Category

ESG

D&IESG
May 20, 2021

On the Horizon: ‘Much Better Data and Analytics To Do ESG Scoring’

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink shared insights on ESG, D&I and American capitalism with NeuGroup members and guests. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink recently addressed treasurers attending a special session moderated by NeuGroup CEO Joseph Neu that touched on topics including ESG, diversity and inclusion, corporate purpose and American-style capitalism. Among many highlights, Mr. Fink said he is actively urging world leaders to agree on a common set of metrics to judge progress on climate change. “We need every country to come…
Justin Jones
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ESGRisk Management
April 29, 2021

Shifting Winds of ESG Policies and Regs Have Risk Managers on Alert

The prospect of increased regulation and disclosure around corporate sustainability has risk managers preparing.The likelihood of increased regulation and mandatory disclosure of ESG-related activities and risks under the Biden administration and across the globe has enterprise risk managers trying to get their ESG ducks in a row. “From a risk management perspective, we audit all facts and figures in ESG reports we’re using internally,” said one member at a recent meeting of NeuGroup for Enterprise Risk Management. “The expectation is…
Justin Jones
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Capital MarketsESG
April 22, 2021

A Virtuous Cycle Including Treasury Bolsters Sustainability Efforts

Building a framework sets the stage for green bonds—an umbrella to systematize initiatives. Increased scrutiny of corporate sustainability efforts by investors and other stakeholders has made it essential for companies to place ESG initiatives into a clear framework.   Building the framework to coordinate decisions and address investor inquiries more effectively requires communication among key parts of the company, with treasury playing a critical role.These were among the takeaways from a recent meeting of NeuGroup for Capital Markets sponsored by Wells Fargo…
Justin Jones
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BankingESG
March 9, 2021

Green Discount: Treasury Wins With a Sustainability-Linked Revolver

After a corporate successfully launched a sustainability-linked revolver, the treasurer’s phone started ringing.When it came time for one NeuGroup member to renew an existing five-year revolver, he saw an opportunity to improve pricing and generate positive PR by leveraging the ESG goals that the company had recently put in place. The member’s company worked with BNP Paribas and Unicredit to structure a multibillion-dollar sustainability-linked revolver, the first one in its industry sector.“I’ve received a lot of calls from other treasurers…
Justin Jones
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Capital AllocationCapital MarketsESG
March 2, 2021

Getting Granular on Green Bond Proceeds: Capex? Opex? Both?

Some investors prefer that green bonds finance capex projects, but corporates use proceeds for opex, too—with caveats.How a corporate intends to spend the proceeds from a green bond is integral to deciding whether to issue the bond in the first place. You need to have sufficient uses to create a deal that is large enough to make the costs worthwhile and ensure that investors will participate. NeuGroup members at a recent ESG working group meeting addressed a related, more granular…
Justin Jones
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BankingESGTalking Shop
February 18, 2021

Talking Shop: Handling Grant and Expense Payments for a Foundation

Member question: “How is your company handling grant and expense payments for its foundation? Is this handled leveraging existing company processes, tools and teams or outsourced to service providers, such as Foundation Source, etc.? “We’ve outgrown the manual check process and need to scale up here and are curious to learn how you manage this.” Peer answer 1: “Our foundation accounts are with our concentration bank and managed by specific individuals in our corporate team. “We have raised the question…
Justin Jones
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Diversity & InclusionESGTechnology
February 16, 2021

Impact Investing: A Fintech Connecting Corporates with Communities

CNote helps companies including Mastercard connect with community development financial institutions.Community development financial institutions (CDFIs) have emerged as an effective and attractive tool for corporates initiating or accelerating their commitments to impact investing amid the broader push for diversity and inclusion (D&I). Members of NeuGroup’s Treasurers’ Group of Mega-Caps (tMega) recently heard how a women-led fintech called CNote is simplifying the process of connecting with CDFIs that, in turn, lend capital to borrowers in underserved communities.“CNote is moving money where…
Justin Jones
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Capital MarketsESG
February 11, 2021

Supporting—Not Leading—the Green Charge: Defining Treasury’s Role

A discussion of green bonds includes the view that treasury “can’t push the cart up the hill” on sustainability.The steady drumbeat of enthusiasm about ESG from bankers, investors, rating agencies and the media has failed to convince some treasury teams to push their companies to jump on the green finance bandwagon. For one reason, these treasury practitioners say that issuing green bonds or using other forms of sustainability-linked finance does not currently make economic sense for them. More importantly, these…
Justin Jones
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Diversity & InclusionESGRegional
February 2, 2021

Walking the Talk on Diversity and Inclusion: One Company’s Steps

A member of NeuGroup’s European Treasury Peer Group outlines what his company is doing to promote D&I.The push for increased diversity, inclusion and social justice following the murder of George Floyd last year has rippled far beyond US borders. At a meeting of NeuGroup’s European Treasury Peer Group this fall, one member discussed his company’s conviction that now more than ever is the time “to further strengthen commitment to diversity and inclusion everywhere,” as his presentation put it.This company’s efforts,…
Justin Jones
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BankingESG
February 2, 2021

Carbon Credits 101: Introduction to Voluntary Emissions Reduction

BNP Paribas shares a guide for corporates looking into carbon emission markets.A NeuGroup member at a large technology company recently asked peers on an online forum, “Does anyone have experience in purchasing carbon credits in voluntary markets?” For guidance, NeuGroup Insights reached out to BNP Paribas, which has a long-standing presence in this area and is committed to developing origination capabilities in carbon offset markets.The bank shared a presentation to help clients better understand the dynamics of the voluntary emission…
Justin Jones
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