FRANCE’S AFD LAUNCHES €1 BILLION “CLIMATE BOND” ISSUE TO FUND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE
Paris – 23 October 2014– Euronext, the primary exchange in the Euro zone, today congratulated Agence Française de Développement (AFD) on the success of its €1 billion “Climate Bond” issue on 17 September 2014. Funds raised will finance and support development projects actively working to fight climate change, in the first socially responsible issue by a French state-owned agency.
These Climate Bonds (nominal €100) carry a yearly coupon of 1.375% for a 10-year maturity. Their issue price is 98.976%. Bonds are rated AA Stable by Standard & Poor’s and AA+ Stable by Fitch Ratings, and come with an opinion by Vigeo, Europe’s leading social responsibility rating agency.
The issue was a resounding success with socially responsible investors, who subscribed 70% of the total. The orderbook included a large number of investors, with 49 orders filled. Foreign investors accounted for 73% of bonds placed and French investors for 27%.
AFD’s Climate Bonds are an innovative and incentive-driven tool supporting projects that fight climate change. With this issue, the agency has positioned itself as a key player in the development of financial instruments to guide the world economy toward an efficient and sustainable low-carbon development model.
Jacques Moineville, Deputy CEO of Agence Française de Développement, said: “AFD has been working very hard for nearly 10 years to reconcile the fight against global warming with development in the very broadest sense, taking into account social, economic and environmental impact. At the request of the French government, we have made this a robust and permanent focus of our financial operations, half of which include a climate co-benefit. Our present bond issue offers investors an opportunity to contribute to this major, universal cause. ”
Marc Lefèvre, Euronext’s Head of European Business Development and Client Coverage, said: “Euronext is delighted with the success of Agence Française de Développement’s Climate Bond issue, the first of its kind. We are very pleased that this placement mobilised not only domestic investors but also such a large percentage of international investors, which illustrates our markets’ worldwide reach. For issuers, the appeal of socially responsible vehicles is gathering pace and their success reflects investors’ keen interest in financing environmentally engaged development projects.”