Deal Diary

If, as they say, past is prologue, then boards of directors in the United States should follow closely lessons learned by their European and British counterparts when it comes to the potential role sustainable finance plays in relation to financing the long-term strategic objectives of U.S. companies across all sectors of the economy. Companies and investors alike are demanding sustainable investment opportunities in the form of financial and consumer products, and companies are facing increased pressure to factor in sustainability in terms of long-term growth strategies. In addition, all stakeholders continue to demand access to comparable and reliable metrics in order to evaluate the extent to which a particular investment or product is, in fact, sustainable. Indeed, the foregoing is driving rulemaking initiatives by various federal and state regulatory authorities, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). All of these factors deserve the attention by boards of directors.