All news

Vigeo joins the Orée Association  

Since the beginning of January 2012, Vigeo has been a member of the Orée Association, which advocates for the identification and promotion of better environmental practices and concrete solutions for integrated management of the environment at the landscape level. Vigeo made this choice given the multi-stakeholder nature of the Orée association, which effectively joins together companies, local collectives, professional and environmental associations, as well as academic and institutional organisations, in an open dialogue. Environmental protection is one of the six domains under Vigeo’s review. It is made up of 11 sustainability factors, evaluating companies’ commitments to managing the environmental impact of their activities and services.

Orée Website

The French Competition Authority (L'Autorité française de la concurrence) has published two guides on good practices, including principles and processes that reinforce Vigeo’s referential. 

On Friday, February 10th, The French Competition Authority published a framework document for companies, supporting compliance programmes that address competition. One month after having imposed a record 361 million euro fine on three laundry detergent manufacturers for price fixing, the Competition Authority intends to promote a culture of fair competition. The Authority “encourages companies and organisations which already have a compliance programme to ensure that the programme has a ‘competition dimension’ whilst inciting other companies to implement one”. 

Read the full article

Vigeo Enterprise participe au salon PRODURABLE qui se tiendra le 28 & 29 mars 2012 au Palais des Congrès de Paris 

Vigeo Enterprise vous accueillera sur son stand pour échanger sur les thèmes de la RSE et vous présenter son offre de services

The MEDEF adopted a guide of good practices regarding ESG ratings - 31/01/2012

The MEDEF (largest union of employers in France) organizes in Paris on February 16th a breakfast-debate on "Relationships companies-ESG research providers : how to optimize them?".

Fouad Benseddik, Director of Methodology and Institutional Relationships of Vigeo will intervene during this debate.

For more information in French), click here

Vigeo awards CSR Trophies to 8 companies on the Moroccan Stock Exchange - 31/01/2012

On January 30, 2012 in Casablanca, Vigeo awarded the "top CSR performers" Trophies to BMCE Bank, BMCI, Centrale Laitière, Cosumar, Lafarge Ciments, Lydec, Managem and Maroc Telecom, identified as the highiest-performing out the 40 largest publicly traded companies in the Casablanca stock exchange.

Press release

Vigeo hailed in Courrier International and in the Japanese press 

Article by Asahi Shimbun, Courrier International n°1100: "Au Japon, on dit le plus grand bien de l'agence de notation présidée par Nicole Notat. Visionnaire, la société française aurait tout d'une grande"...

Read the full article

Land Grabs - the second issue of our Sustainability Focus - 25/01/2012

Following  a three-year research project bringing together 40 organisations, the International Land Coalition (ILC) recently published a comprehensive report, drawing attention on major governance failures that harm the rural poor in developing nations. The issue of “land grabs” is increasingly scrutinized. It is the theme of Vigeo’s second Sustainability Focus, a short publication that provides the insight of our analysts into specific ESG topics.

Land Grabs - Sustainability Focus N°2

Companies and lobbying - 23/01/2012

Leading U.S. institutional investors announced the filing of shareholder resolutions at 40 corporations, for votes at 2012 shareholder meetings. The resolutions urge the corporation to report on direct and indirect lobbying expenditures.

Vigeo meets companies under its review to explain its methodology

On January 10, Vigeo organized a breakfast in Paris for companies under its review in order to present in detail and answer questions about its methodological principles and its rating process. 50 French listed companies were represented. The same type of meeting was organized in Madrid in May 2011. It will be followed by further dialogue sessions in England, Belgium, Italy and Morocco.

