2022 BLUE BOOK - FCLTGlobal

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2022 BLUE BOOK - FCLTGlobal
2022 B LU E BOO K
2022 BLUE BOOK - FCLTGlobal
REWIRING CAPITAL MARKETS
TO DRIVE LONG-TERM VALUE

B U S I N E S S LE A D E R S H AV E LO N G S T R U G G LE D TO W E I G H I M M E D I AT E F I N A N C I A L
N E E D S AG A I N S T O B J E C T I V E S M A N Y Y E A R S I N TO T H E F U T U R E .

FCLTGlobal’s work makes it clear that those who participate in the capital markets can improve the
system. In July 2016, CPP Investments and McKinsey teamed with BlackRock, Dow, and Tata Sons to
found FCLTGlobal as an independent non-profit. Businesses and investors from around the world came
together to stem the tide of short-term actions and their consequences. Since our founding, we have
worked with our members to provide evidence and research that will help to make long-term practices
the norm.

                                             Now, FCLTGlobal celebrates its fifth year in operation. Our
                                             mission remains to focus capital on the long term to support
                                             a sustainable and prosperous economy, and we are rewiring
                                             capital markets to drive long-term value creation for savers
                                             and communities.

                                             Practical actions and strategies, rather than theory, have
                                             helped to move the needle. It is in that spirit that FCLTGlobal
                                             was founded. It is also in that spirit that we present the first
                                             edition of the FCLT Blue Book, a showcase of how long-term
                                             decision-making can create positive outcomes for companies,
                                             investors, and their millions of stakeholders globally.

FCLTGlobal’s members drive the movement towards sustainable capitalism. The pages that follow are
a compilation of real-world examples of how FCLTGlobal’s members are putting long-term strategies
into practice today, the first of what we expect to be many such projects to crystallize how companies
 and investors are translating research to action.

It is our hope that these practical illustrations will inspire others to embrace the mission of focusing
capital on the long term. We encourage readers to consider models of long-term decision-making similar
to those featured here, and we thank those who have contributed their time, effort, and valuable insight
to this project.

Around the world and across the investment value chain, our members and many other organizations like
them are looking beyond the next quarter and seeing the bigger picture: prioritizing future objectives
over near-term targets will inevitably produce better, more equitable, and more sustainable performance
over the long term.

Sincerely,

Sarah Keohane Williamson
Chief Executive Officer
2022 BLUE BOOK - FCLTGlobal
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 2	Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo)   21   JP Morgan Investment Management

 3    APG Asset Management                              22   Kempen Capital Management

 4    Baillie Gifford                                   23   Kering

 5    Barclays                                          24   KPMG

 6    BlackRock                                         25   Mastercard

 7    Blackstone Group Inc.                             26   McKinsey & Company

 8    Brookfield Asset Management Inc.                  27   MSCI Inc.

 9    Bunge                                             28   Nasdaq

10	Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ)       29   Nuveen Asset Management

11    The Carlyle Group                                 30   Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan

12    CPP Investments                                   31   Russell Reynolds Associates

13    Dow                                               32   Schroders

14    DSM                                               33   State Street Corporation

15    Edelman                                           34   Unilever

16    Ernst & Young                                     35   Vista Equity Partners Management, LLC

17    EQT Partners                                      36   Votorantim

18    Federated Hermes                                  37   Washington State Investment Board

19    GIC Private Limited                               38   Wellington Management Company

20    IFM Investors
ALBERTA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
CORPORATION (AIMCO)
E VA N S I D DA LL | C H I E F E X ECUTI V E O FFI C E R

D R I V I N G R E TU R N S A N D M A N AG I N G R I S K F O R T H E LO N G -T E R M

C R E AT I O N O F A N I N - H O U S E A R T I F I C I A L           A L P H A L AY E R ’ S A I A N D M L A P P L I C AT I O N S
I N T E L L I G E N C E A N D M AC H I N E L E A R N I N G           A L S O P R OV I D E R E V E N U E S O U R C E
JOINT VENTURE                                                        In AIMCo’s case, the organization has and will continue to
As artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)            benefit from AlphaLayer’s AI and ML solutions, but there
began to disrupt industries around the world, it became              is an additional upside. The joint venture is expected to
obvious that investment managers would have to harness               make money, too. Commercializing AlphaLayer’s AI and ML
the power of these technologies or risk being left behind.           applications will add an additional revenue source to the
It seemed that the options were to develop AI and ML                 benefit of AIMCo clients, a premise that is expected to pay
capabilities in-house or wait for third-party solutions to           off for decades to come.
be developed and then pay to play.
For AIMCo, one of Canada’s largest institutional investment          T H E F U T U R E ? H U M A N - M AC H I N E S O LU T I O N S
managers, a third option presented itself, one that offered          The AlphaLayer team has been focused on delivering AI
potential to benefit clients for years to come. In 2019, AIMCo       solutions across all areas of the investment management
partnered with Edmonton-based AltaML, a machine learning             industry from back to front office by building solutions
company, to establish a joint venture called AlphaLayer.             that create operational efficiencies, generate innovations
Since creation, AlphaLayer has built AI and ML solutions             in risk management and create unique sources of
to help AIMCo associates process trade matches, forecast             investment returns. However, according to Chad Langager,
changes in credit ratings, develop sentiment insights by way         AlphaLayer’s Managing Director, there is even more
of natural language procession (NLP) and generate more               potential yet to be realized. “Human/AI integration within
accurate risk forecasts.                                             firms is not yet solved in any industry. This uncertainty
                                                                     will continue to cause ‘bumpiness’ as AI/ML is integrated
                                                                     and adopted more and more. There is every indication,
I NTE G R ATI O N O F A I A N D M L A LLOW
                                                                     however, that human-machine solutions will be far more
I N V E S TM E NT TE A M S TO F O C U S O N
                                                                     powerful than either human or machine-based solutions.
H I G H E R -VA LU E WO R K
                                                                     We feel that is the future and are excited about proving it
“Pretty early on, we developed efficiencies by incorporating
                                                                     out with AIMCo.”
AI into some operational processes — and the value of
that should not be underestimated,” said Dale MacMaster,
AIMCo’s Chief Investment Officer. “But everyone was
keen to see AI and machine learning boosting investment
returns. I can say now with some confidence that we have a
trading strategy that is using AI to process data and identify
opportunities and it’s adding value to our clients’ portfolios.”
While AlphaLayer has provided short-term success, the
strategy is inherently long term. Business leaders and
investors universally agree that artificial intelligence
and machine learning will transform businesses by
reducing costs, managing risks, streamlining operations,
accelerating growth and promoting innovation. Using and
developing strong AI and ML capabilities allows team
members to focus on higher-value work.

