Deutsche Bank and Halcyon Agri Partner on Sustainability Through Innovative New Loan
We are pleased to announce that we are partnering with Deutsche Bank’s Corporate Bank on a USD 25 million sustainability-linked loan, with an accordion feature to upsize the facility to USD 75 million. The proceeds of the loan will be used for the maintenance of Corrie MacColl’s Cameroon rubber plantations and the Cameroon Outgrower Programme, which aims to provide additional food security and boost the income of 13,000 local smallholder farmers.
Environmental Resources Management, an independent environmental and sustainability consulting firm, has been appointed to support in designing the framework of the Sustainability Linked Loan Structure. This framework will complement existing sustainability objectives, and is another step for Corrie MacColl to drive ESG standards as the market leader in sustainability. The comprehensive nature of the sustainability KPIs will set a new standard for the rubber industry, making this commercial loan unique.
- David Lynne, APAC Head of Corporate Bank at Deutsche Bank, said: 'We are committed to driving positive change through our efforts in sustainable finance, and are proud to pioneer sustainability-linked loans such as these in the market. The finance industry can play a critical role in helping companies reach their sustainability objectives, by helping align incentives to ensure that more sustainable business practices also make good financial sense. It is gratifying to work with partners like Halcyon on this type of project, which evaluates a broader set of more environmentally conscious metrics in defining successful business.'
- Jeremy Loh, Chief Financial Officer of Halcyon Agri Corporation, said: 'We are delighted to have chosen Deutsche Bank for this one-of-a-kind loan structure. It was important to us to ensure that we continue to support our clients in a sustainable way, supporting our overall corporate social responsibility strategy and in accordance with developing standards for sustainable financing in the rubber industry.'