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The CCRcorp Network unlocks access to a world of insights, research, guides and information in a range of specialty areas.

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TheCorporateCounsel

TheCorporateCounsel.net

A basis for research and practical guidance focusing on federal securities laws, compliance & corporate governance.

DealLawyers

DealLawyers.com

An educational service that provides practical guidance on legal issues involving public and private mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity – and much more.

CompensationStandards

CompensationStandards.com

The “one stop” resource for information about responsible executive compensation practices & disclosure.

Section16.net

Section16.net

Widely recognized as the premier online research platform providing practical guidance on issues involving Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and all of its related rules.

PracticalESG

PracticalESG.com

Keeping you in-the-know on environmental, social and governance developments

We blogged recently that shoe company Allbirds had ambitions to be the first “sustainable IPO.”

The IPO was a financial success, raising $303 million at a valuation of $4.1 billion on November 3rd. But news emerged that SEC comments and environmental critiques of the company’s sustainability claims led the shoemaker to scale back those claims even further than it had already done in October.

The final prospectus is here – “ESG” is mentioned 89 times (down from October) and “SPO Framework” is found 33 times (the same as in early October). As my colleague John Jenkins pointed out, this is not the first time this type of thing has happened. He says the SEC used to scrutinize subjective claims in IPO filings pretty closely, and this kind of comment letter back & forth was pretty common. While that may have abated for “unicorn IPOs” in recent years, the SEC is now signaling that it will scrutinize ESG claims. Allbirds’ experience – while no doubt highly fact-specific – is an example of how that scrutiny can play out in raising capital.

With SEC looking at a number of ESG-oriented matters at the moment – including whether ESG investments are operating in the way they claim – it is likely we will see more of this in the future.

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The Editor

Lawrence Heim has been practicing in the field of ESG management for almost 40 years. He began his career as a legal assistant in the Environmental Practice of Vinson & Elkins working for a partner who is nationally recognized and an adjunct professor of environmental law at the University of Texas Law School. He moved into technical environmental consulting with ENSR Consulting & Engineering at the height of environmental regulatory development, working across a range of disciplines. He was one… View Profile