Sustainable Investing, Virtual Events & Programming

Sustainability-Linked Bonds: A Pathway to a Lower Carbon Economy

August 12, 2020 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

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Overview

Since the first sustainability-linked bond was issued by Italian energy company ENEL in September 2019, sustainability bonds and/or loan facilities have gained traction and more issuances are expected in the future. Green bonds—or social bonds—are issued for the specific purpose of funding or financing particular environmental or sustainable projects. In a departure from the established “use of proceeds” model for green, social and sustainable bonds, sustainability-linked bond proceeds are not earmarked for specific projects. Rather the pricing of the bond or loan facility is linked to certain sustainability targets evidencing the issuer’s commitment to a more sustainable future for its business and potentially helping companies make a gradual shift away from fossil fuels. For example, if environmental and sustainability targets such as reducing food waste or cutting carbon emissions are met, a decrease in the interest rate on the financing may follow, or if the targets are not met, the interest rate may ratchet up. In the Enel transaction, if ENEL fails to hit its target of increasing its renewable power generation from 45.9% at the time of issuance to 55% by the end of 2021, it would have to pay a 25 bps coupon step-up. Sustainability-linked financings, can also be a useful tool to encourage brown industries to shift to sustainable practices given the pressing need to address climate change, while maintaining accountability and demonstrating clear impact. Even as new issues are gaining traction, the efficacy of sustainability-linked bonds is still being debated and there are concerns that these might be suppressing green bond issuances and leading to greenwashing. Against this backdrop, on June 9, 2020 a working group of the International Capital Markets Association (ICMA) released the Sustainability-Linked Bond Principles that offers issuers and investors a set of best practices and guidelines when issuing sustainability-linked bonds.

Agenda

11:00 AM | WELCOMING REMARKS

Henry Shilling, Founder and Director of Research, Sustainable Research and Analysis LLC

11:05 AM | PANEL DISCUSSION

Moderator

Joshua Linder, CFA, Credit Analyst, APG Asset Management

Panelists

Alessia Falsarone, SASB FSA, Managing Director, Head of Sustainable Investing, Sr. Portfolio and Risk Strategist, PineBridge Investments

Marilyn P. Ceci, Managing Director and Global Head of ESG Debt Capital Markets; Head of Green Bonds, J.P. Morgan Corporate & Investment Bank

Vishal Khanduja, CFA, Director of Investment Grade Fixed-Income Portfolio Management and Trading, Eaton Vance Management

11:45 AM | Q&A

12:00 PM |  CLOSING REMARKS & ADJOURNMENT

Henry Shilling, Founder and Director of Research, Sustainable Research and Analysis LLC

Additional Details

Learning Outcomes

  • Learn about the nature of sustainability-linked bonds and their structure.
  • Learn about the role of sustainability-linked bonds in the transition to a low carbon economy; how these fit into sustainable investing.
  • Understand who invests in these bonds and their considerations are.
  • Gain insights into how these bonds are priced and how they have been performing.

Sponsorship Overview

For over 80 years, CFA Society New York—formerly known as New York Society of Security Analysts (NYSSA)—has been a leading forum for the exchange of information among investment professionals. Our mission is to raise standards of practice in the industry for the ultimate benefit of society. Towards that goal, CFA Society New York content is curated by volunteer practitioner interest groups that strive to shape the future of the industry. A bold line exists between the financial support by organizations to maintain the quality of our programming and the selection of speakers who contribute to dialogue in our community. To that end, a ceaseless commitment to transparency is something we consider foundational to our cause.

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Inclement weather

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Refunds, Cancellations, and Substitutions

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    • Full refund issued
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