Île-de-France Regional Council launch €600m Green Bond

PUBLISHED: 18 May 2014 @ 10:23 | Comments (0) |

€600 MILLIION BOND ISSUE HEAVILY OVER-SUBSCRIBED BY SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTORS

Euronext, the wholly-owned subsidiary of IntercontinentalExchange (NYSE:ICE), have commented on the Île-de-France Regional Council and its €600 million Green Bond on 15 April 2014.

The 12-year bond’s coupon was set at 2.375% and its price at 99.280%; the issue matures 24 April 2026 and is rated AA Stable by Standard & Poor’s and AA+ Stable by Fitch Ratings.

Strong demand raised the orderbook to over €750 million in record time. The issue was a success with socially responsible investor profiles integrating extra-financial criteria including ethical, social and environmental factors into their management and investment decisions. They subscribed 85% of the issue, with foreign investors accounting for 25% of funds raised.

Funds raised will be used to finance projects meeting 11 environmental, social and governance criteria defined jointly with Vigeo, Europe’s leading extra-financial rating body. Examples of specific projects include the construction or renovation of secondary schools and public housing, mass transit, support for SMEs, sustainable development and similar initiatives.

Anthony Attia, Chairman and CEO of Euronext Paris, said: “Euronext is delighted with the success of Région Île-de-France’s second green bond. We’ve observed growing interest in this flexible and efficient financing option. It illustrates the vital role that the stock exchange plays in financing the real economy, in particular long-term, responsible projects.”

“We are proud to have worked with Région Ile-de-France on this, its second bond issue,” said Marc Lefèvre, Head of European Business Development and Client Coverage at Euronext. “The issue was heavily subscribed by socially responsible investors, and illustrates the appeal of the wide range of solutions that Euronext offers institutions and companies.”

“I am very happy that this new environmentally and socially responsible bond issue, like that in 2012, has proven popular with investors. We view it as an innovative, exemplary and transparent means of raising the financing we need—reflecting in that the policies and projects that Île-de-France has undertaken onbehalf of our region’s inhabitants for several years,” said Jean-Paul Huchon, President of the Île-de-France Region Council, adding: “It shows that other sources of financing do exist and that it is possible to finance and develop projects differently.”

Jean-Paul Huchon, President of the Île-de-France Region Council, celebrated the success of this historic bond issue by ringing the bell that signals the opening of trading on financial markets. He was accompanied by financial and legal advisors, representatives of Vigéo and Euronext’s Listings team.

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