ESG based assessment of the enterprises efficiency

 Russian economy is currently undergoing transformation against the backdrop of sanctions pressure, the global financial crisis, and severe turbulence. Under these conditions, the problem of prioritizing the directions of economic development becomes actual. As recent data show, the trend of greening production, the transition to a circular economy, not only has not lost its relevance, but has also acquired particular significance in view of the limited resources and the narrowing of sales markets for Russian enterprises. Thus, we can conclude that the transition of the Russian economy to the concept of sustainable development not only does not stop, but continues at an accelerated pace. In this regard, there is a growing need to standardize the disclosure of non-financial information for the assessment and assignment of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance) criteria to Russian enterprises. To date, existing international rating agencies have withdrawn the ratings of Russian companies, but, nevertheless, world experience can be used to develop internal assessment methodologies. In Russia, there are no uniform criteria for assessing and assigning ESG ratings to companies, as well as mandatory non-financial reporting. However, there are recommendations from the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, as well as prerequisites for the fact that such reporting, along with financial reporting, will soon become mandatory for enterprises. In this regard, the analysis and search for uniform standards for such reporting is being updated, on the basis of which it is possible to assess the effectiveness of enterprises in terms of the ESG concept. The purpose of the study is to determine the role of disclosure of non-financial information for assessing the ESG criteria of Russian enterprises. Research objectives: to determine the main international standards for disclosing non-financial reporting of companies for ESG ratings; to identify the main goals of ESG ratings assessment; to classify methods for evaluating criteria by Russian verifiers; to propose an econometric model for maximizing the market value of an enterprise, taking into account the restrictions imposed by the ESG concept. To achieve this goal, the authors identified the most relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the development of the Russian economy; analyzed the volume, composition and cost of green capital attracted by Russian companies; performed a comparative analysis of the existing international standards for the disclosure of non-financial information, as well as methodologies for evaluating the ESG criteria of verified Russian rating agencies. The results of the study consist in identifying the main problems of standardizing the disclosure of non-financial information of Russian companies, as well as identifying priority areas for development in the field of evaluating ESG criteria. The team of authors proposed an econometric model that allows maximizing the market value of manufacturing enterprises, their products and investment projects being implemented, taking into account the existing resource, assortment and other restrictions imposed by the ESG concept.