BDO issues first Blue Bond for US$100 Million

First private sector issuance in Southeast Asia

Through an investment from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO) has issued its first Blue Bond for $100 million (IFC). With this issuance, more money will be available for projects that help stop marine pollution and protect clean water resources, while also supporting the country reach its climate goals. This is a big step forward for BDO because it is the first private company in Southeast Asia to issue a Blue Bond.

BDO’s issuance strengthens the Bank’s commitment to sustainable finance and allows it to help more in important areas like water conservation, wastewater treatment, plastic recycling, sustainable tourism, fisheries, and sustainable seafood processing, among others. More importantly, the Bond will help BDO add projects that support the country’s blue economy to its Sustainable Finance Framework. It will also add a new asset class to the Philippine debt market.

The pioneering Blue Bond has a tenor of seven (7) years and will adhere to the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) Green Bond Principle and IFC’s recently launched Blue Finance Guidelines. 

BDO Capital & Investment Corporation acted as the arranger in this transaction.