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Inside S&P Global Ratings IFR Outlook H1 2019: Political uncertainty, sustainability and ESG

S&P Global Ratings has published 2019’s first edition of Infrastructure Finance Outlook, its newsletter of key infrastructure and project finance-related research and ratings news.

In this edition, S&P Global Ratings considers global infrastructure investment trends, spanning China, the GCC and the Americas, along with the regulatory and political risk factors across these regions.

With global political uncertainties on the rise, infrastructure investors are even more focused on long-term sustainability. And, as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations are rising to the fore of investment strategies, the credit rating agency dedicates this edition to providing greater insight to its newest offering, the ESG Evaluation.

Please see the full newsletter in PDF here.

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S&P Global Ratings’ Gabe Grosberg speaks to Utility Dive about the road ahead for California utilities

Following California’s devastating Camp Fire in late 2018 and PG&E’s resulting filing for bankruptcy some months later, Gabe Grosberg, Senior Director and North America Regulated Utilities Sector Lead at S&P Global Ratings, comments on what could lie ahead for California’s other investment grade-utilities for Utility Dive.

“Pressure on the state’s utilities isn’t over,” warns Grosberg. “In the absence of regulatory change, it’s possible that another electric utility could face trouble during the 2019 wildfire season. And, depending on the magnitude and severity of the repercussions, the boards of other California utilities could file for voluntary bankruptcy before year-end 2019.”

The full article can be found here.

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ESG-based investing is here to stay, says S&P Global Ratings, covered by the specialist press

According to a recent report by S&P Global Ratings, executives and asset managers are in agreement that the rise of environmental, social, and governance (ESG)-based investing will likely accelerate as a younger, more values-oriented crop of investors enter the global markets.

Doug Peterson, S&P Global President and CEO, told attendees of  launch event for S&P Global Ratings’ ESG Evaluation tool, “Now more than ever, companies understand and have a much better appreciation of their responsibilities as corporate citizens. We see ESG matters as an essential component of sustainable company performance.”

Following outreach from Moorgate, the report was covered by Aqua Now, Wealth Adviser, SDG Knowledge Hub, and Institutional Asset Manager.

 

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S&P Global Ratings’ Michael Wilkins provides insight on new ESG Evaluation in Global Capital

Following the launch of S&P Global Ratings’ Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Evaluation, Global Capital interviewed Michael Wilkins, Managing Director and Head of Sustainable Finance, S&P Global Ratings.

In the interview, Wilkins discusses the launch, the methodology behind the ESG Evaluation tool, and the pilot studies conducted so far.

Wilkins commented on the tool: “I think it’s ground-breaking because it really does go beyond what a traditional credit rating agency does. We have now started to look at ESG with a different lens, and that is the lens of the impact ESG has on stakeholders across the board. So it’s much broader than the typical focus on the impact on debt and equity.”

The full interview can be found here (behind paywall).

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S&P Global Ratings’ Gloria Lu and Abhishek Dangra discuss looming volatility in Asian infrastructure market for Brink Asia

S&P Global Ratings’ Gloria Lu, Senior Director of Corporate & Infrastructure Ratings, Asia Pacific, and Abhishek Dangra, Director, Asia Pacific Corporate Ratings, recently discussed the looming volatility shadowing Asia’s infrastructure market for Brink News, offering their own views and potential responses to increasing risks proliferating in the region.

Discussing the refinancing risks that China may face as a third of the market’s debt approaches maturity in the coming months, Lu and Dangra consider some options available to mitigate external pressures, such as political and regulatory reform.

Read the full article here.

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S&P Global Ratings launches ESG Evaluation, covered by the specialist press

S&P Global Ratings recently launched its ESG Evaluation. The tool provides a cross-sector, relative analysis of an entity’s capacity to operate successfully in the future and is grounded in how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors could affect its stakeholders and potentially lead to a material financial impact.

“The ESG Evaluation aims to deliver a forward-looking view that sets a new holistic benchmark in sustainability,” said Michael Wilkins, Managing Director and Head of Sustainable Finance, S&P Global Ratings.

Following Moorgate outreach, the launch was covered by: Markets Media, Global Banking & Finance Review, Environmental Finance, Institutional Asset Manager, The Asset, Business Green, Global Capital here, here and here, Edie.net, and ETFWorld.

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S&P Global Ratings’ Julyana Yokota reviews Latin America’s changing infrastructure landscape for Brink News

In a commentary for Brink News, Julyana Yokota, Director of Infrastructure Ratings at S&P Global Ratings, highlights the geopolitical and regulatory risks that are driving a shift in investor sentiment towards Latin American infrastructure.

Yakota considers Brazil, Mexico and Argentina individually, alongside the broader regional landscape, stating that “credit conditions have significantly improved…particularly with regard to utilities’ regulatory stability and transparency.”

The full commentary can be found here.

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S&P Global Ratings’ Candela Macchi explores Latam’s infrastructure market growth for Financier Worldwide

Financier Worldwide has published a commentary written by S&P Global Ratings’ Director and Sector Lead in the Infrastructure Ratings Practice in Latin America, Candela Macchi, in which she examines the expansion and resilience of the region’s infrastructure market and the discrepancies between its’ industries.

Emphasising the longevity within this asset class, Macchi predicts that although changes to regulatory frameworks will pose new challenges and unpredictable political landscapes could undermine market confidence, investors may still find comfort in the favourable conditions that traditionally characterize the infrastructure market.

The full article can be found here.

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S&P Global Ratings publishes its inaugural edition of U.S. Corporate Insights

 S&P Global Ratings has published its inaugural edition of U.S Corporate Insights – answering the questions on investors’ mind regarding the latest corporate credit trends, such as: how are looming trade wars and higher debt levels affecting appetite? And, as we near the latter stages of the credit cycle, is the current state of play one of peak, plateau, or peril?

The edition also provides sector views from S&P Global Ratings analysts on oil and gas, autos, real estate, and media and telecoms.

Read the latest edition here

Moorgate compiles, edits and designs U.S Corporate Insights