ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) means designing business activities that are sustainable and responsible. This is a trend that will alter the business environment beyond recognition already in the near future. The years to come will bring wider non-financial data disclosure obligations, implementation of the principles of sustainable finance and more specific goals and measures to reduce climate impact.
To better understand the nature of ESG and the impact of sustainable finance on raising money or closing deals, we ask you to join us at a seminar where PwC’s top ESG experts will provide useful tips. LHV, the largest domestic capital provider in Estonia and BaltCap, the largest private equity firm of the Baltic states, will share the experience of their ESG journeys.
We are looking forward to meeting you at our seminar held in the conference room on the 7th floor at Hotel L’Embitu (Lembitu 12, Tallinn) on Wednesday, 3 November, from 3pm to 6pm. The seminar will be followed by an exchange of ideas in an informal setting, where snacks and wine will be served.
The seminar will be held in English and attendance is FREE of charge.
Should you wish to participate, we ask you to fill in the registration form. The number of seats is limited!
To gain entry, please bring a COVID certificate proving vaccination or recovery.
Meet our speakers
- Merili Vares
- Ragne Maasel
- Daniel Theobald
- Jani Mäenpää
- Martin Kõdar
- Hugh Owen
- Karin Marosov
Merili Vares
Merili Vares leads ESG services in PwC Estonia. With more than 15 years of experience in consulting both private and public sector, Merili has set her focus on helping our clients to create sustainable business models that are more humble and resilient to the rapidly changing natural and social environment. Prior rejoining PwC, Merili was leading the international NGO called Let’s Do It Foundation working on environmental education on waste management and circular economy and also Responsible Business Index development in the Responsible Business Forum of Estonia. Merili is also mentoring various companies on their sustainability journey.
Ragne Maasel
Before joining LHV, Ragne was active in the digital marketing and business development scene in the booming Estonian tech sector. In 2019, her curiosity and generalist qualities led her to discover new territories of finance and organizational development in LHV, which is today the biggest domestic financial group in Estonia. Since 2019, Ragne is leading the ESG activities organization-wide. Her main purpose is to act as a catalyst for change within the organization and make sure LHV delivers on its sustainability ambition and promise. She also helps steer the Estonian banking sector towards more sustainable operations as the head of the sustainable banking working group at the Estonian Banking Association.
Daniel Theobald
Daniel Theobald is an ESG expert in the Consulting practice at PwC in Luxembourg with a passion for Strategy, Corporate banking, and Sustainable finance. Before joining PwC, he worked mainly for banks in Germany starting in 2000. Since joining PwC Luxembourg, Daniel has been focusing on sustainability in the financial sector, one of the core trends driving the transformation of finance for a more sustainable economy. He advises locally and globally active companies on their sustainability alignment. To date, he has led various projects in Europe. Among other things, he has developed and implemented sustainability strategies and sustainable financial products across industries. Of course, he also supports the implementation of regulatory requirements in this area.
Jani Mäenpää
Jani Mäenpää is ESG Portfolio Manager in LHV Asset Management. He has led the development and implementation of the principles of responsible investment in LHV Asset Management, which define how environmental, social and corporate governance issues are integrated into investment management activities. As a representative of LHV, Mäenpää has also co-lead the UNEP FI Impact Analysis working group for investment portfolios. The aim of the working group is to create a best practice in the financial sector to identify the impacts of investment activities in order to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Mäenpää was also selected for the EBS’ 30 under 30 in Sustainability.
Martin Kõdar
Martin Kõdar is the managing partner at BaltCap, the largest private equity fund manager in the Baltics. Martin has established and led BaltCap ESG approach since 2005 and has abundant experience in integrating ESG in business operations and building sustainable companies. Currently, Martin is also a member of the Mid-Market Council and Professional Standards Committee in Invest Europe and he served as a board member of Responsible Business Forum in Estonia (promoting corporate social responsibility among businesses and raising public awareness) for many years.
Hugh Owen
Hugh Owen supports the PwC M&A teams in the wider Central and South-Eastern European region. He has over 25 years of experience in M&A transactions, particularly in the fields of telecommunications, media and technology, banking, insurance, energy and healthcare, but also in other areas such as real estate. In addition, he helps conduct training and consultations for PwC’s clients. Prior to joining PwC, Hugh was a partner for 13 years at a leading global law firm, and has been recognised for many years as a leading M&A lawyer in CEE in legal directories such as Chambers, Legal 500 and IFLR.
Karin Marosov
Karin Marosov heads the teams of real estate and commercial transactions at PwC Legal Estonia. Karin has truly practical experience in advising clients on the full spectrum of real estate transaction services, with a focus on acquisitions and disposals, due diligence, project finance and development. The trend of sustainable strategies and solutions is clearly evident also within the real estate industry as this sector is one of the major CO2 emitters. Accordingly, Karin is enthusiastic to advise the real estate sector in their challenges of data management for increased transparency as far as sustainability is concerned, as well as in the task of integrating sustainability into the other corporate activities.
Agenda
| 14.30 – 15.00 | Gathering of the participants |
| 15.00 – 15.05 | Welcome |
| 15.05 – 15.45 | The mystical ESG – friend or foe? |
| 15.45 – 16.25 | Sustainable finance, an opportunity of the century? |
| 16.25 – 16.45 | Coffee break |
| 16.45 – 17.15 | ESG in LHV – what’s needed for organizational change? |
| 17.15 – 18.00 | A panel discussion on the impact of and opportunities brought by ESG to the world of transactions |
| 18.00 – 19.00 | Exchange of ideas in an informal setting, accompanied by snacks and wine |