New framework enables bond offerings for institutional fixed income investors focused on corporations that prioritize gender diversity in leadership roles.

TORONTO, Sept. 12, 2018 /CNW/ - CIBC (CM: TSX) (CM: NYSE) today announced Canada's first social bond framework focused on corporations with a demonstrated commitment to women in leadership roles. The bonds will help meet a growing demand among institutional investors for socially responsible investments and generate awareness of the importance of gender diversity across corporate Canada.

Bonds offered under this new framework support CIBC's corporate lending to companies where:

• a minimum of 30% of the board or executive positions are held by women, OR;
• they are signatories of the Catalyst Accord 2022
• in addition, all companies included must have a minimum of one woman on the board and one woman in an executive position

"This new social bond framework focused on gender diversity will bring a new investment option to the institutional bond market, reflecting the growing demand among clients for socially responsible investments," said Susan Rimmer, Managing Director and Head of Global Corporate Banking for CIBC Capital Markets.

"A social bond focused on women in leadership roles sends a clear signal about the importance of gender diversity as a business imperative," added Ms. Rimmer.

Information about the new bond framework is available here.

About CIBC
CIBC is a leading Canadian-based global financial institution with 11 million personal banking and business clients and three major business units – Retail and Business Banking, Wealth Management and Capital Markets. CIBC Capital Markets provides integrated global markets products and services, investment banking advisory, corporate banking and top-ranked research to corporate, government and institutional clients around the world. Visit www.cibccm.com for more information on CIBC and CIBC Capital Markets. News releases are available at www.cibc.com/en/about-cibc/media-centre.html.

SOURCE CIBC