companies to disclose ESG related risks and ambition, we help companies create the correct ESG strategy for their business and to articulate the important ESG factors for long-term business success.

Informed by our dynamic materiality process, we help companies to demonstrate a link between ESG performance and long-term commercial success by:

• Internally, bridging the disconnect between Investor Relations and Corporate Responsibility / Sustainability teams to help define, measure and communicate ESG performance.
• Externally, to align the financially material ESG factors of both the company and their investors, ensuring reliable disclosure of financially material ESG factors and risk disclosures, for instance health, environment and workforce, that are making their way into financial statements.

Working internationally from five locations, we help global and regional businesses create the strategy and practical steps to better engage the right investors on their environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. We are committed to ensuring long-term thinking becomes the norm for all businesses.

Curley Global IR, LLC (CGIR) ensures that public companies – and those about to go public – have the right Investor Relations (IR), Environmental-Social-Governance (ESG) and Corporate Governance frameworks in place, are targeting the right audiences, and are balancing appropriate risk mitigation.

Sustainable investor relations services

Environmental-Social-Governance (ESG)

• Management training regarding business case, investor-sensitivity analysis to assess shareholder profile risk, and investor trends focused on ESG issues (C-suite and Board level)

• Comprehensive materiality and gap assessment of existing ESG initiatives; outcome yields a robust set of CUSTOMIZED recommendations for each client regarding disclosure and potential new initiatives

• Creation / management of an in-house cross-functional committee, to serve as overseer and advance corporate initiatives

• Creation / management of audit control framework, including reporting structure and presentations to Board Committees, associated with Enterprise Risk Management assessments

• Advise on Social and Governance initiatives; access to thought leaders in Environmental sphere for specific expertise

• Completion of investor-, customer-, and supplier-driven surveys, working with internal teams

ERM is a leading global provider of environmental, health, safety, risk, social consulting services and sustainability related services. We work with the world's leading organizations, delivering innovative solutions and helping them to understand and manage their sustainability challenges. To do this, we have more than 5,500 people in over 40 countries and territories working out of more than 160 offices.

Sustainable investor relations services

ERM has a proven track record in working with clients across a wide range of industries to define and deliver corporate sustainability strategies, reports, and other stakeholder disclosures that drive business performance.

ERM collaborates closely with leading international organizations, such as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, US Business Council for Sustainable Development, and Global Reporting Initiative, to ensure we are helping clients follow the latest global developments and industry best practices. ERM is a GRI-certified training partner - true experts in applying the GRI Standards.

We work with clients to: define their material issues and corresponding metrics; design and implement information solutions to compile information efficiently and accurately; engage internal and external stakeholders; and develop written reports and websites with appropriate content to address key audiences and messaging.

We also help companies respond to other disclosures, including the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, the Carbon Disclosure Project, and other investor and customer-specific requests. By optimizing the data collection and disclosure processes, we drive efficiency and minimize costs.

By partnering with ERM, reporting on sustainability performance becomes much more than a communications exercise. It becomes a powerful tool that helps organizations crystallize their sustainability strategy, mitigate risks, improve sustainability and operational performance, strengthen internal management systems, and enhance relationships with key stakeholders.

We are a straight talking PR agency helping our clients build a fairer, greener economy. We are a smart and passionate team with lifetimes of experience delivering communications strategies and campaigns related to ESG and sustainability.

Sustainable investor relations services

With a background in responsible investment and ESG integration our team has an inherent understanding of what investors and wider stakeholders are looking for in corporate sustainability-related communications.

We help companies to clearly express their own sustainability story, while ticking all the boxes required by ESG research providers and frameworks from GRI to TCFD (and the many abbreviations in between).

ESG Global Advisors bridges the gap between companies and investors on environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors. A multi-disciplinary team with significant investor and corporate experience, we are uniquely positioned to offer expert advice to companies seeking to communicate effectively to the capital markets on the material ESG factors that influence risk or drive long-term value, including climate change.

