Moody’s Joins Ceres Company Network and Ceres Investor Network

Mar 28, 2018 11:00 AM ET

BOSTON and NEW YORK March 28, 2018 /3BL Media/ - The sustainability nonprofit organization Ceres and Moody’s Corporation (NYSE: MCO) announced today that Moody’s has joined both the Ceres Company Network as a member and the Ceres Investor Network as an associate member.

As a new member of the Ceres Company Network, Moody’s joins more than 50 companies, including dozens of Fortune 500 firms, committed to achieving sustainability goals and improving resiliency in their operations and global supply chains. Through the network, Moody’s will gain unique access to stakeholders interested in engaging on opportunities embedded in the ongoing transition to a more sustainable, low-carbon economy.

"Membership in the Ceres networks builds on our ongoing commitment to assessing the impact of Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) considerations in credit ratings,” said Raymond McDaniel, Jr., President and CEO, Moody’s Corporation. “Moody’s plays a critical role in global capital markets, and this partnership strengthens our efforts to address the growing needs of investors and issuers concerning ESG issues.”

Ceres will work with Moody’s to continue to advance its environmental and social performance. Moody’s Investors Service, the ratings agency unit of Moody’s, is committed to enhancing the transparency of how ESG factors are considered in its credit ratings and produces research on the credit implications of carbon transition risk and physical climate change for key sectors.

In 2016, Moody’s launched Green Bond Assessments reflecting the company’s commitment to sustainability by providing a consistent, standardized and transparent way for market participants to evaluate a green bond on its ability to deliver on its environmental promise. Moody’s also publishes a regular Green Bond Quarterly update and green bond research.

In addition, Moody’s is actively engaged in a number of policy initiatives including the Financial Stability Board Task Force on Climate-Related Disclosures, a multinational effort to set standards to help lenders, insurers, investors and regulators make better decisions. Moody’s also became the first credit rating agency to join Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change.

“Moody’s is creating value for its shareholders and highlighting important risks and opportunities for the companies they evaluate by incorporating sustainability factors into its rating criteria,” said Mindy Lubber, President and CEO of Ceres. “I am looking forward to working with them across our networks.”

To join the Ceres Company Network, companies must have executive-level, public-facing sustainability commitments. Learn more about the Ceres Company Network:https://www.ceres.org/networks/ceres-company-network.

Learn more about Ceres Investor Network: https://www.ceres.org/networks/ceres-investor-network

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ABOUT CERES
Ceres is a sustainability nonprofit organization working with the most influential investors and companies to build leadership and drive solutions throughout the economy. For more information, visit www.ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.

ABOUT MOODY’S CORPORATION
Moody's is an essential component of the global capital markets, providing credit ratings, research, tools and analysis that contribute to transparent and integrated financial markets. Moody’s Corporation (NYSE: MCO) is the parent company of Moody's Investors Service, which provides credit ratings and research covering debt instruments and securities, and Moody's Analytics, which offers leading-edge software, advisory services and research for credit and economic analysis and financial risk management. The corporation, which reported revenue of $4.2 billion in 2017, employs approximately 11,900 people worldwide and maintains a presence in 41 countries. Further information is available at www.moodys.com.