Moikwatlhai, Kagisho Benjamin2020-09-172020-09-172019Moikwatlhai, Kagisho Benjamin (2019) ESG reporting and the institutional shareholder base:a quantitative study of listed companies on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, <http://hdl.handle.net/10539/29689>https://hdl.handle.net/10539/29689A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Commerce (AccountancyPrevious research findings suggest that companies within developed markets which report on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues attract a long term oriented institutional investor base. Against this background, the purpose of this study was to assess whether this relationship holds true within an emerging market context. Using cross-sectional time series data for 114 Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed companies over the period 2012 to 2016, this study investigated whether the integration of ESG factors in investor decision making has resulted in investments being held into the long term by institutional investors and whether this relationship varies between different sectors of the JSE. The results were based on a regression analysis which was performed employing data from the Thomson Reuters ASSET4 platform as a proxy for ESG reporting scores against institutional investor shareholdings. The results did not indicate a statistically meaningful relationship between ESG reporting and the long term oriented institutional investor base even at the industry level. The results did not appear to be consistent with similar studies in developed markets, partly as a consequence of the JSE comprising greater quasi institutional investors as compared to dedicated investors. The results suggest that institutional investor’s commitment to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI) and Code for Responsible Investing in South Africa (CRISA) is yet to translate into investments in JSE companies being held long term. These findings motivate for further academic analysis of ESG-long term investor relationship, to policy setters the results call for greater consideration to be given to policy changes or industry guidance in order to ensure that the objectives as set out by the UN PRI and CRISA are achieved.Online resource (115 leaves)enUCTDESGInstitutional investorInvestment decisionLong term investorInstitutional investmentsFinancial statementsSDG-8: Decent work and economic growthDissertationUniversity of the Witswatersrand, Johannesburg