Four Twenty Seven
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Data analytics, Climate risk advisory |
| Founded | October 2012 |
| Founder | Emilie Mazzacurati |
| Defunct | 2020 |
| Fate | Merged into Moody's ESG Solutions Group |
| Headquarters | Berkeley , United States |
Key people | Emilie Mazzacurati (CEO until acquisition) |
| Products | Climate risk insights and analytics |
| Owner | Moody's Corporation (majority ownership acquired in 2019) |
Four Twenty Seven, Inc. (427) was a data analytics and advisory company based in California that specialized in assessing both physical and social risks associated with climate change. Operating out of Berkeley, the firm provided climate risk insights designed to guide strategic business and investment choices.
In 2019, a majority ownership of Four Twenty Seven was acquired by Moody's Corporation. The company was subsequently merged into Moody's ESG Solutions Group in 2020, resulting in the discontinuation of the "Four Twenty Seven" brand name.
Background
Four Twenty Seven, Inc. was established in October 2012 by Emilie Mazzacurati in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Mazzacurati identified that leveraging "science-driven risk analytics" alongside appropriate tools could empower businesses to play an essential role in enhancing resilience to climate-related threats. The disruption caused by Hurricane Sandy demonstrated how insufficient planning for climate impacts could significantly affect even large financial institutions. By 2019, Mazzacurati held the position of CEO.
The company’s name, "Four Twenty Seven," is derived from CARB's goal to cut annual greenhouse gas emissions to 427 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent by the year 2020.
Services
The firm focused on measuring physical climate hazards including extreme rainfall, hurricanes, heatwaves, and rising sea levels. Its datasets encompassed climate-related effects on 2,000 corporations and 196 nations worldwide, covering 761 cities and more than 3,000 counties across the United States.
Acquisition
On July 24, 2019, Moody's secured a controlling interest in Four Twenty Seven as part of its strategy to promote transparent global frameworks for assessing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks. Moody’s characterized Four Twenty Seven’s platform as vital for comprehending and managing exposures linked to climate change.
This acquisition highlighted the increasing awareness that climate change poses significant risks to the credit ratings of both governments and businesses internationally. It also mirrored a broader trend of consolidation within the ESG industry.
Following the acquisition, Mazzacurati assumed the role of Global Head of Climate Solutions within Moody's ESG Solutions.