Sustainable investor relations services

It can be challenging for companies to respond to emerging investor expectations on ESG governance, strategy, risk management and reporting. Navigating a confusing landscape of ESG requirements, standards, disclosure frameworks, ratings, questionnaires and engagement approaches is difficult and time-consuming. It can all feel like a moving target.

ESG Global Advisors helps companies to understand ESG, determine which ESG factors are relevant to their unique circumstances, develop a strategy to address ESG expectations, and communicate effectively on ESG to their investors.

How we can help:

• ESG and climate change education focusing on investor expectations
• ESG disclosure benchmarking against peers
• Analysis of third-party ESG research and ratings
• ESG and climate change materiality assessment
• ESG governance
• ESG strategy development
• ESG integration in risk management processes
• ESG metrics and targets
• ESG-related reporting frameworks, including:
  • Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
  • Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB)
  • Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
  • CDP (Climate Change, Water and Forests questionnaires)
• Investor-focused ESG reporting and communications (including SASB, TCFD and GRI-aligned reporting)

Our team is drawn from institutional investment, corporate and consulting backgrounds, and includes experts in governance, shareholder engagement, law, sustainability accounting, climate-related financial risk and disclosure, environmental science, and social development issues.

G&A Institute serves as a bridge between the corporate community and the financial services sector.  We help corporations in their sustainability journeys, from start for some to continued enhancement of efforts for others seeking to attain corporate sustainability leadership.  An important element of that is winning in the competition for capital

Sustainable investor relations services

Publicly-traded corporations have a public “ESG profile” whether they work at shaping that profile (and perceptions) on an active basis or not.  Our typical client recognizes that the public profile shapes perceptions, reputation, valuation, access to and cost of capital; makes impressions on their customer and prospect base; and serves as measure of management and culture of the enterprise if they are employees/or seeking a position with the company. A primary consideration for much of our work is the views of the public company held by asset owners, asset managers, financial analysts, investor coalitions, and other stakeholders.  We have a comprehensive suite of services that help companies shape and enhance the views held by investors regard the firm’s ESG profile.

Hindsight Consultancy was started in 2016 by James Hulse, a former trader and fund manager who set up the world’s first climate change hedge fund in 2007 and has since worked for NGOs including CDP, where he ran their Forests program and the Investor team. Clients include a leading credit ratings agency, asset managers and owners, companies and NGOs.

Sustainable investor relations services

With a background of working for financial institutions, Hindsight can help companies to understand what investors and banks actually want. We have worked with companies on their sustainability disclosure as well as looking strategically at where disclosure is heading and which investor initiatives are important. We can help companies sift through the myriad of disclosure frameworks and benchmarks to focus on key initiatives and ensure that companies are providing the right information in the best format.

HXE Partners helps clients achieve their sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals. We take an investor focused approach to support the development, management, and integration of sustainability best practices within organizations. We collaborate with our clients from start to finish, focusing on their needs while producing new ideas, developing effective strategies, and delivering high quality and scalable results.

Sustainable investor relations services

Strategy Development: We start by figuring out where clients are on the sustainability spectrum and what is driving the demand to develop, maintain, or improve their sustainability programs. By working with our clients to set goals and understand the material issues to their businesses, we ensure that they are well-positioned to align their programs with company-wide strategic and financial goals.

Implementation: We help clients get things done. We work with them to develop the appropriate infrastructure and processes to implement their sustainability programs. We lead everything from finding the right technical specialists to managing projects from concept to completion to identifying the right solutions to track performance improvements over time.

Investor Reporting & Recognition: Companies disclose ESG data to build corporate reputations, comply with regulatory agreements, respond to investor disclosure requests and demonstrate responsible risk management oversight. We work with clients to maximize the credit they get for their achievements and communicate their successes to their internal and external stakeholders. We tailor our approach to our clients’ priorities and take ownership of the ever increasing volume of sustainability reporting requests. If there is an acronym for it, we do it.

