WASHINGTON, DC, November 15, 2019 –The World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development or IBRD, Aaa/AAA) launched a 7-year SEK 2 billion Sustainable Development Bond as it continues to engage with investors to raise awareness for water and ocean resources. The bond is due in November 2026. Swedbank acted as sole lead manager for the transaction.
The World Bank, as the largest multilateral funder for ocean and water projects in developing countries, is committed to working with countries to ensure access to safe and clean water and for the sustainable use of ocean and marine resources. World Bank bonds support the financing of a diverse portfolio of sustainable development projects and programs including those which protect and preserve fresh and saltwater resources and address marine pollution such as fishing and aquaculture innovation in Peru, sustainable fisheries and marine resources conservation in the Seychelles, and waste management improvements in Indonesia.
Heike Reichelt, Head of Investor Relations and New Products, World Bank Treasury, said: “This transaction has provided a valuable opportunity to engage with investors on how the World Bank is working with member countries to tackle a range of pressing development challenges around water. This includes providing continued access to safe drinking water and addressing degradation of coastal areas and threats to fisheries and oceans that impact societies and our planet. We’re grateful to the investors for their interest in investing for purpose and to Swedbank for the collaboration”.
Linda Lindblad, Head of SSA Origination, Swedbank said: “The work of the World Bank is very impressive and equally important. We wanted to highlight an issue that has a global impact and we find that raising awareness for sustainable use of water and oceans is doing just that. The portfolio of projects supported by the World Bank affect everything from what we eat, to the air we breathe”.
Länsförsäkringar AB and Swedbank Robur were among the key institutional investors to participate in the bond transaction.
Kristofer Dreiman, Head of Sustainable Investments, Länsförsäkringar AB said: “This bond by IBRD is a good example, in line with our expectation, regarding combining financial returns and sustainable development impacts. We value in particular the measurable contributions, on a global scale, to SDG 6 “clean water and sanitation” and SDG 11 “sustainable cities and communities”.
Thomas Bäck, Portfolio Manager, Swedbank Robour, said: “Access to clean drinking water and a sustainable way of handling waste water, is essential for people’s health and development all over the world. Investing in the financing of projects focusing on providing clean water and sanitation for all people is very much in line with the vision of Swedbank Robur about being world leading within sustainable value creation.”
Anders Göransson, Swedbank Credit Sales, said: “We are very pleased to provide our clients with targeted advice, supporting them in developing their portfolios and contributing towards a more sustainable future. Clean drinking water and clean oceans is an area of great importance. It’s a great pleasure assisting our institutional clients in finding the highest quality bonds issued by IBRD that support the financing of sustainable development projects including sustainable ocean and water projects”.
The examples of projects provided above are for illustrative purposes only and no assurance can be provided that disbursements for projects with these specific characteristics will be made by the World Bank during the term of the bonds described herein.
About the World Bank
The World Bank is an international organization created in 1944. It operates as a global development cooperative owned by 189 nations. It provides its members with financing, expertise and coordination services so they can achieve equitable and sustainable economic growth in their national economies and find effective solutions to pressing regional and global economic and environmental problems. The World Bank Group has two main goals: to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity. The World Bank (IBRD) seeks to achieve them primarily by providing loans, risk management products, and expertise on development-related disciplines to its borrowing member government clients in middle-income countries and other creditworthy countries, and by coordinating responses to regional and global challenges. The World Bank has been issuing bonds in the international capital markets for over 70 years to fund its sustainable development activities and achieve a positive impact. Information on bonds for investors is available on the World Bank Treasury website: www.worldbank.org/debtsecurities.
Disclaimers
Net proceeds of the bonds described herein are not committed or earmarked for lending to, or financing of, any particular projects or programs and returns on the bonds are not linked to the performance of any particular project or program.
This press release is not an offer for sale of securities of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development ("IBRD"), also known in the capital markets as "World Bank". Any offering of World Bank securities will take place solely on the basis of the relevant offering documentation including, but not limited to, the prospectus, term sheet and/or final terms, as applicable, prepared by the World Bank or on behalf of the World Bank, and is subject to restrictions under the laws of several countries. World Bank securities may not be offered or sold except in compliance with all such laws.
Contacts
Heike Reichelt, Head of Investor Relations and New Products
The World Bank Treasury
debtsecurities@worldbank.org
