Since 2007, the ability to become a Certified B Corporation (“B Corp”) has given companies a way to set themselves apart as being mission-oriented and focused on priorities beyond shareholder returns. As of October 2024, this global movement encompasses nearly 9,500 companies in more than 100 countries, spans 160 industries and includes many household brand names such as Athleta, allbirds, Ben & Jerry’s, Danone North America, Eileen Fisher, New Belgium Brewing Co., and Patagonia. Could B Corp certification be the right choice for your business?
/continue readingTag: Impact investment
Mission-Related Investing: A Legal Framework for Integrating Mission Into the Other 95%
Mission-related investing – the practice of aligning a foundation’s endowment with its philanthropic goals – has the potential to substantially increase the amount of capital available to address social and environmental challenges. That’s because only 5% of a foundation’s endowment must be paid out each year as grants or “program-related investments.” /continue reading
Three Ways Investment Advisers Can Market with Compliance in Mind
In September 2017, the SEC’s Office of Compliance, Inspections and Examinations issued a Risk Alert making clear that the SEC is paying increased attention to the advertising practices of investment advisers. The Alert summarizes the most frequent Advertising Rule violations that OCIE comes across in its examinations of investment advisers and evidences a growing concern by the SEC that investment advisers are regularly violating the rule. /continue reading
Revenue-based Financing for Farm and Food Start-Ups
In the wake of escalating climate change concerns and the rising demand for local and organically grown food, smaller farm and food ventures are looking to grow. Unfortunately for farmers and other food entrepreneurs, growth requires capital, and the typical forms of debt and equity financing may not be a good match for their businesses. Thankfully, investors and entrepreneurs are turning to more innovative forms of financing. One example is revenue- or royalty-based financing (“RBF”) — a hybrid of debt and equity financing that can offer the flexibility farm and food ventures need to fuel their businesses. /continue reading