Malk Partners’ fourth annual report examines ESG trends across private markets in 2026. It identifies a disconnect where strong LP and GP ambitions face capacity constraints at the portfolio-company level. Key themes include the growth of Responsible AI, decarbonisation strategies, and shifting regulatory landscapes in the US and Europe.

This research examines transitioning sustainable finance into retail-facing products for EU households. While green bond supply is robust, regulatory fragmentation and distribution barriers limit participation. It recommends standardising product architecture and sustainability summaries to integrate these instruments into mainstream saving channels and increase household investment in the climate transition.

Research into S&P 1500 firms reveals CEOs are significantly more likely to be dismissed when their firm is the worst performer within directors' interlocked board networks. These benchmarked dismissals often lead to post-turnover performance declines and negative market reactions, suggesting they stem from cognitive heuristics rather than value-enhancing monitoring.

This research documents the global rise of common ownership across 49 countries from 2005 to 2023. It reveals that overlapping ownership is concentrated among large firms and driven by "Big Three" asset managers. Cross-country variation is linked to competition laws, market entry barriers, and investor protection frameworks.

This research reveals that 40% to 60% of mutual fund families exhibit decentralised voting. While catering to diverse client preferences, internal disagreement weakens corporate monitoring, reducing director turnover following dissent. Deviating funds often charge higher fees without delivering superior financial performance, though institutional clients reward such tailoring with inflows.

This report examines the role of corporate boards in advancing a rights-respecting just transition. It details regulatory pressures, international guidance, and collaborative frameworks for integrating human rights into climate strategy. While highlighting best practices through case studies, it identifies significant governance gaps in current corporate implementation and accountability.

This report argues that energy security has replaced climate concerns as the primary driver of transition. It outlines a shift from 'Peak Oil' to 'Peak Trade', advocating for a diversified ecosystem of fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables to insulate nations and investors from geopolitical and financial volatility.

Japan’s Stewardship Code outlines principles for institutional investors to enhance long-term returns through constructive dialogue and sustainable corporate growth. Adopting a principles-based "comply or explain" approach, the Code emphasises managing conflicts of interest, effective monitoring, and transparent voting practices to improve corporate value and benefit the wider economy.

This toolkit provides institutional investors with a foundational framework to enhance net zero stewardship. It details a five-step process involving portfolio analysis, alignment criteria setting, engagement strategies for priority companies, and voting policy development. The guide aims to help investors halve emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050.

This report by Preventable Surprises outlines a 'Forceful Stewardship' strategy for institutional investors to manage systemic climate risk. It advocates for assertive proxy voting, demanding 2°C-aligned business plans, and elevating climate risk management to the executive level to protect long-term portfolio value and fulfil fiduciary duties.

This report analyses the 2024 climate proxy voting performance of the four largest asset managers, finding widespread failure to support decarbonisation and climate finance proposals. It reveals a significant divergence between these managers and public pension funds, particularly concerning director accountability during the 2024 ExxonMobil shareholder rights dispute.

This report examines short-termism in UK equity markets, identifying the erosion of trust and misaligned incentives as primary causes. It recommends restoring fiduciary standards, establishing an investors' forum, and reforming executive remuneration to encourage long-term decision-making and sustainable value creation for companies and savers.

This research analyses the Hermes U.K. Focus Fund, demonstrating how private shareholder activism generates significant abnormal returns. By investigating internal data, it finds that targeted engagements—including management replacement and corporate restructuring—account for 90% of fund returns, substantially outperforming market benchmarks through private rather than public interventions.

This report examines the fracturing of voluntary climate alliances amidst rising legal and political pressure, particularly in the United States. While many banks and asset managers are retreating from collective net-zero commitments, asset owners and European institutions remain resilient. It advocates for integrating climate risk into core fiduciary duties.

This research introduces carbon at risk (CaR), a quantitative metric measuring potential shortfalls in carbon storage. Through forest and geological models, it demonstrates how risk fluctuates by region and regulation. The framework provides a standardised basis for risk-adjusted portfolio construction, insurance pricing, and buffer management in carbon markets.

This report analyses Asian "value-up initiatives" designed to address persistent valuation discounts. Through case studies of Japan, Korea, and Singapore, it evaluates how these programmes use disclosure and reputational pressure to improve capital allocation. While enhancing transparency, they serve as complements to, not substitutes for, fundamental investor protection.