2     2022 BLUE BOOK
APG
                                                                             RO N A LD W U IJSTE R | C H I E F E X ECUTI V E O FFI C E R

TH E E S TA B LI S H M E N T O F S U S TA I N A B LE D E V E LO P M E N T I N V E S T M E N T S A S S E T OW N E R P L AT F O R M
( S D I AO P)

APG Asset Management, together with, AustralianSuper,                  U S I N G A I TO Q UA N T I F Y C O N T R I B U T I O N O F
British Columbia Investment Management Corporation                     I N V E S T M E N T S TO S D G S
(BCI) and PGGM in 2020, jointly established the                        To ensure alignment with the United Nation Sustainable
Sustainable Development Investments Asset Owner                        Development Goals and quantify the contribution of an
Platform (SDI AOP). This platform helps to accelerate                  investment to such goals, the SDI Asset Owner Platform
investments to deliver on the Sustainable Development                  developed an SDI Methodology which consists of:
Goals and thereby support investment outcomes for
                                                                       i.   detailed taxonomies and guidelines
end beneficiaries. As asset owners, we are creating a
community of investors who are jointly advancing the                   ii. a methodology to define the classification of the SDIs
SDI AOP standard for investing into the UN Sustainable                 iii. SDI classifications
Development Goals SDGs. The SDI AOP aspire to drive
innovation in the investment industry with the standard                iv. the rating methodology of SDI classifications
being made available to all market participants.
                                                                       To translate the SDI taxonomy into a classification system
                                                                       to determine whether a given company is or is not SDI
S O LV I N G DATA C H A L L E N G E S                                  eligible, we partner with Entis, a data and software
Global investors increasingly consider the SDGs relevant               technology firm (in which APG is shareholder). Entis
to their investment strategy, policy, asset allocation,                uses natural language processing of structured and
investment decisions and active ownership, according                   unstructured data (annual reports, trade descriptions
to research by the Principles for Responsible Investment               and website text) to determine the SDI status (Majority,
(PRI). However, a lack of quality data to identify                     Decisive, Non-SDI), SDI Confidence, SDI Revenue
contributions to the SDGs has been an impediment                       Percentage and Main SDGs for each company. Entis
for investors, and companies struggle to adapt their                   currently covers 8,700 entities (equities & bonds).
disclosures to meet investor needs. By providing a
globally consistent SDG measurement framework, the
SDI Asset Owner Platform helps investors to imbed                      A B I L I T Y TO R E P O R T T R A N S PA R E N T A N D
the SDGs into their investment processes.                              C O N S I S T E N T DATA
                                                                       For the SDI AOP, the primary focus is on companies’
                                                                       positive contribution to the SDGs through their products
S H A R E D U N D E R S TA N D I N G O F S U S TA I N A B L E          and services (the ‘what’), whereas for ESG is typically
D E V E LO P M E N T I N V E S T M E N T S ( S D I S )                 focused on conduct (the ‘how’). For example: making
The SDI AOP allows asset owners and their managers                     solar panels (SDI) versus having operational policies,
to connect around the shared objective of measuring and                management systems, targets, and disclosure in place
understanding their portfolio investments’ contributions               (ESG). This enables investors to assess their global
to the SDGs. These goals, set by the United Nations                    capital markets’ portfolios on their contribution to the
in 2015, aim for a better, more prosperous world, by                   SDGs and to report to clients and external stakeholders
addressing urgent global issues such as water scarcity,                transparently and consistently, using a common and
healthcare access, and protecting the environment.                     auditable standard. The SDI definition and taxonomy
Investments in companies whose products or services                    are public and equally applicable to private market
contribute to the realization of the SDGs are called                   investments. Qontigo is the global financial services
Sustainable Development Investments (SDIs).                            company that is the distributor of the SDI AOP standard,
                                                                       and current subscribers to the SDI AOP represent EUR
                                                                       9.500 billion assets under management.

                                                                                                              2022 BLUE BOOK          3
BAILLIE GIFFORD
A N D R E W TE LFE R | C EO

A LI G N I N G C A P ITA L W IT H A F O C U S O N T H E F UT U R E , N OT T H E E X IT

At Baillie Gifford, we seek to be engaged, long-term owners            wealth creation. We will own a company for as long as
of businesses. Our average holding period is over seven                our investment case remains intact, regardless of how
years and our preferred holding period is eternity. Focusing           that company chooses to capitalize itself.
on the ‘hold’ rather than on how to buy or sell businesses is
how we have created value for clients over time.                   T H E C A S E F O R A DA P T I N G F U N D S T R U C T U R E S
Our portfolio companies choose to work with us because             O F P R I VAT E M A R K E T PA R T I C I PA N T S
we are focused on their long-term outcomes. In private             Over the past year our clients have offered a near universal
markets in particular, the business owners we work with            appreciation of the need to adapt fund structures around
are at a point in their lifecycle where a stable partner is        the changing needs of private market participants. We have
critical to executing on long-term objectives. When we can         seen a groundswell of support around the principle of better
fit long-term capital to the long-term objectives of business      alignment and the need for continuity of ownership. Some
owners there is a natural alignment.                               clients have discussed the need to change the way they
                                                                   consider employee compensation to remove any misaligned
In private markets that alignment does not yet exist as it
                                                                   incentives. Others are questioning the need for narrowly
should. Historical investor holding periods of three to four
                                                                   defined buckets within their asset allocation which may
years, driven by antiquated vehicle structures, has created
                                                                   be creating unnecessary transaction costs, opportunity
a transactional mindset. These structures do not meet the
                                                                   costs and reinvestment risks. Regardless of whether our
needs of business owners, nor do they maximize return
                                                                   clients make these changes now or in a decade’s time, it is
potential for asset owners. In 2021 we set out to establish
                                                                   rewarding to know this dialogue is underway and that there
a private equity vehicle that would re-establish alignment
                                                                   is consensus on how to better align our industry over time.
between business owners, asset owners and ourselves.
                                                                   Being long term in private markets allows us to solve this
                                                                   dislocation between management teams and investors.
O F F E R I N G A P E R M A N E N T C A P I TA L M I N D S E T
                                                                   Being long term allows us to provide well-aligned capital
T H R O U G H A 1 5 -Y E A R V E H I C L E
                                                                   with a focus on the future, not the exit. Being long
Our goal was to bring a permanent capital mindset to a
                                                                   term allows us to provide continuity of capital to these
limited-life vehicle. On behalf of our clients, we want to
                                                                   businesses and, crucially, continuity of ownership for
be able to own businesses for as long as the investment
                                                                   our clients.
thesis holds and the upside potential remains intact. We
have always been able to execute on our philosophy by
operating within permanent capital structures, but not
everyone can invest in these vehicles.
There are two issues with the private market vehicle
structure we were looking to solve:
•    he 10-year fund is not a long-term vehicle. If the
    T
    limited life vehicle is going to remain relevant, there
    needs to be an acknowledgment that longer-term
    commitments are necessary. Ours is a 15-year fund.
    Incidentally, many clients have remarked that their
    10-year funds end up as 15-year funds anyway due
    to extensions.
•    he IPO is an artificial divide between private and
    T
    public markets. The IPO is a corporate finance decision
    that is virtually unrelated to the investment case behind
    owning a business. That it has become a liquidity event
    within private equity fund structures is destructive to

