MISC Group (MISC), through its Singapore-based subsidiaries, entered into a $527 million syndicated loan facility for the financing of six Very Large Ethane Carriers (VLECs).
According to the company, the Korea Development Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Labuan Branch, DBS Bank Ltd, Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Berhad, MUFG Bank Ltd., Singapore Branch, as well as an undisclosed lender acted as Mandated Lead Arrangers.
The 11-year sustainable-linked non-recourse term loan is MISC’s debut sustainability-linked loan (SLL) and is structured to align with its long-term business strategy and sustainability aspirations.
MISC has committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and aims to contribute to a carbon-neutral economy by transitioning to low-carbon, and eventually zero-carbon, emissions transport solutions.
With both environmental and governance key performance indicators (KPIs), the ambitious environmental KPI is benchmarked to go beyond the emissions target outlined in International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) 2050 decarbonisation trajectory and the Poseidon Principles.
This includes measuring the carbon intensity of MISC’s Gas Assets & Solutions fleet by means of the annual efficiency ratio (AER). MISC will benefit from the annual adjustments of the interest rate benchmarked by meeting the pre-agreed KPIs. The SLL Facility is a testament to MISC’s commitment towards promoting sustainable development, as well as a recognition of its contribution to ESG.
Raja Azlan Shah Raja Azwa, MISC’s Vice President of Finance said: “We at MISC believe that integrating ESG principles into our long-term strategy and decision-making is key to shaping a sustainable future. Securing this landmark SLL for our VLECs reflect our continued commitment to accelerating the drive to improve our ESG performance by tying our financing with our decarbonisation strategy. We will progressively implement our plan to achieve Net-Zero GHG emissions by 2050 and this includes fostering strategic collaborations with our stakeholders including the ship financing sector.”
We are proud to offer MISC its first SLL to help accelerate the Group’s efforts in reducing its carbon footprint in the maritime industry.
..said Abhishek Pandey, Global Head of Shipping Finance at Standard Chartered.
At Standard Chartered we are committed to playing our part in addressing climate change and in enabling other organisations, like MISC, to do so by supporting them with their own ambitions.
..added.
So far several organizations have granted sustainability- linked loans. For example, on 2nd December 2019, NYK secured a syndicated sustainability-linked loan, Japan’s first advanced loan that allows for conditions such as the loan’s interest rate to be adjusted according to the borrower’s CSR performance.
One year later, Seaspan Corporation secured a $1.8 billion sustainability-linked loan (SLL), the first of its kind in the containership leasing industry. NYK also, on 2nd April 2021, signed two sustainability linked loan (SLL) agreements to promote and support environmentally and socially beneficial economic activities.
MOL, in December 2022, announced that it concluded a commitment line agreement through a transition-linked loan with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.
What is more, in the same year, ClassNK announced that it will calculate the CO2 emissions from ships financed under the Sustainability-Linked Loan provided by ORIX.
