Surbana Jurong Group has, on Feb 4, successfully priced a $250 million sustainability-linked bond, making it the first Singapore dollar-denominated sustainability-linked bond.
This is also the first public sustainability-linked bond issuance from a Southeast Asian-based company and the first Asian sustainability-linked bond to feature a premium step-up structure at maturity.
The bond, which carries a coupon of 2.48% per annum, will be drawn down under Surbana’s US$1 billion ($1.33 billion) multicurrency debt issuance programme.
The bond will mature in 2031.
According to Surbana, the bond drew “tremendous interest” from high quality institutional investors and private banks, with the offering over six times oversubscribed, drawing over $1.7 billion in orders.
Proceeds of the bond will be used to fund future growth, refinance existing credit lines and provide working capital.
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It will also boost the group’s efforts to translate the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), set out in the 2030 Agenda, into concrete, measurable actions.
If the sustainability goals are not met, Surbana has committed to pay investors a premium payment of 0.75% of the redemption amount at maturity.
DBS Bank is the joint lead manager and bookrunner. ANZ Bank is the sole sustainability structuring advisor and joint lead manager and bookrunner.
“Now, by tying our sustainability targets to our bond financing terms, we are drawing a clear alignment between our financing strategy and our business strategy, anchored on Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG),” says Surbana’s group CEO Wong Heang Fine.
“As an industry leader, Surbana Jurong has demonstrated consistent progress in achieving our growth and ESG objectives. While reducing our own carbon footprint, we are working actively to help our clients do more with less,” Wong adds.