JLC Investor Relations helps companies understand and strengthen their relationship with investors. We provide an expert, independent perspective as the “investor in the room”, drawing on the team’s wealth of experience across fund management, equity analysis, investor relations, corporate governance, stewardship, Board interaction and ESG analysis. We pride ourselves on being flexible and pragmatic; clients benefit from an entirely bespoke approach and deep, actionable insight.

Sustainable investor relations services

As former institutional investors we have decades of experience in discussions with companies and boards about material future influences on their business. This broad expertise, combined with over five years’ ESG analysis which originated on the buyside, is uniquely valuable and drives our approach as advisors today.

We help companies develop, benchmark and communicate their ESG metrics and performance to encourage more effective dialogue with investors. We have deep market understanding of what influences investors’ decision-making, including the role and methodology of ratings agencies.

We have undertaken over 100 buyside company specific ESG reviews exploring topics such as sustainability, environmental controls, board structure and tax policy. Most importantly we understand how ESG factors link into operational best practice, strategy and how it should be communicated in the investment case.

We offer a comprehensive range of services which are entirely bespoke and extremely practical in nature:

• Current status assessment – detailed review of ESG principles, disclosure, data points and overall approach
• Benchmarking vs peers and best practice
• Review of ratings agencies ESG scores to identify gaps, providing guidance on how to achieve a “fair” score
• Appraisal of key shareholders’ approach to ESG
• Specialist ESG Investor Perception studies
• Board education
• IPO preparation

Leaders Arena is an ESG-focused independent advisory firm that leverages 30+ years of direct ESG, Investor Relations and Corporate Governance experience. Based in the UK and the US, we help companies maximize the impact of their ESG-related initiatives. Our clients come to us seeking unbiased guidance and hands-on support. With highly customisable programmes, we deliver ongoing support that creates tangible value for our clients.

Sustainable investor relations services

Leaders Arena provides a full range of consultancy services, tactical support, ESG research and SRI perception studies which have been designed to empower companies to better communicate their sustainability story to the market. We look at ESG from an investor lens having worked with and for institutional investors: we know how ESG investors think and what they want.

Amidst growing investor expectations on companies, Leaders Arena guarantees unparalleled client focus in the corporate advisory space. We bring an independent, outside view to supplement company internal resources and knowledge allowing clients to maintain control of their own practices and communication strategy.

For us, every client is different and therefore we offer tailored solutions as opposed to ‘one-size-fits-all’ services. We care about our clients and provide holistic support to their needs. We have helped companies across sectors and supported hundreds of professionals responsible for ESG communications. Get in touch to learn how you can benefit from our unique support: support@leadersarena.global

Maitland/amo is Europe's leading financial, corporate & political communications consultancy providing trusted advice and strategic counsel. We have the depth of experience to provide you with trusted advice on any communication issue you might encounter and we provide company leaders and the heads of major organisations with the communications strategy they need to win over the investors and wider stakeholders that matter most to them.

Sustainable investor relations services

For nearly a decade at Maitland/amo, we have been providing strategic sustainability advice to businesses, governments, policymakers and non-profit organisations. Through the expertise of our dedicated practice, we help global organisations develop and communicate their sustainability strategy to all their critical audiences, especially investors.

Our offering is unique: we blend technical knowledge with strategic counsel to help organisations develop and communicate their sustainability and ESG strategies to all their critical audiences, especially investors.

As a trusted advisor, we believe it is vital that we uphold high sustainability standards. Our parent company Havas, is a certified B corporation and a founding agency of the Common Ground, a project led by the marketing and communications industry to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

How we help clients

We partner with companies to help them develop and communicate their ESG strategy and approach to their investors and wider stakeholders. Whether you are looking to explain your credentials to investors through reporting or raise your profile in the media on the action you have taken to date on ESG, we have a wealth of experience in advising how to address these challenges. By blending technical understanding with strategic communication advice, we help craft stories, engage media and manage reputations.

