Thai Union secures USD 326 M Sustainability-Linked Loan to underpin phase two of their Blue Finance program
THAILAND
Friday, December 01, 2023, 07:00 (GMT + 9)
Thai Union Group PCL (Thai Union), the world’s seafood leader, announced today the closure of a THB 11,485 million (USD 326 M) Sustainability-Linked financing package (Sustainability-Linked Loan or “SLL”). This new SLL marks the commencement of the second phase of Thai Union’s Blue Finance agenda, with a target of increasing sustainability-linked finance to 75 percent of their long-term financing by 2025. Between 2020-2022, Thai Union completed its first phase of Blue Finance – financing that has sustainability targets to benefit the oceans – by successfully increasing its long-term sustainability-linked financing to 50 percent.
The new SLL is denominated in both Thai baht (THB) and U.S. dollars (USD) across tenors of three and five years. The successful closure of this dual tranche facility represents another strong step forward for Thai Union and its commitment to the Blue Finance agenda. The Company has demonstrated that its commitment to sustainability has enabled access to sustainable finance, which features a reduction in interest rates when committed targets are achieved.
Thiraphong Chansiri, CEO of Thai Union said, "Thai Union is pleased to receive strong support from their leading relationship banks. At Thai Union, sustainability resides at the very core of our business. Since the introduction of SeaChange® in 2016, we've seamlessly woven this sustainability strategy into our entire global operations. SeaChange® played a pivotal role in instigating the launch of the first phase of our blue financing program three years ago. Now, with SeaChange® 2030, we've set more ambitious goals encompassing both people and the planet. Our 2030 objectives serve as key performance indicators for the new SLL, underscoring our steadfast commitment to sustainability. This unequivocally demonstrates how our dedication will fortify Thai Union's position as a leader in the capital market."
In alignment to Thai Union’s sustainability ambition under SeaChange® 2030, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Sustainable Performance Targets (SPTs) focus on the Company’s overall ESG performance, including maintaining consistent high rankings in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) Food Products Industry Index. The sustainability-linked financing framework leverages the verified Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi)’s ambitious Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions targets which align with Net Zero by 2050. In fact, Thai Union is the first global seafood company to set short-term and long-term goals verified by SBTi, accelerating meaningful progress in the industry. In addition, the framework includes the expansion of Thai Union’s success on sustainable fisheries to responsible aquaculture1 through certifications and Aquaculture Improvement Projects (AIP) to set the new standards and practices for the aquaculture industry globally.
DNV was appointed the provider of Second Party Opinion Report on the KPIs and SPTs and confirmed the alignment to the Sustainability Linked Loan Principles. Each progress on KPI and SPT will be verified by external organizations to ensure a fair and independent evaluation.
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The new SLL is denominated in both Thai baht (THB) and U.S. dollars (USD) across tenors of three and five years. The successful closure of this dual tranche facility represents another strong step forward for Thai Union and its commitment to the Blue Finance agenda. The Company has demonstrated that its commitment to sustainability has enabled access to sustainable finance, which features a reduction in interest rates when committed targets are achieved.
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