Hera successfully launches its first sustainability-linked bond
Search Bar
Asset Publisher
Hera successfully launches its first sustainability-linked bond
Strong interest shown by international investors towards the 500 million euro, 12-and-a-half-year bond. The issue is part of a strategy aimed at sustainability, intended to reduce emissions and recycle plastics. The subscriptions received totalled around two billion euro, four times the amount offered
The Hera Group – a pioneer in sustainable finance in Italy – has successfully launched its first sustainability-linked bond, worth 500 million euro. This non-convertible bond attracted a great deal of interest from international investors, who made subscriptions coming to four times the amount offered. The issue is part of a strategy aimed at sustainability, intended to reduce emissions and recycle plastics.
One of the first companies in Italy to issue a sustainability-linked bond, Hera continues to act as a point of reference for ESG finance nationwide, with innovative instruments capable not only of supporting its commitment to sustainable development but also attracting growing attention on the market. Hera – it is worth recalling – was the first company in Italy to issue a green bond, in 2014, followed by a second green bond five years later, as well as the first ESG-linked revolving credit line, in 2018.
Hera’s first sustainability-linked bond follows up on the publication, last 6 October, of its Sustainability-Linked Financing Framework (SLFF), with which the Group further strengthened the integration between its financial strategies and its attention to sustainability, outlining the metrics applicable to any financial instrument.
The features of Hera’s sustainability-linked bond
Hera’s first sustainability-linked bond, launched as part of the Euro Medium-Term Notes programme (last updated on 7 October) and reserved for qualified investors, amounts to a total of 500 million euro, repayable in 12 and a half years.
The transaction saw significant participation coming from international investors (France, Germany, Netherland and United Kingdom), most of whom specialised in sustainable finance products. The strong demand, with subscriptions coming to around two billion euros, four times the offer, and the quality of the orders received, allowed the price to be set at an excellent level.
An annual fixed rate coupon of 1.0% will be paid, while the yield at the time of issue is 1.077%. As of the interest payment date of 2032, a possible step-up (interest rate increase) has been included, should the Group fail to meet the targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, in tonnes of CO2 (rate increase of 0.20%), and the quantity of recycled plastic, in thousand tonnes (rate increase of 0.15%).
The new issue, whose settlement date has been set for 25 October 2021, will be listed, as of the issue date, on the regulated market of Euronext Dublin, on the regulated market of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and, at a later moment, on Borsa Italiana’s ExtraMOT PRO multilateral trading facility.
This sustainability-linked bond is also expected to be assigned a rating in line with Hera’s (Baa2 with stable outlook for Moody’s and BBB+ with stable outlook for Standard & Poor’s).
Interventions aimed at reducing emissions and recycling plastics
The sustainability-linked bond is part of the Hera Group’s strategy aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the amount of plastic recycled. These activities have already been launched or are included in the Business Plan, and represent Hera’s commitment to achieving the objectives on the UN 2030 Agenda. The bond is linked, as mentioned above, to meeting the sustainability targets contained in the Sustainability-Linked Financing Framework, with respect to which intermediate Sustainability Performance Targets (SPTs) have also been defined, which will be reported annually for the purpose of transparency.
More specifically, the Hera Group aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 37% within 2030 (compared to 2019), thanks to both the concrete actions taken within the Group and the involvement of suppliers and customers in electricity and gas sales. This is one of the most ambitious targets for a company in Italy, validated by the prestigious international network Science Based Target initiative (SBTi).
As regards the second target, the Group aims to increase its amount of recycled plastic by 150% by 2030 (compared to 2017), thanks to factors including an increased plant capacity and an extension of the scope of action to include the recovery of rigid plastics. Hera is already a leader in this area, thanks to its subsidiary Aliplast, and is the only Italian multi-utility to have signed the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s “New Plastics Economy Global Commitment”.
“Our first sustainability-linked bond provides further confirmation of Hera’s commitment to sustainable development, with a focus on carbon neutrality and the circular economy, thanks to ESG financial strategies” states Stefano Venier, CEO of Hera Group “For some time, we have been committed to actions aimed at reducing emissions and recycling plastics, thus respecting our Business Plan and strategies for the energy and environmental transition. These issues are particularly relevant for us, considering the very nature of the businesses in which we operate, and we can make a real difference by responding to the many challenges we are currently facing, first and foremost climate change, and contributing to achieving the goals on the 2030 Agenda. Thanks to this new bond issued, we will be able to give further impetus to our activities in these areas.”