Our full range of services include:

• ESG strategy development and implementation
• Stakeholder and engagement communications
• Profile raising for ESG teams and media relations
• ESG reporting advice and review (e.g. GRI/TCFD/GRESB)
• Public affairs and select committee training
• Investor relations on ESG regulation and disclosure
• Internal sustainability communications and employee engagement
• Digital design and creative campaigns

Solebury Trout provides investor relations, ESG advisory, corporate communications and market access to private and public companies across industry sectors.

With more than 1,000 strategic client engagements to date, Solebury has the senior experience it takes to help clients maximize shareholder value at every stage of their development, navigate the competitive landscape, differentiate their value proposition and forge a dialogue with investors and the media.

Sustainable investor relations service

The opportunity for companies of all types and stages to leverage ESG in fundraising and IR has never been greater. Additionally, management teams and boards are under increasing pressure to meet the growing expectations of institutional investors on ESG. Solebury Trout’s experience and approach enables executives to understand the ESG landscape, builds their competence and fluency, and creates winning strategies.

ESG Education & Coaching for CxOs, IROs & Boards: Training sessions and materials for executives that build the necessary competence and confidence to engage in proactive ESG communication and investor engagement, be prepared with both key talking points and answers to FAQs.

Shareholder Base Review & Targeting: Identify the ESG priorities of the organizations and funds that are or could be invested in a company; determine targets that are tailored to company characteristics; and partner to organize and deliver content through “normal” and ESG-specific investor meetings, calls, NDRs, and events.

Management of ESG Ratings and Index/Fund Inclusion: Advising management teams on the top and prioritized ESG issues that could be both improve their ESG ratings that drive inclusion into passive funds, and which can be clearly tied to the bottom line.

Disclosure Strategies and Tactics: Leveraging SASB/TCFD and ESG rating frameworks to disclose ESG information via websites and SEC disclosures such as 10-Ks, Proxy Statements, and IPO/SPAC filings.

Sustainable Financing Opportunities: Green/Sustainable bond and financing frameworks aligned with the ICMA Green Bond Principals, obtaining second party opinions, and supporting investor communications materials and activities.

SquareWell Partners is an advisory firm supporting publicly-listed companies to engage with their shareholders on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) topics. SquareWell monitors investors’ behaviour with the aim of providing investor-focused advice, grounded in precedents and facts, to help companies prioritize their ESG efforts vis-à-vis the expectations/preferences of their shareholders as well as key research and ratings firms.

Sustainable investor relations services

Sustainable investor relations services provided by SquareWell include:

• Detailed analysis of a company’s ESG practices. SquareWell evaluates the company’s ESG practices against a set of material ESG factors based on the expectations of large institutional investors. SquareWell’s analysis helps companies to identify their ESG strengths and weaknesses, benchmarking their performance against investors’ expectations and preferences.
• Definition of a company’s ESG message to investors. Based on a deep knowledge of investors’ expectations with respect to specific ESG topics, SquareWell helps companies tailor their ESG messaging to the preferences of each single investor. SquareWell’s advice helps companies anticipate investors’ concerns and highlight their ESG strengths.
• Prioritization of a company’s ESG engagement. SquareWell assists companies in the prioritisation of ESG-related engagement activities with the company’s investors, taking into account the company’s ESG performance and the expectations and preferences of its top investors. SquareWell also helps companies in identifying who are the key engagement and ESG professionals with whom they should engage with at each investor.
• Addressing ESG resolutions at general meetings. SquareWell helps companies in defending against ESG resolutions put forward at their shareholder meetings, providing intelligence on their top investors’ sensitivity to each proposal type. SquareWell also helps companies to engage with the influencers, whether it be research providers, investor-led initiatives, non-profit organizations, etc.