ETUC resolution on new Communication from the Commission on CSR- 20/12/2011

The European Trade Union Confederation adopted a resolution on the Communication from the European Commission on CSR issued on October 25, 2011. The ETUC acknowledges the new definition of the EU regarding "corporate social responsibility" and recognizes as a breakthrough the explicit references to Human Rights and to the respect to ILO conventions and OCDE Guidelines. The ETUC also endorses the agenda for action for 2011-2014 that the EU intends to deploy for the promotion of CSR. However for the ETUC, CSR cannot be just the proverbial good tree that hides a forest of bad practices. It is not enough to “invite” companies to act responsibly; more concrete/binding measures are needed. The ETUC website

A new communication of the European Commission on CSR - 01/12/2011

The European Commission published on October 25 a new communication on CSR. An important element of this paper is the new definition of CSR. It is defined as “the responsibility of enterprises for their impacts on society”.

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Internal seminar on the role of trade unions - 30/11/2011

Vigeo has organized on November 30th an internal training for its analysts and auditors on ‘the place and role of trade unions in the corporate social responsibility’. The speakers were Elisabeth Carpentier (Sodexo), Jacques Kheliff (Rhodia), Jean Lapeyre (Syndex), Marie-Noelle Lopez (Planet Labor), Ron Oswald (UITA) and Kemal Özkan (ICEM).

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Sustainable palm oil - the first issue of our new Sustainability Focus - 24/11/2011

On the occasion of the 9th annual roundtable meeting of the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil), we chose the issue of sustainable palm oil for the first edition of our new sustainability focus. The objective of these publications is to give our analysts' insight on specific ESG topics.

Sustainable palm oil - Sustainability Focus N°1

The practice of lobbying at European level: Pascal Canfin shares his experience including insights of the launch of Finance Watch - 18/11/2011

On October 21, 2011, Mr. Pascal Canfin, Green party MEP, held a conference in Paris in front of auditors and analysts from Vigeo on "the practice of lobbying at European level".

Vigeo participates at the 2011 TBLI Conference - 08/11/2011

On November 10-11, Vigeo will participate at the TBLI CONFERENCE™ Europe 2011, organized in London.

Amnesty International celebrates their 50th anniversary - 1961-2011: 50 years of human rights - 27/10/2011

For its 50th anniversary, Amnesty International celebrates half a century of hope, struggle and international solidarity for human rights.

Check the special section on their website

The growth of European SRI mutual funds continues - 20/10/2011

The Vigeo Italia report “Green Social and Ethical Funds in Europe” offers a general outlook on SRI mutual funds in Europe

Rhodia, Unilever and Vivendi rewarded for their responsible governance - 14/10/2011

Established for the first time this year and awarded during the French Socially Responsible Investment Week, the FIR*-Vigeo Awards recognise companies demonstrating the most advanced integration of Corporate Social Responsibility within their corporate governance. The award categories are for companies of the CAC 40, SBF 120 and Stoxx Europe 50. 

Vigeo and the French Sustainable Investment Forum created

« The FIR-Vigeo Award » - 06/10/2011

Vigeo targets the UK market and opens an office in London

Vigeo, the leading european expert in the assessment of environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks, plans expansion in the UK market. Lindsay Smart is appointed as UK Business Development Manager and will be based in London.

Press release

Le VIH, le Sida et le monde du travail

Le 25 octobre 2011, le Bureau de l'OIT pour la France organise à Paris avec le soutien du ministère du travail, de l'emploi et de la santé (Délégation aux affaires européennes et internationales) un colloque sur le VIH , le sida et le monde du travail.

Vigeo participes at ESG Europe 2011 

On October 4 and 5, Vigeo will participate at the ESG Europe 2011, Organized by Responsible Investor in Amsterdam

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The Council of Europe's Social Charter: 50 years old, what comes next?

A key conference will take place in Paris on September 23rd 2011 on the subject of the Council of Europe's Social Charter. It is organized by the European Council, the Economic, Social and Environmental Council of France (CESE) as well as the European Social and Economic Committee.