4     2022 BLUE BOOK
BARCLAYS
                                                                          C S V E N K ATA KR I S H N A N | G ROU P C H I E F E X ECUTI V E

B U I LD I N G A S U S TA I N A B LE LO C A LLY- S O U R C E D C A M P U S W H I LE R E G E N E R AT I N G G L A S G OW

The UK is a world leader in financial services and Glasgow            realize a shared vision of redeveloping an area that has
plays an important part in this success. The Barclays                 been derelict for decades. Our regeneration of the area
Glasgow campus will be home to approximately 5,000                    has breathed new economic life into the city, expanding
Barclays colleagues by 2023, and has transformed the                  the city center across the River Clyde to the south while,
local area through regeneration.                                      crucially, building a site that will retain and attract the
                                                                      best talent.
Barclays set out to build something transformative,
bringing the community together, helping entrepreneurs                The project has had at its core a sourcing objective
flourish, and supporting local enterprise. During the                 that has prioritized local businesses and entrepreneurs
construction of the campus, over 70 Scottish firms                    — whether that is sourcing locally printed fabric for
worked on site, with two thirds from Glasgow. As part                 furnishings, using locally timbered wood in construction,
of the project we transformed a brownfield site into a city           or bringing on-site community-based micro enterprises
center park with spaces for community events and two                  to showcase and sell their products. Many of the small
historic buildings have been restored for public use.                 businesses that have been engaged in this project have
                                                                      been able to hire new staff, scale-up, and re-open after
At the heart of our vision was a world class and sustainable
                                                                      lockdown due to their partnership with Barclays.
campus that contributes to Barclays ambition to become
a net zero bank by 2050. To that end, we are installing               We also tasked our lead contractors to deliver the project
a Sustainability Centre on Campus, that will provide                  via local and diverse subcontractors. This supported
self-generated solar energy and rely on carbon-free                   Barclays’ drive for local solutions, social mobility, and
technology to heat and cool the buildings. The site also              diversity & inclusion.
offers community hub spaces which allow us to work
with local social enterprise, local start-ups and great local         E M P LOY M E N T A N D E AG L E L A B S : B R I N G I N G
micro businesses. The building and workspace have been                T E A M S TO G E T H E R TO D R I V E I N N OVAT I O N
designed with collaboration in mind and it will support               This project is the latest step in our global location strategy
us in our ambition to deliver the latest innovations to our           which is focused on bringing teams closer together to
customers and clients.                                                drive innovation and collaboration whilst striking the
                                                                      right balance between working collaboratively and the
D E S I G N E D TO B E D I F F E R E N T: Z E R O WA S T E ,          need for flexibility. The campus is home to a number of
B I O D I V E R S I T Y, A N D N E U R O D I V E R S I T Y            teams working across our business, including high value
The campus builds on Barclays’ net zero ambitions                     technology, risk, and compliance roles, and will soon host
and zero waste strategy and with a desire to prioritize               a Barclays Eagle Lab. As one of the UK’s largest incubator
sustainability in a city center site. The Campus will be              networks, these labs help to nurture skills and create
the first to achieve zero waste by 2025. It will offer                thriving entrepreneurial eco-systems.
reusables and onsite compost that will be repurposed
                                                                      Working with universities in Glasgow and Edinburgh,
for our landscaping needs. We will also produce our own
                                                                      Barclays has been developing a robust pipeline of
honey and support city biodiversity with 60,000 honey
                                                                      graduate and apprenticeship opportunities. We have
bees on site.
                                                                      increased headcount in Glasgow by over 90% over the
The building was also designed with neurodiversity                    last four years, including 750 people during the COVID
in mind. Being careful about the choice of finishes,                  pandemic, and by 2023 Glasgow will account for around
the acoustics and the light quality were all important                10% of our UK workforce.
considerations to drive inclusivity at the campus.
                                                                      Barclays is proud to have delivered this project which will
                                                                      help to shape the evolution of Glasgow’s city center over
RE VIVE , INSPIRE AND REGENER ATE THROUGH                             the long-term, through lasting benefits for both society
LOCAL SOURCING AND DIVERSIT Y & INCLUSION                             and the wider local economy.
Throughout the project we have collaborated well with
the main economic agencies and local government to

                                                                                                               2022 BLUE BOOK           5
BLACKROCK

TA K I N G A LO N G -T E R M V I E W

For more than a decade, Larry Fink, CEO and Chairman        and strengthen our commitment to sustainability in
of BlackRock, has written an annual letter to the CEOs      our investment and stewardship activities. BlackRock
of companies BlackRock invests in for our clients. He       and other institutional investors have called for greater
began writing about themes he believes are important        reporting from companies under frameworks like the
to generating durable returns because many investors        Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures
are increasingly distracted by what are often immaterial    (TCFD) and Sustainability Accounting Standards
market moves. He felt there needed to be a louder voice     Board (SASB) so we can better understand long-term
for the investors focused on the long term.                 sustainability-related risks.
He has written about capital management, corporate          It also led BlackRock to create new investment funds
strategy, purpose, sustainability, and stakeholder          and other initiatives like Decarbonization Partners, which
capitalism. These and other topics have changed over        invests in the next generation of technologies that will
time, but the central thread through all of them is that    bring us closer to a net zero economy. And it inspired our
companies need to be managed with a long-term view.         philanthropic donation to Breakthrough Energy’s Catalyst
                                                            Program, which invests in accelerating the development
Over the years these letters have become an influential
                                                            and scaling of clean energy solutions that will mitigate
factor for CEOs considering how to create value, not
                                                            the impact of climate change.
just for their shareholders, but other key stakeholders
including employees, clients, customers, and the            Taking a long-term view is at the foundation of
communities in which they operate. They are also a          BlackRock’s strategy. Whether it’s through engaging
driving force for BlackRock’s employees, who play a         with CEOs and their management teams as stewards
central role in defining how we operate as a business,      of our clients’ investments; the investment products
how we serve our clients, and how we innovate ahead         and risk management tools we create; or empowering
of clients’ needs.                                          our employees; it defines how we deliver for all
                                                            our stakeholders.
C R E AT I N G I M PAC T
The impact of these letters can be felt across the
business community. When Larry Fink’s letter on the
importance of corporate purpose was published in 2018,
some of America’s largest employers responded. The
Business Roundtable, a leading group of American CEOs,
redefined the purpose of a corporation to promote “an
economy that serves all Americans”. The new statement
reflected a shift away from shareholder primacy and a
move towards stakeholder capitalism, and the need for
corporations to serve all key stakeholders to deliver
long-term value.

