ING has introduced the world’s first sustainability improvement derivative (SID), a derivative with a credit spread that is linked to sustainability performance. The SID is being provided to SBM Offshore in connection with its US$1 billion, five-year revolving credit facility (RCF). The credit spread of the SID can increase or decrease, depending on SBM Offshore’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance.
The SID is an interest rate swap deal that hedges the interest rate risk of financing the construction of one of SBM Offshore’s Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facilities and is the world’s first derivative with a price not only based on trading risk, capital requirements and profit, but also on the company’s sustainability performance. On top of the ‘mid-market’ interest rate, a spread is added that can increase or decrease depending on the company’s ESG performance. The agreed sustainability targets (KPIs) will be measured annually by Sustainalytics, an independent provider of environmental, social and corporate governance research and ratings.
The SID is the second of ING’s financial product launches to help improve the sustainability performance of its clients. In 2017, ING was the first to introduce the sustainability improvement loan (SIL). To date, ING has participated in 59 SIL transactions with a total volume of €5.47 billion.
Leonie Schreve, Global Head of Sustainable Finance at ING said: “The introduction of the SID is a logical next step to support our clients to integrate sustainability into all their financing needs to achieve their sustainable ambitions. I want to welcome our first client SBM Offshore and thank them for their trust in our service. I hope that many more companies will follow. Because in the end, sustainable business is better business.”
