Vestas signs new EUR 2,000 million sustainability-linked revolving credit facility
News release from Vestas Wind Systems A/S
Aarhus, 29 April 2021
Vestas has signed a EUR 2,000 million revolving multi-currency credit facility with a group of leading banks. The facility’s margin will be closely linked to Vestas’ sustainability KPIs, and will support Vestas’ ambitions to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy, and drive technological innovation.
The facility, which is available for general corporate purposes, including guarantees issuance in relation with wind power projects, carries a five-year tenor with two one-year extension options, replacing Vestas’ undrawn EUR 1,150 million revolving credit facility signed in 2017.
The successful transaction, concluded following the assignment of a strong credit rating of Baa1 from Moody´s, underlines a growing confidence in Vestas’ continued financial and operational transformation, as well as in the significant projected growth of renewable energy in the near future.
The renewed facility will be key in supporting Vestas’ work with driving deployment, and evolving new technology, as well as supporting increased sustainability performance across Vestas’ value chain.
Directly linked with Vestas’ sustainability strategy entitled “Sustainability in everything we do”, the facility’s interest rate margin will be adjusted based on sustainability-linked performance targets, marking the first time Vestas has engaged with sustainability-linked financing. These targets measure Vestas’ ability to reduce its own carbon footprint and enhance workplace safety while subsequently adding ambitious targets to improve the carbon footprint across its supply chain. Performance targets will also cover ambitions around more sustainable materials use, and increased recyclability across the turbine value chain.
Marika Fredriksson, Executive Vice President and CFO of Vestas states “At Vestas, we are striving to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy by building scale and driving growth across our business. We are also committed to ensuring this growth safeguards the interests of future generations, and supports a more sustainable planet. Following the strong credit rating from Moody’s obtained earlier this year, strengthening our financial capabilities is the next natural step in this journey, and linking interest rates margins with Vestas’ sustainability performance reinforces our ambition to integrate sustainability into everything we do”.
Lisa Ekstrand, Senior Director and Head of Sustainability at Vestas says: “With this sustainability linked loan agreement, Vestas is demonstrating the inherent value in combining our commercial and sustainability strategies. We can now further strengthen our ability to improve sustainability performance, both across our direct operations, and across our indirect footprint. This journey is crucial to achieving Vestas’ vision: to build sustainable energy systems through our growing leadership position within renewables.”
HSBC Continental Europe SA and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB acted as Co-ordinating Mandated Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners for the transaction. In addition, Banco Santander, Citi, DNB, Nordea, Societe Generale and Unicredit joined as Mandated Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners, and BNP Paribas, Danske Bank, JP Morgan and Standard Chartered joined as Mandated Lead Arrangers.
HSBC was the Documentation Agent for the facility. SEB is the Facility Agent and Sustainability Advisor.
For more information, please contact:
Investor relations
Mathias Dalsten, Senior Director
Investor Relations
Tel: +45 2829 5383
Communications
Manita Dosanjh
Communications Specialist
Tel: +45 266 92968
Email: mtkdo@vestas.com
About Vestas
Vestas is the energy industry’s global partner on sustainable energy solutions. We design, manufacture, install, and service onshore and offshore wind turbines across the globe, and with more than 132 GW of wind turbines in 82 countries, we have installed more wind power than anyone else. Through our industry-leading smart data capabilities and unparalleled more than 117 GW of wind turbines under service, we use data to interpret, forecast, and exploit wind resources and deliver best-in-class wind power solutions. Together with our customers, Vestas’ more than 29,000 employees are bringing the world sustainable energy solutions to power a bright future.
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