Heidelberg Materials introduce framework for Green Finance instruments
New Green Finance Framework to fund sustainable projects and support company’s decarbonization efforts
THE ongoing transformation and decarbonization of the building materials sector requires investments, and to fund these investments, Heidelberg Materials have announced the introduction of a Green Finance Framework which is aligned with the most recent best market practices and standards.
The company intends to issue Green Bonds to finance and/or refinance assets and capital expenditure associated with economic activities that meet or will meet the eligibility criteria defined in the Green Finance Framework. This will complement the sustainable finance portfolio contributing to the company’s effort to reach its target to increase the share of sustainable financial instruments to more than 70% by 2025.
Heidelberg Materials’ chief financial officer, René Aldach, said: ‘With the Green Finance Framework, we have set another cornerstone to cover our funding needs for the years to come. The framework reflects the continued confidence in our strong cashflow generation and enables us to fund sustainable projects and further decarbonize our business. The new framework underlines our position as front-runner of decarbonization in our industry.’
Dr Nicola Kimm, chief sustainability officer and member of the managing board of Heidelberg Materials, added: ‘The increasingly close integration of financial and ESG aspects provides vital opportunities for companies to identify and close performance gaps and strengthen stakeholder confidence. The trend toward sustainable investments continues to grow steadily. We are delighted that the new framework will make Heidelberg Materials an even more attractive investment case for a broader investor base.’
Heidelberg Materials’ Green Finance Framework is based on the latest version of the International Capital Market Association’s (ICMA) Green Bond Principles and the Loan Market Association’s (LMA) Green Loan Principles. ISS Corporate has provided a Second Party Opinion, validating the alignment with ICMA and LMA principles, the consistency with the company’s sustainability strategy, and that the projects financed will positively contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The framework also considers selected elements of the EU Taxonomy Regulation and the associated Delegated Acts as well as the EU Green Bond Regulation. The EU Taxonomy defines which economic activity can be considered environmentally sustainable and thus sets a Europe-wide standard for sustainable investments.
Heidelberg Materials’ Green Finance Framework and Second Party Opinion are available online at: Sustainable Finance | Heidelberg Materials.