"L'extrafinancier n'est pas à la finance ce que l'extraterrestre est à l'être humain" - 08/19/2011

Read Fouad Benseddik's interview (in French)

Vigeo will be taking part in the OECD Roundtable on the implementation of the 2011 Update of the Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises - 06/22/2011

The OECD devotes its annual Roundtable on corporate responsibility taking place on June 29, 2011 to the implementation of the 2011 Update of the Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. Those Guidelines were adopted by the 42 adhering governments at the OECD Ministerial Meeting of 25 May 2011. The purpose of this Roundtable is to assist OECD Naltional Contact Points in performing their tasks, taking into account emerging issues and relevant policy developments.
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China suggests a World Corporate Social Responsibility Day - 06/21/2011

80 Chinese and foreign companies have asked the Secretary-General of the UN to establish a World Corporate Social Responsibility Day as soon as possible. This initiative embodies the turning-point in the attitude of the Chinese companies and government in favour of sustainable development. The proposals brought forward by the Chinese annual Conference on social responsibility are mainly about working conditions, the protection of the environment and societal commitment. However, this conference remains nonetheless discreet when it comes to corporate responsibility concerning human rights and corruption.

Press release (French)

Update of the General Agreement between the OECD and the ILO - 06/09/2011

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) have recently updated their agreement. The first signature of this agreement took place in 1961. Its aim is to coordinate their activities and to share their industry expertise.
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Revision of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises - 07/06/2011

The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises are the first major international standards defining corporate social responsibility in general. This instrument, adopted in 1976, updated in 2000 has just been updated once again in 2011.

Annual UN meeting seeks to promote more sustainable use of Earth’s resources - 05/04/2011

Warning of the consequences of unsustainable consumption and production on the world’s ecosystems, a senior United Nations official urged Member States to agree on a plan to promote a more efficient and safer use of the Earth’s resources.

Learn more

CSR: the French incoherence - 04/15/11

At the occation of the Finance G20, Nouvelobs.com has published an opinion signed, among others, by Amnesty international France and the Federation of Humain Rights on corporate responsibility for human rights.

Read the article (French)

46 proposal to regulate multinational companies - 4/8/11

Yann Queinnec and William Bourdon published 46 proposals to "regulate multinational companies." The document is prefaced by Mireille Delmas-Marty. The authors, respectively Head of R&D and President of the Sherpa Association, argue for strengthening the role of law to make more universal and more tangible Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

See all 46 proposals

Election of Vigeo to the Board and the Bureau of the FIR

Estelle Mironesco, Director of Vigeo rating, will represent Vigeo on the Board as well as the Bureau of the Forum pour l’Investissement Responsable (FIR).

Business and Human rights: Vigeo recommendations on Ruggie report

Fouad Benseddik, Director of Methodology and Institutional Relationships, welcomes the initiative and raises some of the limits of the Report

Read the recommendations

Positive alert on Google ratings

Vigeo has just sent an alert to all its clients (investors and asset managers) announcing the possibility to upgrade Google’s score in the Human Rights issue

Video: Nicole Notat and Xavier Hochet discuss sustainable growth

Watch the debate

Nicole Notat reports on CSR to the French National Assembly

January 11, 2011 – In the framework of the Commission on Sustainable Development and Planning, Nicole Notat, CEO of Vigeo, addressed the members on CSR and development of eco-labels issues

Read the report (French)

ISO 26000 standard: how to use it?

Video: Vigeo enterprise presented last November 16 to 80 French companies the content of this standard, its scope and how best to take advantage of it 

European SRI mutual funds record

The Vigeo Italia report “Green Social and Ethical Funds in Europe” offers a general outlook on SRI mutual funds in Europe

2010 rankings of the best French listed shares

learn more about the best listed companies ranked by the magazine Mieux Vivre Votre Argent, based on three criteria, one of which being Vigeo ratings

What measures are listed companies taking in the fight against corruption?

Vigeo is publishing a wide-ranging study on this very subject that analyses and compares the anti-corruption strategies of European and North American companies

Recruitment and retention of the over-50s: good practices

Vigeo submitted its report on good practices in recruitment and retention of the over-50s 

CSR: what do companies report on?

This study takes stock of the information published or sent to Vigeo by more than 700 companies in respect of their social responsibility over the period 2007-2009

Vigeo dégrade ses notations sur BP plc

Avec l'opinion de Fouad Benseddik, Directeur des Méthodes Vigeo
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