JBS Says Investor Demand for Its Debt Undercuts ESG Concerns (1)

JBS NV’s New York listing was met with fierce opposition from activist groups and politicians over the meat producer’s ESG record. Many investors, however, seem willing to look the other way.

A $3.5 billion bond sale earlier this week drew demand totaling five times the offering, slashing borrowing costs and providing strong evidence of investors’ confidence in JBS, Chief Financial Officer Guilherme Cavalcanti said Wednesday during a conference with journalists in New York.

“The main funds were all there, eager to be allocated,” Cavalcanti said, after being asked how criticism of the company impacted investor perception. The issuance was ...