DRIVING CHANGE
Sustainability is another area where taking a long-term
view is crucial for corporate success. In 2020, BlackRock
coined the phrase “climate risk is investment risk”
and called for a greater focus on the effects of climate
change on asset valuations. A long-term view led us to
put a greater emphasis on climate-related disclosures

6    2022 BLUE BOOK
BLACKSTONE

D E C A R B O N I Z AT I O N P L AT F O R M A N D C O M M IT M E N T TO I N V E S T I N G AT S C A LE I N TO T H E E N E R GY
T R A N S IT I O N TO C R E AT E VA LU E F R O M R E D U C E D E M I S S I O N S

At Blackstone we invest for the long-term on behalf of our            E X P E C T E D I M PAC T ? G R O W T H F R O M C L E A N
investors, including over 100 million pensioners, and the             E N E R GY, D E C R E A S E C O2 , A N D C L E A N
communities in which we operate. Our patience allows                  E N E R GY J O B S
us to develop strong, resilient companies and assets that             The project is expected to have tremendous positive
can deliver both long-term value for our investors, and               benefits — it will deliver 1,250 MW of clean energy to
long-term resilience for a more sustainable future.                   New York City by 2025, enough to power over 1M homes
                                                                      and decrease CO2 emissions by an estimated average
U S I N G D E C A R B O N I Z AT I O N L E S S O N S L E A R N E D    of 3.9M metric tons per year, which is equivalent to
TO B U I L D A N I N D U S T RY- L E A D I N G P L AT F O R M         removing 44% of cars from the city. The project is also
For example, over the last decade, we have partnered                  expected to create approximately 1,400 jobs during
closely with our portfolio companies to help them reduce              construction, with a commitment to using union labor, and
carbon emissions. In the process, we have learned a lot               includes a $40 million new Green Economy Fund that will
about what works — and what doesn’t — when it comes                   provide job training for clean energy jobs.
to reducing carbon emissions across a wide variety                    Our decarbonization platform and our commitment to
of assets in vastly different sectors of the economy.                 investing at scale into the energy transition is a testament
We have built what we believe is an industry-leading                  to what investors with a long-time horizon can achieve.
decarbonization platform and are committed to a target
of reducing carbon emissions by 15% in aggregate within
the first three years of ownership, starting in 2021, for
every company in which we control energy usage — a
commitment informed by climate science. Our long-term
investment horizon gives us time to partner with our
portfolio companies to help them achieve a stronger,
lower-carbon future.

R E N E WA B LE E N E RGY TR A N S M I S S I O N P R OJ E C T
TO LI N K M O NTR E A L A N D N E W YO R K C IT Y
We also invest at scale in certain industries that can drive
transformational change in the global economy, such
as the energy transition. Our committed and intentional
approach to investing in the energy transition allows us
to stay with projects longer than many other investors
would have the patience for. One example of our strategy
in action is the proposal we helped craft with TDI, a
portfolio company, to build the Champlain Hudson Power
Express, a 339-mile renewable energy transmission
project linking Montreal and New York City. After over
a decade of commitment, including close collaboration
with communities, labor organizations, environmental
stewards, and municipalities, New York State selected
TDI’s proposal in October 2021.

                                                                                                           2022 BLUE BOOK        7
BROOKFIELD
CO N N O R TES KE Y | H E A D O F R E N E WA B LE POW E R & TR A N S ITI O N

B R E ATH I N G N E W LI F E I N TO W I N D FA R M S

Net zero by 2050 hinges on a significant leap toward clean               Since most of the existing infrastructure will remain in
energy in this decade. That’s because 73% of the world’s                 place (the land, the permits, the foundations and the
emissions come from the energy sector. According to                      connections to the grid), the timeline for repowering is
the International Energy Agency, by 2050, almost 90% of                  moving quickly — we expect to complete the project
electricity generation will need to come from clean sources              in under 24 months. In addition, we are minimizing
— with wind and solar together accounting for nearly 70%.                project risks by leveraging our existing relationships
This means that wind capacity needs to increase by 11x,                  with equipment suppliers, financing partners, permitting
while solar needs to rise by 20x. Successfully reaching                  authorities, and power off-takers.
these multi-decade goals will require a long-term view
                                                                         Once completed, the repowering at Shepherd’s Flat
on the development and operation of power generation
                                                                         will have the impact of increasing power production by
assets, and by extension, a long-term perspective on
                                                                         approximately 25% annually and extending the life of the
building value for investors.
                                                                         facility by 30 years. While many investors would have
As one of the world’s largest renewable power businesses,                chosen solely to maximize the asset’s current cash profits,
we see enormous potential in wind repowering as an                       we looked beyond that and invested for long-term value
essential step in greening global power grids. Repowering                as well. Moreover, in addition to the current asset, we will
is essentially upgrading and refurbishing existing wind                  have the option to build another 400 MW of capacity next
farms to create power at a greater scale, more efficiently               to the facility — thereby contributing to the 11x increase
and for a longer period of time. The idea behind it is                   needed in the IEA’s pathway to net zero by 2050.
simple: by installing new, larger blades and rotors and/or
new software at an existing site, we can enhance energy                  A W I D E - R E AC H I N G O P P O R T U N I T Y
capture at a fraction of the cost of building a new facility —           The implications of wind repowering go beyond this
between 30% and 50% — and extend the useful life of the                  one asset: In the next five years, we estimate that 200
wind farm by several decades.                                            gigawatts of global wind turbine capacity will age into
                                                                         being candidates for repowering around the world. That is
REPOWERING ONE OF THE L ARGEST WIND                                      the equivalent of about 240 Shepherd’s Flat assets over
FA R M S I N T H E U S                                                   the next five years. The greening of global power grids is
In February 2021, we announced our US$700 million                        the single largest decarbonization opportunity around the
purchase of Shepherd’s Flat, an 845-megawatt wind farm                   world today. Fortunately, most of today’s carbon emissions
in Oregon that is one of the largest in the US — and an                  are abatable by using existing technologies — like wind
attractive candidate for repowering. We were the successful              repowering — that are commercially viable at scale.
bidders on the asset partially due to our differentiated view
on value — we understood the value of the in-place assets
and contracts, but we were also willing to forgo some short-
term cash flows for a couple of years while the asset was
being repowered. We also had the operational experience
to execute on the investment, thereby increasing production
levels and extending the life.
We began the repowering project in June 2021, replacing
the hardware of over 320 turbines with longer rotors and
more efficient equipment. The new blades we are installing
at Shepherd’s Flat are 27 meters longer (a 27% increase),
as well as lighter and stronger. These extra-long blades
are able to pick up low levels of wind that would have
slipped by the older, shorter blades.

