How did ESG ratings become reliable barometers of corporate ethics?

30.06.2017

BNP Paribas is ranked in the top 10 of the new “CAC40® Governance” Index published by Euronext and Vigeo Eiris. The rating distinguishes the concrete actions taken by BNP Paribas in terms of professional ethics and corporate governance. Once again, France’s leading bank expands its long list of responsible labels and indexes.

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The BNP Paribas Group continues to expand its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals

ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) indexes aim to evaluate corporate governance and ethics based on various criteria, such as employee diversity, fighting climate change or protecting minorities. As more ESG indexes emerge today, BNP Paribas has met the criteria for many of these ratings!

In 2017, BNP Paribas takes 1st place in the diversified banks category in the rating published by Vigeo Eiris Europe, an independent and international agency devoted to ESG research and services. The index evaluates the environmental, social and governance performance of companies. The Group has maintained its presence across all Vigeo Eiris ratings in its category: World 120, Eurozone 120, Europe 120 and France 20.

For its part, BMCI, BNP Paribas’s subsidiary in Morocco, also distinguished itself by earning the top spot on the Euronext Vigeo Eiris Emerging 70 Ranking! This index lists the 70 companies with the best performance in terms of social responsibility among 800 listed companies in 31 emerging or developing companies.

The Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes select the most responsible companies, based on ESG criteria, among 2,500 large companies listed on the Dow Jones Market Index. In 2016, with a score of 81/100 in the “Europe” and “World” categories, BNP Paribas ranked among the top 8% of the best rated companies on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. The Group also distinguished itself by receiving the maximum rating, 100/100, in 7 criteria, including financial inclusion, responsible products, climate strategy, etc.

Further encouragement with each new ranking

Appearing in these different indexes is a point of pride. In addition to the recognition they bring to the Group’s CSR practices and policies, these indexes constitute a useful tool: the Group can use them to measure its progress and steer its continuous improvement approach.

BNP Paribas is also listed in other rankings:

The Group is 42nd on the 2017 list of "100 most sustainable companies" published by the Canadian magazine Corporate Knights.
The Group also won the “Best Bank for Climate Change and Sustainability” award at the 2016 Banker’s Investment Banking Awards.
BNP Paribas also earned recognition for its HR practices in favor of diversity: the “Bloomberg Financial Services Gender Equality” and the “Pax Ellevate Global Women’s Index Fund”.

All good reasons to celebrate and do even better in the future!

CAC40® Governance: a rigorous evaluation of corporate governance

"CAC40® Governance" is the self-explanatory name of the index that tracks corporate governance at CAC40 companies, which was launched in March 2017 by Euronext and Vigeo Eiris, an independent and international agency devoted to ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) research and services.

The new index evaluates the corporate governance performance of CAC 40 companies. It relies on 45 indicators measuring the efficiency and balance of powers within the company, the independence of specialized committees, fair treatment of employees, protection of minorities and executive compensation.

What was the result? The first “CAC 40® Governance" index listed BNP Paribas among the “Top 10” companies with the best governance practices, across all sectors. The ranking recognizes the Group’s actions in favor of “rigorous management of environmental, social and governance risks”.