Closing SFDR Data Gaps and Simplifying the EU Taxonomy Template Transition
MEAG is the asset manager of Munich Re and ERGO, with investments across multiple asset classes for the Group and external clients. In this role, MEAG requires reliable sustainability data to support regulatory reporting, steering, internal validation processes, and investment-related data workflows across a broad portfolio of listed companies.
As an asset manager with sustainability reporting obligations, MEAG requires reliable ESG indicators across a large universe of portfolio companies. The firm uses Dataland to verify data quality and close specific data gaps that arise in the datasets delivered by its primary ESG data provider, both for internal purposes and to demonstrate reasonable effort to auditors. At the same time, MEAG expects Dataland’s EU Taxonomy template conversion capability to simplify the upcoming transition to the revised reporting template.
Challenge
For SFDR reporting, MEAG must compile a range of sustainability indicators across a large universe of portfolio companies. While the firm’s main ESG data provider covers most of the required data, some indicators needed for PAI calculations are not always included in the delivered datasets. In some cases, there is no data available at all for certain companies from the primary provider. These gaps create operational friction for the ESG reporting team. Missing indicators need to be located and extracted manually from company sustainability reports or other disclosures before they can be integrated into the firm’s reporting workflows, or estimates must be applied, which leads to lower coverage and is less favourable from an audit perspective.
In parallel, MEAG faces another operational challenge related to the transition to the revised EU Taxonomy reporting template. As portfolio companies gradually adopt the new template, asset managers will have to deal with EU Taxonomy data reported in legacy as well as new templates. Without automated conversion, this would require implementing and maintaining internal mapping logic to reconcile the legacy and the new template structures.
Solution
MEAG uses Dataland as a data source to close specific SFDR data gaps. When indicators required for PAI reporting are missing from the firm’s primary dataset or there is no dataset available for that firm from the primary data provider, the reporting team retrieves the relevant ESG indicators from Dataland. The platform extracts the data directly from company disclosures and provides it in a structured format aligned with regulatory frameworks such as SFDR. If data is not available from company disclosures, Dataland performs and documents a non-sourceability assessment to confirm that the data cannot be obtained. Beyond gap filling, Dataland also supports targeted data quality checks on data delivered by the primary provider by offering an additional, source-based point of reference.
At the same time, Dataland’s EU Taxonomy template conversion functionality will ensure that EU Taxonomy datasets are available in both the legacy and the new reporting template structures, regardless of how issuers publish their disclosures. The underlying mapping logic is fully documented and can be used for audit and validation purposes. This removes the need for MEAG to build and maintain its own conversion logic during the transition period.
Value
Using Dataland allows MEAG to resolve key operational challenges within its ESG reporting processes:
- The platform provides a practical way to fill SFDR data gaps without manual extraction of sustainability indicators from company reports.
- The EU Taxonomy template conversion will simplify the transition to the new reporting format by removing the need to manage multiple template structures internally.
- Traceable sourcing and documentation strengthen audit readiness and simplify demonstrating reasonable effort.
- The ability to cross-check data improves overall data quality and reduces reliance on a single provider.
Together, these capabilities reduce operational effort for the ESG reporting team while ensuring that regulatory disclosures can be produced in a consistent and reliable manner. Over time, this may increase the strategic relevance of Dataland beyond a complementary role.
“Dataland provides a reliable way to close specific SFDR data gaps in our reporting and to obtain required data quickly upon request. The upcoming EU Taxonomy template conversion is a key additional benefit, as it removes the need to build and maintain our own format conversion. The platform also helps us document reasonable effort where data cannot be sourced and gives us an additional basis for validating data delivered by our primary provider.”