8     2022 BLUE BOOK
BUNGE
                                                                                   G R EG H EC KM A N | C H I E F E X ECUTI V E O FFI C E R

I NTE G R ATI N G S U S TA I N A B I LIT Y I NTO E V E RY B U S I N E S S F U N C TI O N — F R O M S U PPLY C H A I N S TO E M PLOY E E
CO M P — PR O PE L S E S G LE A D E R S H I P S CO R E S

At Bunge, we connect farmers to consumers to sustainably                    global operations, promote regenerative farming practices,
deliver essential food, feed and fuel to the world. Our key                 and emphasize decarbonization in shipping and logistics.
areas of growth — expansion of our oilseed processing and
                                                                        •	A substantial portion of emissions reduction within our
origination capabilities, production of renewable feedstocks,
                                                                           supply chains (Scope 3) is tied to our industry-leading
increasing our plant lipids portfolio and development of new
                                                                           commitment to have deforestation-free supply chains in
plant-based protein ingredients — are not only central to our
                                                                           2025. The decision to pair our SBTs to our non-deforestation
business strategy but also a testament to the alignment of
                                                                           policy was praised by stakeholders, including Ceres, PRI, and
sustainability with our corporate vision.
                                                                           Climate Action 100+ investors.
In the past two years, company-wide improvements enabled
                                                                        •	In December 2021, we closed on the refinancing of our $1.75
Bunge to take advantage of improved market conditions and
                                                                           billion, three-year revolving credit facility. The interest rate
generate record earnings, positioning ourselves for long-term
                                                                           is linked to our credit ratings and to five core sustainability
success. We provide value for our shareholders while continuing
                                                                           targets, creating a meaningful connection between Bunge’s
to accelerate our focus on sustainable business opportunities
                                                                           capital structure and sustainability strategy.
that contribute to more climate-friendly agribusiness and
food systems.                                                           •	As of January 1, 2021, performance-based sustainability
                                                                           goals are a component of the annual incentive bonuses
                                                                           paid to our executive team and over 5,500 of our
O N E B U N G E G LO BA L O PE R ATI N G M O D E L H E LP S
                                                                           employees. Our compensation framework is based on a
I N CO R P O R ATE SUSTA I N A B I LIT Y AC ROSS
                                                                           pay-for-performance philosophy with payout now directly
STR ATEG I C B US I N E SS D EC I S I O N S
                                                                           impacted by our attainment of certain sustainability targets.
After Bunge’s 2019 One Bunge announcement of a new, global
operating model that eliminated multiple regional structures,
the company also implemented more disciplined financial
                                                                        E SG D I SC LOSU R E E A R N S B E ST- I N - C L A SS SCO R E S
practices around risk management, the balance sheet and
                                                                        FRO M I N STITUTI O N A L I N V E STM E NT CO M M U N IT Y
capital allocation. At the same time, Bunge began more directly
                                                                        Bunge is a leader among our peers across leading
incorporating sustainability into the strategic business decision-
                                                                        environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure
making process.
                                                                        platforms and our efforts to integrate sustainability into our
•	Bunge divested more than $1 billion in non-strategic assets          business and supply chains have contributed to strong ESG
   and businesses and is investing in sustainable businesses            disclosure scores year over year.
   such as plant-based fats, oils and proteins. A joint venture
                                                                        •	We continue to receive AAA ratings from MSCI, positioning
   with Chevron will produce feedstock to supply the rapidly
                                                                           us ahead of industry peers.
   growing renewable fuel industry, helping lower the lifecycle
   carbon intensity of fuels.                                           •	In 2021, Bunge received “B” ratings — leading scores in
                                                                           our peer group — for CDP Forests, Water and Climate, an
•	Bunge made significant technology investments to improve
                                                                           important platform used by our global customers to assess
   traceability and monitoring of supply chains, help connect
                                                                           supplier sustainability.
   upstream supplies and enhance efficiency of transportation.
                                                                        •	For 2021 and 2022 Bunge was named “Most Responsible
                                                                           Companies” by Newsweek Magazine.
M E E TI N G SUSTA I N A B I LIT Y TA RG E TS V I A N O N -
                                                                        •	Over 3,000 investors surveyed by Institutional Investor
D E FO R E STATI O N SU PPLY C H A I N S , R EG E N E R ATI V E
                                                                           placed Bunge at #3 in the Food Producer category for ESG
FA R M I N G , A N D I N C E NTI V E BO N US E S
                                                                           performance and transparency.
We fight climate change with carbon-focused decision
making across our organization. We are constantly working
                                                                        Actions taken over the past few years have resulted in a
to minimize our environmental footprint and take action to
                                                                        noteworthy business and financial turnaround for Bunge. And
reduce greenhouse gas emissions through our commitment
                                                                        we did so as we raised our climate ambition by progressing
to climate action.
                                                                        toward our existing sustainability commitments, setting more
•	We announced Science-Based Targets (SBTs) to achieve                 aggressive ones as needed, and investing in our potential
   absolute reduction in carbon emissions for our own                   across new growth areas. Taken together, we believe we are on
   operations and in our supply chains. To meet these targets,          the right path to deliver meaningful and impactful climate action
   Bunge will make significant enhancements across our                  while delivering strong results for shareholders.

                                                                                                                 2022 BLUE BOOK           9
CAISSE DE DÉPÔT ET
PLACEMENT DU QUÉBEC
C H A R LES E M O N D | PR ES I D E NT A N D C H I E F E X ECUTI V E O FFI C E R

P R OV I D I N G “ C O N S T R U C T I V E C A P ITA L” F O R I N N OVAT I O N S T H AT D E LI V E R P E R F O R M A N C E
AND PROGRESS

Long-term investing is at the core of our identity at Caisse                   the pandemic. Elsewhere in our portfolio, Lightspeed,
de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ). We see it as                           a Canadian e-commerce software firm, was surging.
a journey, not a destination, and this perspective informs                     We saw the connection and gave Ivanhoé Cambridge’s
our decision-making processes.                                                 tenants free access to its software for a year, helping
                                                                               them to make major strides on the digital commerce front
As a global investment group, we have responsibilities
                                                                               while boosting Lightspeed’s growth with new clients.
to multiple stakeholders wherever we do business. This
means we look beyond immediate financial outcomes to
leverage a broader viewpoint focused on sustainability                         H O L D I N G O U R S E LV E S A N D T H E C O M PA N I E S
when we make decisions.                                                        W E I N V E S T I N TO T H E H I G H E S T S TA N DA R D S
                                                                               Our “constructive capital” approach is inherently a
We are a provider of “constructive capital,” which means
                                                                               long-term one. CDPQ cannot fulfill its dual mandate
that our capital allocations drive performance and
                                                                               — delivering optimal returns and contributing to the
progress. This approach leads us to innovations that will
                                                                               development of Québec’s economy — by observing the
build stronger companies and benefit the communities
                                                                               markets and merely capitalizing on current opportunities.
where we invest.
                                                                               We create our own through our unique perspective while
                                                                               holding ourselves — and the companies we invest in —
H E L P I N G C O M PA N I E S D E C A R B O N I Z E T H E                     to the highest standards. This mindset permeates every
H I G H E S T- E M I T T I N G S E C TO R S A N D AC H I E V E                 aspect of our investing, including asset allocation, portfolio
S C I E N C E - B A S E D TA R G E T S                                         construction, stewardship investing and risk management.
That’s why we are also acutely aware of our role in                            Doing it well makes our capital truly “constructive.”
bringing positive and constructive change in light of the
climate crisis. One example of the steps we are taking is
our CAD 10-billion envelope focused on accelerating the
climate transition. Our goal is not just to decarbonize our
own portfolio, but also to foster the transition of the real
economy. So with this envelope, we are engaging in the
tough work of decarbonizing the highest-emitting sectors,
like steel, lithium, plastics and copper. We help companies
achieve the science-based targets that we set, and we
will measure and report on our own progress annually.
In the long term, we expect these companies to be better
positioned to thrive and to outperform as a result.

