Goodman Group (ASX:GMG) has issued its first sustainability-linked bond (SLB) supported by HSBC acting as Sole Sustainability Coordinator and Joint Global Coordinator and Bookrunner, for the US$500 million transaction.
The guaranteed senior unsecured notes are scheduled for maturity in 2032.
The SLB was issued into the United States’ Rule 144A / Reg S market which delivered strong liquidity and volume for Goodman despite a volatile market backdrop – attributed, in part, to the highly ambitious key performance indicator (KPI) set by Goodman as part of the transaction.
The KPI of the SLB is designed to reduce Goodman’s Absolute Greenhouse Gas Scope 1 and 2 Emissions in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as verified by Science Based Targets initiative. This KPI reflects Goodman’s focus on sustainability, and failure to meet these targets will mean Goodman has to pay a penalty to investors.
Also read: Goodman Group Prepares $US500m Sustainability-Linked Bond Issue
Andrew Duncan, Head of Debt Capital Markets, Australia at HSBC said the success of the transaction opened up opportunity for other Australian businesses seeking sustainable finance solutions.
“The strong interest in the transaction among global investors demonstrates not only Goodman’s decarbonisation efforts, but also the wide array of sustainable finance options available for Australian companies.
“We expect SLBs and other sustainability-linked financing to become more popular as ESG becomes an increasingly significant element of investment decisions.”
Goodman Group is the largest industrial property group listed on the ASX and one of the largest listed specialist investment managers of industrial property and business space globally.
