Investment Proposal Draft

BAR Technologies Investment Proposal

Reducing Carbon Emissions Through Wind Wings

To: Clark Hansen, CEO of AMDP Research

From: Christian Fulton, Research Analyst

Date: March 5, 2024

Subject: BAR Technologies

Background

In 2016, BAR Technologies embarked on a noble mission to reduce carbon emissions in the commercial shipping industry. Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) is a British sailing team that competes in world-renowned regattas like the America's Cup. BAR Technologies, an offshoot of the racing parent, has adapted the technology behind the streamlined racing bodies of their yachts to come up with innovative solutions for large, ocean-going vessels. Wind Wings, a partnership between BAR and Cargill, uses massive carbon fiber sails, nearly 150 feet tall, to propel suitable ships across the seas. Their latest iteration has reduced maritime emissions by over 30% per trip. The company aims to supply global shippers with a cost-effective alternative to simultaneously reduce fuel usage and meet International Maritime Organization (IMO) emission goals. 

Roadmap

This investment proposal will first describe the history of the Wind Wings project and the IMO's goal to reduce maritime emissions by 50% in the coming decades. Next, we will understand the technology behind BAR's innovative strategy and the partners that have dedicated themselves to combat climate change. Finally, it is important to understand the cost-benefit analysis behind green technologies. Other substitutes like hydrogen, biofuels, and ammonia are in their infancy. Understanding how Wing Wings can be more economical for certain maritime shippers is paramount to assessing BAR Technology's investment proposition. 

Definitions

Triple Bottom Line: A sustainability framework that measures a business's success in three key areas: profit, people, and the planet (Miller).

Corporate Social Responsibility: the idea that a business has a responsibility to the society that exists around it (Stobierski).

Social Enterprise: refers to a business with certain social objectives as its primary goal while using a commercial structure to run the organization. Social enterprises usually attempt to make a strong societal impact while maximizing their profit as well, which is then used to fund their social programs. (Social Enterprise)

Carbon Footprint: the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions associated with all the activities of a person or other entity (e.g., building, corporation, country, etc.) (Carbon Footprint).

Works Cited

“Carbon Footprint.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 15 Feb. 2024, www.britannica.com/science/carbon-footprint. 

Miller, Kelsey. “The Triple Bottom Line: What It Is & Why It’s Important.” Business Insights Blog, 8 Dec. 2020, online.hbs.edu/blog/post/what-is-the-triple-bottom-line. 

“Social Enterprise.” Corporate Finance Institute, 7 Oct. 2023, corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/esg/social-enterprise/. 

Stobierksi, Tim. “What Is Corporate Social Responsibility? 4 Types.” Business Insights Blog, 8 Apr. 2021, online.hbs.edu/blog/post/types-of-corporate-social-responsibility.