D E P LOY I N G C A P I TA L TO Q U E B E C C O M PA N I E S
I M PAC T E D BY PA N D E M I C
For us, the turbulence of the pandemic has been another
opportunity to use our capital constructively. In the first
weeks of the crisis, CDPQ deployed a CAD 4-billion
envelope to support Québec companies temporarily
affected by it while having good prospects for long-term
profitability. We also engaged operationally with concrete
measures to help the retail tenants of our real-estate
subsidiary, Ivanhoé Cambridge, which were hard hit by

10     2022 BLUE BOOK
CARLYLE
                                                                               KE WSO N G LE E | C H I E F E X ECUTI V E O FFI C E R

P R I VAT E C O M PA N Y E S G DATA C O N V E R G E N C E P R OJ E C T

In a rapidly changing world, Carlyle believes that impact          1 0 0 L P S A N D G P S S I G N O N TO R E P O R T O N S I X
is a lens for finding efficiencies and capitalizing on new         K P I S F O R 1 3 0 0 P R I VAT E C O M PA N I E S
growth, as we see the market valuing a wider set of                This project maintains the long-term objective to create
business models and competencies. By helping our                   a critical mass of meaningful, performance based ESG
portfolio companies improve across these dimensions —              data from private companies, prioritizing near-term action.
from creating sustainability-driven growth strategies to           Impact thus far includes:
building more diverse teams — we believe we will build
                                                                   •	Over the first 8 months of 2021, seven asset managers
more valuable businesses and deliver better results for
                                                                      and eight investors came together to agree upon
all stakeholders.
                                                                      sox metrics that GPs would collect in the initial year:
ESG data is a critical to understand and advance ESG                  Scopes 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions, renewable
improvements in companies over time. Its current state,               energy usage, board diversity, work-related injuries,
however, is incredibly challenged. Investors can’t see                net new hires, and employee engagement.
standardized, comparable ESG data across their portfolios,
                                                                   •	To date, more than 100 LPs and GPs have joined the
asset managers are struggling under a mounting volume
                                                                      effort, meaning the six KPIs will be provided for more
of bespoke ESG data requests, companies are sorting
                                                                      than ~1300 private companies. Whenever an LP asks
through an increasingly complex set of ESG frameworks
                                                                      for these data points, participating GPs will provide
and standards, and broad-based data about ESG
                                                                      those 6 KPIs using the same definition and same
performance for private equity-owned companies doesn’t
                                                                      format — enabling transparent/comparable data
exist in the market.
                                                                      across portfolios.
In order to address these challenges, we needed to take a
                                                                   •	In order to accelerate the field at large, each asset
long-term view on strategy and aspiration, but a near-term
                                                                      manager has agreed to anonymize portfolio company
view on tactical implementation. To this end, in 2021, we
                                                                      ESG data, and aggregate centrally into benchmarks
co-led the creation of the ESG Data Convergence Project
                                                                      to drive industry insights — Boston Consulting Group
alongside CalPERS and a number of our other LP and GP
                                                                      published a research paper based on historical data
partners, forming the first-ever GP-LP cohort to create a
                                                                      submitted by participating asset managers. Since the
critical mass of material, performance-based, comparable
                                                                      launch of the project in September 2021, over 100 GPs
ESG data from portfolio companies.
                                                                      and LPs have signed on, representing over $8 trillion
                                                                      in AUM.
G P S A N D P O R T F O L I O C O M PA N I E S B E N C H M A R K
E S G P O S I T I O N S A N D T R AC K P R O G R E S S / L P S
G E T T R A N S PA R E N C Y
The objective of the group is to streamline the private
market’s historically fragmented approach to collecting
and reporting ESG data in order to create a critical
mass of meaningful, performance-based, comparable
ESG data from private companies. This allows GPs and
portfolio companies to benchmark their current position
and generate progress toward ESG improvements, while
enabling greater transparency and more comparable
portfolio information for LPs. Importantly, this enables us
to more effectively help portfolio companies improve their
performance on material ESG issues.

                                                                                                         2022 BLUE BOOK           11
CPP INVESTMENTS
JO H N G R A H A M | PR ES I D E NT A N D C H I E F E X ECUTI V E O FFI C E R

In 2013, when CPP Investments and McKinsey & Company                            consistent investment decisions and mitigate risk. The
launched the Focusing Capital on the Long Term initiative                       Investment Beliefs provide clarity and consistency to CPP
to advance practical actions to focus business and markets                      Investments’ decision-making, a guide to evaluate and
on the long term, we had no way of knowing that it would                        select appropriate investment strategies globally, and a
take on a life of its own and that in 2021, we would be                         compass to stay the course.
celebrating the fifth anniversary of FCLTGlobal.
                                                                                E X A M P L E : I N C O R P O R AT I N G N O N - M A R K E T
I N V E S T M E N T O R G A N I Z AT I O N S W O R K                            FAC TO R S I N TO D E C I S I O N - M A K I N G C R E AT E S
TO G E T H E R TO D E V E LO P LO N G -T E R M                                  M O R E S U S TA I N A B L E VA LU E
PORTFOLIO GUIDE                                                                 For example, one of our Investment Beliefs is that
As part of the Focusing Capital on the Long Term                                ‘incorporating non-market and emergent factors into
initiative, CPP Investments led a working group of                              decision-making creates more sustainable value’. This
over 20 investment professionals from institutional                             belief that corporations and organizations that better
investment organizations around the world to develop                            identify and appropriately manage environmental, social
the Long-Term Portfolio Guide to “reorient portfolio                            and governance factors and other long-term strategic
strategies and investment management to focus capital                           issues are more likely to endure, and create greater value
on the long term.”                                                              over the long term, than those that do not, is integral to
                                                                                how we invest and is reflected in investment processes,
This early working group was an embodiment of the
                                                                                including our proxy voting principles and guidelines.
work that FCLTGlobal does today in bringing together
different members of the investment value chain to                              Today, we remain an active member of FCLTGlobal and
discuss and solve common strategic challenges. The                              are engaged on issues that will shape our industry and
Long-Term Portfolio Guide did not take a “one size fits all”                    capital markets for years to come. These include research
approach. It encouraged institutional investors, within                         projects on climate change, risk management, and equity,
the context of their own unique situations, to evaluate,                        diversity, and inclusion in PE-controlled company boards.
adapt, and adopt an organizationally appropriate mix of
these ideas to enhance the long-term value they create
for their beneficiaries.

