ELFA appoints Elena Rinaldi as Co-Chair of the CLO Investor Committee
ELFA appoints a New Co-Chair for the CLO Investor Committee
Already a member? October 9 2023, London: The European Leveraged Finance Association (ELFA) is pleased to announce the release of its
latest Insights Report, “CLO Carbon and Climate Disclosures: Methods for Enhancing Transparency.” This comprehensive
paper addresses the pressing need for greater transparency and integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)
factors, particularly climate disclosures, within Collateralized Loan Obligations (CLOs). The report comes at a time when
investor demand for ESG integration in CLOs has seen a significant surge over the past two years.
CLO managers are increasingly incorporating ESG factors into their investment processes, including negative screening, as a
response to growing investor interest and regulatory developments. Climate disclosures within CLO transactions are poised
to take centre stage, further intensifying the pressure on CLO managers to obtain greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting
and other relevant data from borrowers. Understanding emerging sources of climate-related credit risk and addressing them
through active management is becoming paramount for CLOs.
Both European and US CLO asset managers have a vested interest in enhanced data transparency at the underlying borrower
level and a consistent methodology for reporting GHG emissions at the portfolio level. The approach presented in this
report is adaptable for implementation by CLO managers on both sides of the Atlantic. Uniform reporting standards would
streamline deal and asset manager assessments, benefiting global CLO investors.
While the report primarily focuses on CLOs, CLO managers, and CLO investors, its findings are directly relevant to any
type of loan fund, fund manager, and fund investor. Climate risks, although seemingly less material for CLO investors due
to diversification and risk protections, remain an important consideration. Climate risk affects reporting and portfolio
construction, and managers must actively address it.
Historically, CLOs have demonstrated lower default rates compared to similarly rated corporate bonds and loans. However,
market credit spread movements and credit rating migration pose risks to CLO performance. For instance, regulatory
compliance costs associated with climate and air emission policies can lead to rating downgrades in sectors like automotive,
impacting CLOs. Capitalising on CLO market opportunities hinges on active management, including in-depth research on
individual loans, underlying borrowers, and associated credit risks.
ELFA’s CEO Sabrina Fox, commented: “This Insights Report is a vital resource for CLO stakeholders and fund managers more
broadly and underscores ELFA’s commitment to promoting transparency and efficiency in the leveraged finance market.
Together with recent guidance for private companies and their lenders on climate disclosure published by The Initiative
Climate International (iCI), which was supported by ELFA, these resources will support increased carbon reporting. This will
allow companies that can demonstrate positive momentum in reducing emissions an opportunity to secure more favourable
refinancing and loan terms as part of the low-carbon transition.”
For more information and to access the full report, please click here.