The partners in the operation
Hera’s sustainability-linked bond issue was coordinated and placed by BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole CIB, IMI-Intesa Sanpaolo, Mediobanca, Santander and UniCredit. The law firm Legance Avvocati Associati assisted Hera, while Linklaters supported the placing banks.
Hera Custom Facet Publish Date
Custom Facet
Category Facet
Asset Publisher
Strong interest from international investors in Hera’s first European Green Bond (EuGB) with a 6-year maturity, which will finance strategic projects of the multi-utility aligned with the EU Taxonomy. Orders received amouned to 7 times the offered amount.
The Hera Group, the first Italian company to issue a green bond in 2014, continues today its commitment to sustainable finance with the launch of its first European Green Bond (“EuGB”), under its “Euro Medium Term Note Programme” (EMTN). This bond issuance – in line with its European Green Bond Factsheet, published in the dedicated section of the Group’s website (https://eng.gruppohera.it/group_eng/investor-relations/debt-and-rating/green-financing-framework-e-opinion), together with the relevant Pre-Issuance Review, attracted significant interest from international investors, receiving orders for approximately 3.6 billion euros, nearly 7 times the offered amount.
With this issuance, which corresponds to the fifth green issuance overall considering all those carried out by the multi-utility over the last 12 years, the Hera Group has once again offered the market the opportunity to finance strategic projects aimed at the green transition and aligned with the EU Taxonomy, reaffirming its position as a benchmark company for sustainable finance, also at an international level.
“The issuance of our first European Green Bond represents a further concrete step in the Hera Group’s sustainability journey, confirming our commitment towards carbon neutrality and the development of the circular economy” – states Orazio Iacono, Chief Executive Officer of the Hera Group. “This new sustainable finance instrument allows us to fund investments fully aligned with the EU Taxonomy, accelerating strategic projects for the energy and environmental transition, from the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to the increase in resource recovery and regeneration. This is a significant contribution to our business plan and to the Net Zero 2050 target, confirming our Group’s strategy, where business growth, value creation, and sustainable development are closely interconnected.”.
Characteristics of the Group’s European Green Bond (“EuGB”) and funded areas
The Hera Group’s first European Green Bond (“EuGB”) (rated Baa1 with Stable Outlook by Moody’s and BBB+/A-2 with Stable Outlook by Standard & Poor’s), amounts to a total of 500 million euros, repayable in 6 years with a coupon of 3.50% and a yield of 3.574%. The settlement date of the new issuance is expected on 4 June 2026.
The EuGB is represented by senior, non-convertible, unsecured notes, intended for circulation among qualified investors and governed by English law. Furthermore, the European Green Bond (EuGB) is expected to be assigned a rating in line with that of Hera.
The transaction saw significant participation from international investors (in particular, United Kingdom, France, Germany). Substantially all of investors were green and sustainable, confirming the interest in the Group also beyond national borders.
The European Green Bond is expected to be listed on the regulated market of Euronext Dublin from the issue date, as well as on the regulated markets of Euronext Milan and the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.
In accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2023/2631, the proceeds from the issuance are expected to finance or refinance the projects indicated in the Hera Group’s European Green Bond Factsheet, fully aligned with the EU Taxonomy.
In particular, the use of proceeds will cover three main areas:
- Sustainable management of water resources and wastewater: including construction, expansion and management of water collection, treatment and supply systems (economic activity 5.1 of the EU Taxonomy), as well as construction, expansion and management of wastewater collection and treatment systems (economic activity 5.3 of the EU Taxonomy);
- Circular economy, pollution prevention and control: including initiatives for the collection and transport of non-hazardous waste in source-segregated fractions (economic activity 5.5 of the EU Taxonomy);
- Energy efficiency and energy infrastructure: including (i) the generation of electricity using solar photovoltaic technology, (ii) the transmission and distribution of electricity, and (iii) installation, maintenance and repair of energy efficiency devices (economic activities 4.1, 4.9 and 7.3 of the EU Taxonomy).
To ensure the correct and transparent allocation of funds, Hera has adopted a monitoring and reporting process that provides for the publication of relevant information through a “Green Bond Report” which will include the “Allocation Reporting and the Impact Reporting”.
Transaction partners
The issuance of the Hera Group’s first European Green Bond (“EuGB”) was coordinated by BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole CIB, Mediobanca, UniCredit, BBVA, Intesa Sanpaolo – IMI CIB Division, Banco Santander, Banca AKROS, Deutsche Bank, BPER Banca, Montepaschi di Siena, Barclays, Caixabank and Goldman Sachs as Joint Bookrunners. The law firm Legance assisted Hera, while the law firm Linklaters supported the Joint Bookrunners.