C P P I N V E S T M E N T S D E V E LO P S
INVESTMENT BELIEFS VIA A FUND -WIDE
C O N S U LTAT I O N P R O C E S S
A key recommendation of the Long-Term Portfolio
Guide was for institutional investors to clearly articulate
investment beliefs, with a focus on their portfolio
consequences, to provide a foundation for a sustained
long-term investment strategy.
As a result, CPP Investments developed our first set
of Investment Beliefs in 2019. We underwent a Fund-
wide consultation process, where all employees across
the organization were asked to participate in working
sessions to help draft our Investment Beliefs. Our
Investment Beliefs are core to our strategy and serve
 as a guide for our day-to-day investment decisions.
These beliefs serve as a foundation for our long-term
investment goals while ensuring that we make

12     2022 BLUE BOOK
DOW INC
                                                                J I M FIT TE R LI N G | C H A I R M A N A N D C H I E F E X ECUTI V E O FFI C E R

At Dow, our ambition is to become the most innovative,                  D E V E LO P I N G T H E W O R L D ’ S F I R S T N E T-Z E R O
customer-centric, inclusive, and sustainable materials                  C A R B O N E M I S S I O N S E T H Y L E N E C R AC K E R
science company in the world. To achieve this vision                    A N D D E R I VAT I V E S C O M P L E X T H AT W I L L
requires a combination of near-term adaptability and                    DECARBONIZE 20% OF DOW ’S WORLDWIDE
long-term strategic decision making, to ensure the                      E T H Y L E N E C A PAC I T Y
Company remains relevant and competitive while creating                 Notably, we are developing the world’s first net-zero
meaningful value for all stakeholders both today and into               carbon emissions ethylene cracker and derivatives
the future. Since its separation from DowDuPont in 2019,                complex in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, which will
Dow has made significant progress advancing its ambition,               decarbonize ~20% of our global ethylene capacity while
supported by a long-term mindset that is reflected in                   more than tripling the ethylene and downstream derivative
everything we do. This approach has ensured Dow’s                       capacity at the site and delivering ~$1 billion in EBITDA
business remains resilient across the economic cycle,                   growth by 2030. This is a key investment that allows us to
delivering top-quartile cash flow, cost performance, net                meet the increasing needs of our customers and brand
debt reduction and shareholder renumeration, all while                  owners seeking to lower the carbon footprint of their
advancing our leadership position in ESG.                               products. For example, plastics remain an indispensable
                                                                        part of a low-carbon future — they make cars lighter and
CONSUMERS DRIVE DEMAND FOR                                              more fuel efficient, homes more energy-efficient and
S U S TA I N A B L E P R O D U C T S                                    reduce food waste — a major contributor to the world’s
The foundation of our leadership is a purpose-built                     carbon emissions. Our disciplined approach positions us
portfolio, which is positioned to solve many of the world’s             well to lead the industry in decarbonizing, growing, and
toughest challenges. Importantly, there are several                     accelerating our path toward carbon neutrality.
growth drivers in the industry that will increase demand
for our products, including connectivity, efficiency, and               E S G M E T R I C S A D D E D TO E M P LOY E E
sustainability. Specifically, sustainability is a significant           P E R F O R M A N C E AWA R D S P R O G R A M S
growth opportunity for Dow as customers around the world                We expect to deliver all this while continuing to enhance
are demanding more circular and sustainable products. And               our industry-leading ESG profile in support of our ambition.
with Dow’s global scale, leadership in materials science                We are accelerating our actions to protect the planet,
and chemistry, and alignment to attractive market verticals,            placing an intentional focus on inclusion, diversity and
our portfolio is differentiated and well-equipped to capture            equity, and driving best-in-class governance practices. We
growth across these trends over the long-term.                          do this while ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of
                                                                        our people; the reliability of our operations; and serving
PL A N TO AC H I E V E A N ET-ZE RO C A R BO N                          as a force for positive social change in the communities
E M ISS ION S FUTU R E WH I LE G ROWI N G E A R N I N GS                where we live and work. Consistent with our commitment
To that end, in October 2021, we announced a disciplined                to transparency and accountability, we’ve set clear goals
plan to continue delivering value growth while achieving                against which to measure our progress, including the
a net-zero carbon emissions future. Through these efforts,              addition of ESG metrics to our employee and officer
we expect to increase underlying EBITDA by more than                    Performance Award programs, as well as the publication of
$3 billion through the execution of higher-return, lower-               INtersections — our holistic and comprehensive ESG report.
risk, faster-payback projects as well as our efficiency                 By working at the intersections of science and sustainability,
programs, including plans to digitalize the company and                 culture and accountability, Dow is partnering with others to
become more customer-centric. At the same time, we are                  encourage new thinking, advance ESG issues that matter
implementing a phased, site-by-site approach to replace                 most to our stakeholders, and unlock new avenues of
end-of-life assets with lower-emissions, lower-capex,                   growth that will power our success for the future.
higher-ROIC and higher-capacity operations, with a clear
path to a 30% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by
2030, and zero-carbon emissions by 2050.

                                                                                                                    2022 BLUE BOOK            13
DSM
G E R A LD I N E M ATC H E T T
CO - C EO, C FO, A N D M E M B E R O F TH E M A N AG I N G BOA R D

