A global first: AC Energy launches $400-million green bonds for RE projects
By Lenie Lectura -November 28, 2019
from Business Mirror
AC Energy Inc. has successfully launched $400-million, fixed-for-life green bonds to finance the expansion of planned renewable-energy (RE) projects.
The power arm of conglomerate Ayala Corp. said Wednesday that it has successfully set the terms of its inaugural US dollar-denominated, senior perpetual fixed-for-life green bond issuance at an aggregate principal amount of $400 million, with a fixed coupon of 5.65 percent for life and with no step-up and no reset.
This, it said, represents the first US dollar-denominated fixed-for-life green bond ever issued globally.
The green bonds will be issued by AC Energy Finance International Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of AC Energy, and will be guaranteed by AC Energy. The bonds will be listed at the Singapore stock exchange.
“AC Energy plans to deploy the funds for renewable-energy expansion across the Asia-Pacific region to include the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, India and Australia, among others,” it said.
To date, AC Energy has a net attributable capacity of over 1,600 megawatts, of which 600 MW is from renewable sources. As one of the fastest-growing energy companies with over $1 billion of invested and committed equity in renewable and thermal energy in the Philippines and around the region, AC Energy aspires to achieve 5 GW of attributable renewable-energy capacity, and generate at least 50 percent of total energy output from renewables by 2025.
“We are very pleased to see the strong reception among bond investors for our maiden perpetual green bond,” said AC Energy President Eric Francia. “We expect to add well over 1000 MW of renewables capacity in 2020, and this fresh capital will further cement AC Energy’s commitment towards renewable energy and sustainability, and will support the company’s scaling up of renewable-energy investments in the Asia Pacific.”
The Asean Green Bonds Standards is an initiative that facilitates Asean capital markets in tapping green finance to support sustainable regional growth and meet investor interest for green investments and is part of the Asean Capital Markets Forum’s broader efforts in developing green finance for the region. The Asean Green Bonds Standards have been developed in collaboration with the International Capital Market Association.
AC Energy Chief Finance Officer Cora Dizon lauded the inaugural perpetual fixed-for-life green bond as a step toward widening the company’s investor base. “We recognize the fast-growing investor demand for green bonds, which we are leveraging to strengthen and diversify our sources of capital,” said Dizon. “The strong investor demand generated interest of over $1.2 billion and allowed the company to raise $400 million.”
BPI Capital Corp. is the Sole Global Coordinator for the transaction, while BPI Capital Corp., CLSA Singapore Pte. Ltd., Credit Suisse (Hong Kong) Ltd. and UBS AG Singapore Branch (B&D) are the Joint Lead Managers and Joint Bookrunners for the transaction with the participation of BDO Capital & Investment Corp., China Bank Capital Corp., First Metro Investment Corp., PNB Capital & Investment Corp. and RCBC Capital Corp. as Domestic Lead Managers.
