Moody’s Joins the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), will Help Develop Reporting Framework

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Moody’s Corporation (NYSE: MCO) today announced that it has joined the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), a new industry-led initiative working to significantly shift global financial flows from nature-negative to nature-positive outcomes. As a member of the TNFD, Moody’s will join leading organizations across key sectors and geographies to develop a reporting framework and act on evolving nature-related risks.

“At its core, Moody’s role is to help others better understand, measure, and manage risk. As our own research has identified, biodiversity and nature-related risks are impacting corporate performance and are increasingly important considerations in building a more sustainable future,” said Rob Fauber, President and Chief Executive Officer of Moody’s Corporation. “We are thrilled to contribute to the TNFD’s efforts as organizations increasingly seek to make better decisions and unlock opportunities across their value chains.”

Research from across Moody’s has found that biodiversity and nature-related risks pose a significant threat to a wide range of industries and sectors. A Moody’s Investors Service report found that 12 sectors with $2.1 trillion in combined debt, including all extractive industries, face high or very high natural capital risk. In addition, a Moody’s ESG Solutions study found that 38% of large publicly traded companies have at least one facility associated with habitat loss, based on a sample of 5,300 corporations.

Currently, financial institutions and companies do not have complete information to help them understand how nature-related risks impact long- and short-term financial performance. The TNFD will assist financial institutions and companies with incorporating nature-related risks and opportunities into their strategic planning, risk management and asset allocation decisions. In the coming years, Moody’s will work with TNFD members to develop a practical framework for nature-related risks and a set of reporting guidelines.

The announcement builds on Moody’s participation in the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), which has established and normalized a framework for reporting financial risks related to climate change. It also follows Moody’s role as a founding member of the Net Zero Financial Services Provider Alliance, which is part of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero. Moody’s has also committed to achieve net-zero emissions across its operations and value chain by 2040, bringing its original target forward by 10 years. In addition, Moody’s has set and progressed on validated, interim net-zero science-based targets. Progress on these targets can be viewed in Moody’s recent TCFD Report and Stakeholder Sustainability Report. Additional information about Moody’s climate efforts is available on its Climate Hub.

ABOUT MOODY’S CORPORATION

Moody’s (NYSE: MCO) is a global integrated risk assessment firm that empowers organizations to make better decisions. Its data, analytical solutions and insights help decision-makers identify opportunities and manage the risks of doing business with others. We believe that greater transparency, more informed decisions, and fair access to information open the door to shared progress. With over 11,500 employees in more than 40 countries, Moody’s combines international presence with local expertise and over a century of experience in financial markets. Learn more at moodys.com/about.

“SAFE HARBOR” STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

Certain statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements and are based on future expectations, plans and prospects for the business and operations of Moody’s Corporation (the “Company”) that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such statements may include, among other words, “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “plan”, “will”, “predict”, “potential”, “continue”, “strategy”, “aspire”, “target”, “forecast”, “project”, “estimate”, “should”, “could”, “may” and similar expressions or words and variations thereof that convey the prospective nature of events or outcomes generally indicative of forward-looking statements. Stockholders and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and other information in this release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation (nor does it intend) to publicly supplement, update or revise such statements on a going-forward basis, whether as a result of subsequent developments, changed expectations or otherwise, except as required by applicable law or regulation. In connection with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company is identifying examples of factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ, perhaps materially, from those indicated by these forward-looking statements. Those factors, risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impact of COVID-19 on volatility in the U.S. and world financial markets, on general economic conditions and GDP in the U.S. and worldwide, and on the Company’s own operations and personnel. Many other factors could cause actual results to differ from Moody’s outlook, including credit market disruptions or economic slowdowns, which could affect the volume of debt and other securities issued in domestic and/or global capital markets; other matters that could affect the volume of debt and other securities issued in domestic and/or global capital markets, including regulation, credit quality concerns, changes in interest rates and other volatility in the financial markets such as that due to Brexit and uncertainty as companies transition away from LIBOR; the level of merger and acquisition activity in the U.S. and abroad; the uncertain effectiveness and possible collateral consequences of U.S. and foreign government actions affecting credit markets, international trade and economic policy, including those related to tariffs, tax agreements and trade barriers; concerns in the marketplace affecting our credibility or otherwise affecting market perceptions of the integrity or utility of independent credit agency ratings; the introduction of competing products or technologies by other companies; pricing pressure from competitors and/or customers; the level of success of new product development and global expansion; the impact of regulation as an NRSRO, the potential for new U.S., state and local legislation and regulations; the potential for increased competition and regulation in the EU and other foreign jurisdictions; exposure to litigation related to Moody’s Investors Service’s rating opinions, as well as any other litigation, government and regulatory proceedings, investigations and inquiries to which the Company may be subject from time to time; U.S. legislation modifying the pleading standards and EU regulations modifying the liability standards applicable to credit rating agencies in a manner adverse to credit rating agencies; provisions of EU regulations imposing additional procedural and substantive requirements on the pricing of services and the expansion of supervisory remit to include non-EU ratings used for regulatory purposes; the possible loss of key employees; failures or malfunctions of our operations and infrastructure; any vulnerabilities to cyber threats or other cybersecurity concerns; the outcome of any review by controlling tax authorities of the Company’s global tax planning initiatives; exposure to potential criminal sanctions or civil remedies if the Company fails to comply with foreign and U.S. laws and regulations that are applicable in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates, including data protection and privacy laws, sanctions laws, anti-corruption laws, and local laws prohibiting corrupt payments to government officials; the impact of mergers, acquisitions or other business combinations and the ability of the Company to successfully integrate such acquired businesses; currency and foreign exchange volatility; the level of future cash flows; the levels of capital investments; and a decline in the demand for credit risk management tools by financial institutions. These factors, risks and uncertainties as well as other risks and uncertainties that could cause Moody’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, projected, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements are currently, or in the future could be, amplified by the COVID-19 outbreak, and are described in greater detail under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and in other filings made by the Company from time to time with the SEC or in materials incorporated herein or therein. Stockholders and investors are cautioned that the occurrence of any of these factors, risks and uncertainties may cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, projected, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements, which could have a material and adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. New factors may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict new factors, nor can the Company assess the potential effect of any new factors on it.