TR A N S FO R M I N G FO O D SYS TE M S FO R H E A LTH I E R PE O PLE , PL A N E T & LI V E LI H O O D S

Done right, the way that we grow, produce, and eat food                 beyond the limits of what our planet can provide in terms of
benefits not only our own health, but that of society and the           land and resources. DSM is working to transform how we can
planet too. Yet how to feed everyone with nutritious and                sustainably produce and consume food as a society.
healthy food while protecting those who produce it and
                                                                        •	
                                                                          Our commitment: To enable double-digit on-farm
without further straining the environment? At DSM, a global
                                                                          livestock emissions reduction by 2030. Proteins are
leader in science-based nutrition, we’ve been striving to
                                                                          highly nutritious and fundamental to a healthy, balanced
address these challenges for many years. In 2021, we stepped
                                                                          diet. However, animal farming impacts our climate and the
up our efforts by making explicit our ambition to transform the
                                                                          natural world. At DSM, we are working closely with best-
sustainability of global food systems as we continue delivering
                                                                          in-class industry partners to develop future-proof thinking,
on our purpose of creating brighter lives for all.
                                                                          scientific breakthroughs, and cutting-edge technologies
                                                                          to help farmers develop cost-effective emissions-
OU R V I S I O N : A WO R LD W H E R E E V E RYO N E H A S                reduction practices.
ACC E SS TO N UTR ITI O N A N D PRO DUC TI O N O F
                                                                        •    ur commitment: Reaching 150 million people with
                                                                            O
FOO D LE AV E S N O FOOTPR I NT
                                                                            plant-based foods by 2030. At the same time, we are
We envisage a world where everyone has access to good
                                                                            working to support alternatives, such as through enzymes
nutrition. Where agriculture and the production of food leaves
                                                                            that can deliver a better taste, texture, and mouthfeel in
no environmental footprint. Where food loss and waste does
                                                                            plant-based foods. We are directly investing in plant-based
not exist anymore. And where farmers and their communities
                                                                            protein derived from canola (rapeseed) as well as from
don’t just survive but thrive. Building on our scientific strengths
                                                                            peas and beans as viable meat and dairy alternatives.
and innovation power, we have made firm, measurable
commitments that will see us improve the health of the planet,
of people, and of livelihoods by 2030.
                                                                        H E A LTH Y LI V E LI H OO DS: SU PP O RTI N G
                                                                        A N D R E WA R D I N G FA R M E RS FO R
HE ALTH FOR PEOPLE: CLOSING THE                                         SUSTA I N A B I LIT Y PR AC TI C E S
MICRONUTRIE NT GAP AND SUPPORTING IMMUNIT Y                             We need to ensure that the farmers who produce our food can
At DSM, we’re working to provide good, affordable nutrition             do so sustainably, while benefitting from new farming practices.
that supports better health and wellbeing.
                                                                        •	Our commitment: Supporting the livelihoods of 500,000
•	
  Our commitment: Help close the micronutrient gap of                      smallholder farmers by 2030. Rewarding farmers for
  800 million people by 2030. More than two billion people                 applying the most sustainable methods, training them
  worldwide lack essential micronutrients such as vitamins                 to help make it happen and supporting them to secure a
  and minerals in their diets. We are working hand-in-                     steady income will be transformational. We will be scaling
  hand with local and international partners to introduce                  up Africa Improved Foods, our Joint Venture in Rwanda
  innovative solutions for widescale staple food fortification             with local authorities and development agencies which
  and public health supplements for vulnerable people.                     aims to provide healthy food for the local population and
  Our initiatives are already helping several hundred million              a better, steadier income for smallholder farmers through
  people each year, but we want to go further.                             local sourcing.
•     ur commitment: Supporting the immunity of half a billion
     O
                                                                        Long-term sustainability is at the heart of our purpose-led
     people by 2030. The global pandemic has highlighted
                                                                        ethos — we were among the first companies to have an
     the need for good nutrition — such as vitamins C and D,
                                                                        emissions reduction plan to be independently validated by the
     Omega-3 fatty acids and probiotics — to protect everyone’s
                                                                        global Science Based Targets initiative to align with the Paris
     health and immunity. We will work closer with governments
                                                                        Climate Agreement. Our progress on these new ambitions
     and other partners to drive awareness of this important link
                                                                        will be externally audited each year in our Integrated Annual
     and ensure sufficient vitamin intake for more people.
                                                                        Report, with DSM one of the few companies in the world to
                                                                        seek reasonable assurance on all our impact reporting. The
                                                                        reason is simple: We cannot be successful in a world that fails.
H E A LTH FO R PL A N E T: R E DUC I N G
LI V E STOC K E M I SS I O N S A N D I N V E STI N G
I N PL A NT- BA S E D PROTE I N
Food accounts for more than a quarter of all global
greenhouse gas emissions and the world is moving further

14     2022 BLUE BOOK
EDELMAN

E S G G LO B A L R E P O R T I N G C E N T E R O F E XC E LLE N C E W I LL H E LP B U I LD S TA K E H O LD E R S ’ T R U S T

The trends in ESG reporting have transformed the                      that prioritizes 1) technical subject matter expertise
corporate landscape in just a couple of years, moving from            relevant at a global level, available to all clients as needed
nice-to-have to must-have across the globe, and acting                in real time 2) delivery on reporting needs at a local level,
as a prism through which one can examine how business                 in line with existing client coverage expectations. We
leaders can establish trust with all their stakeholders.              now call this integrated team the Edelman ESG Global
                                                                      Reporting Center of Excellence. Its key strategic pillars are:
DEFINING THE CHALLENGE: ENHANCING                                     1.	Permanent leadership for the CoE — rather than purely
S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y C O M M U N I C AT I O N S A N D               project-based — staffed by established professionals
D E T E C T I N G E VO LV I N G T R E N D S                               with backgrounds in sustainability reporting,
At Edelman, we have a long-standing sustainability                        investment management, and ESG consulting
advisory capability, working with clients on how to
                                                                      2.	Mandatory training programs for all CoE staff on
define and position their purpose and ESG goals, and
                                                                          the fundamental building blocks of reporting (e.g.,
therefore enhance the effectiveness of their sustainability
                                                                          GRI Academy, SASB FSA credential, CFA Institute
communications. In many instances, however, these client
                                                                          Certificate in ESG Investing)
assignments have remained in the regional or subject
matter expertise silos where they first landed. This left our         3.	Furthering the agenda — through regular thought
global Edelman teams often unaware about what certain                     leadership pieces and client advisory notices on
clients were asking of us, and therefore unprepared to                    changes in reporting trends, such as the TCFD
detect how trends were evolving. And given the nature of                  guidance update in November 2021
reporting assignments — with often very tight deadlines
and sense of exhaustion lingering after the project’s                 With this new approach, we feel better positioned to
completion — it was also creating many short-term                     respond to client assignments, as well as provide truly best
business opportunities that accumulated in a random                   in class execution on their ever-increasing ESG reporting
manner globally, but it did not allow us to have a long-term          needs. As of January 2022, our CoE has over 25 projects
vision or strategy for how to do it better.                           underway globally for delivery before the end of the first
                                                                      quarter, with reports ranging across multiple industries
This lack of sharing best practices was not just an internal
                                                                      and geographies.
business problem — it was increasingly anachronistic.
As the ESG trends mentioned above gathered steam,                     Edelman is convinced ESG is here to stay and that
it became increasingly obvious to us that no effective                communication agencies such as ourselves will be at the
communication on sustainability could take place                      forefront of building narratives that are fact-based and
without genuine technical expertise on the key reporting              help build stakeholders’ trust in business. Without taking
frameworks emerging as best in class — whether GRI,                   the long-term needs of the ESG reporting market into
SASB, or CDP — or, as will soon be the case for TCFD in               account — and investing proactively and commensurately
the UK and New Zealand as well as the EU’s upcoming                   to address them — we realized we would end up in a
CSRD, the veritable law of the land. So if we wanted to be            weaker competitive position. We are proud that we took
winners long-term, we had to up our game on the technical             the time needed to know how to build a true global ESG
knowledge required as well.                                           Center of Excellence, and are firmly convinced that his
                                                                      long-term investment will yield returns for our clients and
                                                                      our business.
R E - E N G I N E E R I N G S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y
R E P O R T I N G W I T H G LO B A L A N D LO C A L
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
We therefore decided to completely re-engineer our
sustainability reporting business, adopting an approach

                                                                                                           2022 BLUE BOOK        15
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