FROM YIELD VISIBILITY TO ASSET-LEVEL RISK INTELLIGENCE

Yes. Niche99 ESG ratings:

• Align with SEBI’s ESG Rating Provider Master Circular
• Support BRSR and BRSR Core readiness
• Are suitable for assurance-ready disclosures, especially for large listed entities

Yes. Niche99 conducts SPV-level ESG profiling, covering:

• Environmental: energy, water, emissions
• Social: labour practices, health & safety, community impact
• Governance: SPV boards, compliance, internal controls
• Commitment: ESG integration, leadership intent, capital stewardship

Yes. We aggregate SPV-level data to deliver:

• A consolidated ESG+C rating for the entire REIT or InvIT
• Peer benchmarking across listed and unlisted trusts
• Custom dashboards for investors, lenders, and regulators

We conduct:

• ESG risk and hotspot identification across asset lifecycles
• Climate and location-specific risk analysis
• Sector-specific materiality mapping

 These insights support governance, investor disclosures, and regulatory engagement. 

Yes. Our ratings and reports support ESG disclosures in:

• Annual reports
• Investor presentations
• SEBI-mandated filings

They are also aligned with GRI, SASB, and TCFD expectations for global investors.

Niche99 is a SEBI-registered ESG Rating Provider (ERP), Category II, operating under the Subscriber Pays Model. We provide independent, data-backed ESG ratings and sustainability insights designed specifically for Indian market realities, regulations, and socio-economic contexts. 

 Purpose: To use sustainability and ESG research to enable impactful actions by all, for all.
Vision: To enable sustainable businesses and communities through credible ESG research and ratings.
Mission: To deliver consistent, fair, and transparent ESG ratings that support regulatory compliance and long-term sustainable growth.

 Our work is guided by six core values:  Transparency, Integrity, Impact, Sustainability, Innovation, and Continuous Improvement. 

REITs and InvITs manage long-life physical assets, operate through complex SPV structures, and depend heavily on institutional and global capital. ESG ratings help them:

• Demonstrate responsible asset stewardship
• Meet evolving SEBI and investor expectations
• Reduce long-term environmental and social risks
• Improve access to sustainable and ESG-linked capital

Key challenges include:

• Multiple SPVs with fragmented ESG data
• Long asset lifecycles (15–30 years)
• Exposure to land, labour, safety, and community risks
• A blended investor base (retail, institutions, sovereign funds)
• Limited in-house ESG expertise
• High reputational sensitivity in infrastructure and real estate

ESG ratings:

• Provide SPV-level and portfolio-level ESG visibility
• Enable standardised benchmarking across assets
• Identify material ESG risks early
• Support green bonds and ESG-linked financing
• Enhance credibility with investors and regulators

ESG+C expands traditional ESG by adding Commitment (C), which evaluates:

• Compliance to applicable ESG related laws
• Leadership intent
• Strategic ESG integration
• Capital stewardship
• Long-term sustainability orientation

• Four pillars: Environment, Social, Governance, Commitment
• 81 attributes across sustainability practices, reputation, compliance, and global alignment
• Sector-specific weightings for E and S, with uniform weight for G and C

Scores are based on:

• Quantitative data and disclosures
• Qualitative assessments
• Stakeholder engagement
• Peer benchmarking

Ratings are issued on a 0–100 “Prestige Score” scale, mapped to defined risk and sustainability performance tiers.

Approximately 30% of the assessment focuses on Indian regulations (SEBI, BRSR Core and ESG related applicable laws), while reporting aligns with GRI, SASB, CSRD, and TCFD frameworks. 

Under SEBI’s framework, subscribers, such as investors, asset managers, corporates, and platforms—pay for ESG ratings. This ensures independence, objectivity, and avoidance of issuer bias. 

Niche99 delivers:

• India-contextual, SEBI-aligned ESG ratings
• Portfolio-wide ESG visibility across SPVs
• Actionable ESG intelligence, not just scores
• Independent and credible insights trusted by investors and regulators