Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG)
Hawk recognises that responsible lending is crucial to achieving competitive returns for its stakeholders. To this end, the company is committed to embedding considerations of Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) factors into all aspects of its lending activities. Hawk believes that responsible lending entails appropriate analysis, judgement, and mitigation of risk and aims to lend to companies that take a responsible approach towards the environment, society, and corporate governance.
ESG Definitions
Environmental
Hawk recognises that depletion of natural resources and climate change pose significant threats to sustainability. The company is committed to considering sustainable options in its lending activities. The main areas of consideration in this regard include factors contributing to climate change, efficient energy consumption, responsible disposal of hazardous waste, and sustainability of resources.
Social
Inclusion, diversity, and equality are critical considerations in business operations and attract increasing scrutiny from stakeholders. Hawk recognises the importance of inclusive and diverse work ethics and practices, as well as the impact of businesses on employees, local communities, and society. Key considerations in this regard include the preservation of human rights, avoidance of complicity in human rights abuses, equality and diversity amongst employees, non-discriminatory employment practices, prevention of exploitation of child labor or indentured servitude, health and safety, animal welfare, corporate donations, and community sponsorships.
Corporate
Governance
Corporate governance covers the rights and responsibilities of a company’s management, including structures, corporate values, and accountability processes. Hawk recognises the importance of transparency, accountability, equality, and probity in the management of its businesses. Key considerations in this regard include management structure, employee relations, workplace grievances, executive remuneration, and corporate codes of conduct.
Hawk’s core ESG principles
Hawk’s core ESG principles aim to comply with both the letter and spirit of the law, ensuring a responsible approach to lending that reflects the borrower’s purpose, respecting human rights, avoiding bribery and corruption, acting with integrity, adopting equality and diversity in employment practices, acting responsibly with respect to the environment, ensuring transparency, accountability, equality, and probity in management structures and policies, complying with industry standard ESG guidelines and best practices, and managing ESG considerations and risks effectively.
In addition to these core principles, Hawk has developed specific principles of secured lending that incorporate ESG issues into lending analysis and decision-making processes, operational policies and practices, and appropriate disclosure on ESG issues in Group entities, and promote the implementation of ESG principles within the lending industry.
Hawk’s ESG Procedures
Hawk is developing its ESG procedures, which currently fall within two main headings: pre-loan due diligence and operational efficiencies.
Pre-loan due diligence
Before any loan advance, detailed legal and financial due diligence checks are undertaken on the borrower and the asset being secured. During this process, Hawk considers the risk that the borrower may not be able to service and repay the debt and assesses the purpose for which the loan is being applied. Hawk would not, in principle, knowingly finance property being used for adult entertainment, the sale of weapons and armaments, the processing and sale of fossil fuels, gambling, and the sale of tobacco and cannabis. The company also seeks to ensure that projects involving an element of affordable housing are fairly reflected in its overall loan book utilised to finance residential developments.
Operational Efficiences
Hawk is committed to minimising its impact on the environment by creating operational efficiencies that reduce paper and related waste, promote energy efficiency, and minimise business travel. The company aims to become carbon neutral in the short term.
In conclusion, Hawk is committed to responsible lending that takes into account ESG factors throughout all stages of its lending activities. The company recognises the importance of environmental, social, and corporate governance considerations in building long-term, sustainable relationships with its customers and stakeholders. By adhering to its core ESG principles and developing robust ESG procedures, Hawk seeks to promote sustainable lending practices and contribute to the broader goal of achieving a more sustainable and equitable society.