QESG Advisory

Pre-IPO Advisory

Strengthen Your Equity Story. Enhance Valuation. Secure Investor Confidence.

For companies preparing to go public, QESG offers a structured ESG Ratings Advisory service designed to support valuation uplift, broaden investor interest, and reduce uncertainty around the IPO transaction. Our approach aligns your ESG profile with the expectations of the world’s largest institutional investors, for whom ESG ratings and data have become the gold standard in assessing long-term risk and resilience.

Our Four-Step Process...

1. Early Engagement with ESG Rating Agencies

We initiate and manage the process of securing research capacity from one or more ESG rating agencies ahead of your planned IPO timeline. Through established access channels, we accelerate your entry into formal ESG rating processes and ensure your company is positioned correctly within global sector classifications - an essential factor in driving positive rating outcomes and index inclusion post-listing.

As part of this, your corporate strategy is reviewed in light of earnings projections, given that your GICS sub-industry classification (out of 158 potential options) may shift over time. Selecting the optimal sub-industry classification is critical, as it directly impacts your ESG peer group and investor targeting. We recommend beginning this process 1–2 years in advance of conventional IPO planning to maximise ESG impact and ensure your ESG positioning supports broader investor tactics, helping lock in advantageous IPO terms and avoid last-minute rating surprises.

Where appropriate, the pre-IPO ESG rating can be pre-sounded with existing shareholders, potential cornerstone investors, and new institutional investors as part of the pre-marketing strategy.

Before committing to a public ESG rating, we conduct a comprehensive feasibility assessment. This analysis includes:

Projected ESG rating outcomes based on your current disclosures, governance model, and business fundamentals
Peer benchmarking within your sector and capital markets ecosystem
An early warning review of ESG controversies and structural issues that may constrain rating potential

The outcome is a clearly defined ESG rating strategy that supports IPO pricing objectives and aligns with your board’s expectations.

2. Feasibility and ESG Rating Strategy

3. ESG Data Preparation and Simulation

We extract and transform the necessary ESG data across your organisation in collaboration with internal stakeholders. Using QESG’s proprietary ESG rating simulator, we test your ESG profile against rating agency methodologies, enabling you to:

Address rating-sensitive disclosures proactively
Monitor ESG rating momentum ahead of submission
Control timing and quality of data uploads to each ESG rating agency platform

This allows your team to focus on running the business and broader IPO execution, while we ensure that ESG submissions are accurate, strategic, and in line with investor expectations.

A strong ESG rating can meaningfully influence your equity story. We work with you to:

Translate ESG assessments into a compelling value proposition for investor roadshows and cornerstone allocations
Calibrate communication to match the expectations of ESG-focused investors and index-tracking institutions
Evaluate the implications of public vs. private ESG rating disclosure strategies in light of pricing, demand, and investor targeting

We also provide WACC analysis to demonstrate potential capital structure benefits based on ESG performance.

4. Investor Alignment and ESG Storytelling

Why QESG Advisory?

Pre-IPO Certainty: Reduce rating process uncertainty before listing
Valuation Support: Strengthen your positioning in equity research models
Investor Readiness: Ensure ESG credentials are IPO-grade from Day 1