Financial institutions, and the products and services they offer, have a vital role in delivering key climate and sustainability developmental goals and policies such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement (to name a few), and it has become increasingly evident that this not a task for the public sector alone. The private financial sector is central to mobilising capital to meet the identified significant shortfall of available capital. It is vitally needed to finance long-term sustainable growth and, to build for a low-carbon, climate-resilient and circular economy by channelling funds towards well-governed responsible and ethical enterprises.
We have a market-leading Impact Financing & Investing group and have a long history of collaborating with our clients on sustainable finance transactions that promote good governance and a positive social and environmental impact. We support our clients as they navigate across a spectrum of sustainable finance and investments including blended finance and alternative structures, social and development bonds, green and blue finance, financial inclusion products, sustainability-linked loans and bonds, green infrastructure transactions and gender lens investing. But even when the financial product is more traditional, we understand the importance of bringing ESG and impact into the whole process of structuring and marketing the product - and then living with it through its lifecycle.
We cover every aspect of the relationship between the providers and the users of financial and risk-mitigation products; that relationship is now rapidly evolving in response to the global demand for financial products that are profitable, but also responsible and sustainable. A key part of our service is the development of innovative, efficient and scalable solutions to the challenges facing the impact economy to drive change, mobilise capital and move the market forward.
Our goal is to drive change by working with our clients to deepen knowledge, raise awareness and collaborate among both the providers and users of financial and risk-mitigating products.
EDF on the introduction of a sustainability pricing mechanism indexing the margin of its €4bn syndicated revolving credit facility to three of its ESG criteria.
Financial institutions on ESG-related disclosure requirements, including the SFDR, EU Taxonomy Regulation, risks associated with greenwashing and SFDR product and entity requirements.
Cassa depositi e prestiti (CDP) on the issue of the first Italian Sustainability Bond in an amount of €500m. The proceeds will allow CDP to fund projects with both environmental and social impacts.
A “Double-Bottom Line” private equity fund sponsor on the formation, fundraising, and maintenance of a U.S. domiciled fund established to make impact investments in Latin America.
Big Society Capital on its Resilience & Recovery Loan Fund, a fund for social enterprises and charities facing business disruption due to COVID-19.
An investment bank and one of its investee companies in the hospitality sector on steps to improve ESG performance, which has included the drafting of human rights and ABS policies.
UBS Optimus Foundation (UBSOF) on structuring its second Education Development Impact Bond (DIB) in India and preparing key documents.
