ESG advisory
Sustainability reporting
Appraising
A new management team was brought in by the Chairman – offering deep US technology experience and seasoned PLC experience – and they wanted to better convey the growth fundamentals of the Blancco story, be more explicit about the benefits of its services to customers and promote the significant market opportunity.
As the industry standard in data erasure and mobile lifecycle solutions, Blancco’s market leading technology positioned it perfectly to benefit from structural market tailwinds including how its products supported the circular economy.
This message had not been reaching target audiences.
Buchanan was appointed to ensure that the company’s investment case was being told more effectively to key journalists, analysts and investors.
We used our technology experience combined with narrative storytelling and communications expertise to identify appropriate KPIs. This helped form a compelling investment case that highlighted the progress that had been made and ensured a thorough understanding of the market opportunity.
A detailed review of the investment case was undertaken, leading to the creation of new investment collateral and clear and concise KPIs that could be easily benchmarked by the market, creating the groundwork for demonstrable progress.
Buchanan worked with the executive team to develop a strategy for communicating the Group’s ESG impact story and the environmental benefits that can be realised by their customers through their use of Blancco’s products – improvements that could support their own sustainability strategies and reporting.
We also engaged with subject matter experts across the business to understand the way the Group approaches ESG management, from supporting employee development to managing its own carbon footprint.
ELEVATING
Buchanan’s ESG specialists conducted a workshop with the senior management team and crafted Blancco’s sustainability proposition, setting out a clear communications strategy that demonstrated meaningful disclosure. Buchanan designed and produced Blancco’s first ESG Report in 2020 – aligning with the investor-recognised Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) disclosure framework – which was warmly received by stakeholders.
Buchanan has now produced three ESG Reports for the Group, advancing the level of disclosure to include TCFD reporting in 2022, for which Buchanan conducted a qualitative scenario analysis.
We undertake a programme of investor feedback after the publication of each report to understand how it has been received and what they want to see in the future. Each report has been well received by the Group’s shareholders, as the level of disclosure surpasses many of their peers despite the Group’s small size.
Blancco has maintained an ‘A’ rating from MSCI ESG Ratings.
AMPLIFYING
Working with a clear proposition and a supporting toolkit of communications assets, Buchanan has continued with a sustained programme of proactive financial stakeholder engagement that comprises media outreach, evolving ESG enhancements and a Capital Markets Event.
Media coverage has been secured in influential publications such as the Midas column in the Mail on Sunday, Financial Times, The Times and across key investment titles, including a buy rating in Investors Chronicle.
Blancco has also been understood as one of the top ESG technology plays in the London market, as picked up by sell-side equity research notes.
Buchanan’s engagement with Blancco is another great example of our integrated communications offer driving real value for our clients.
Adam Moloney
CFO, Blancco Technology Group
