Tag: IFC

IFC Issues CAD 1 Billion Green Bond to Fund Climate Friendly Projects in Emerging Markets

Stuart Mitchell

IFC issued a benchmark three-year green bond, raising 1 billion Canadian dollars, to unlock private investment to support climate-friendly projects in emerging markets.  The proceeds of the bond will finance eligible projects under IFC’s Green Bond Framework, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, green buildings, clean transport, and biodiversity conservation, ocean and water protection. The trade attracted orders over 1.5 billion Canadian dollars, generating strong interest from a broad range of investors from around the world, including central banks, official institutions, bank treasuries and asset managers. “The CAD 1 billion trade…

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IFC’s Base of the Pyramid Platform Provides $1 Billion to Expand Access to Finance for Small Businesses

Stuart Mitchell

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, announced a $400 million increase and one-year extension of the Base of the Pyramid (BOP) platform – an initiative first launched in 2021 to help financial services providers deliver critical funding to small and informal businesses, and low-income households. The additional financing, which brings IFC’s total investment to $1 billion, will ensure much-needed liquidity for lenders in the most vulnerable markets and expand support to underserved segments of the population, including women and women-owned businesses. With an average loan size of $1,149…

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Pinsent Masons advises IFC on multimillion green and social bond issuance in Indonesia

Stuart Mitchell

Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has advised International Finance Corporation (IFC) on its $500m green and social bond investment in Indonesia. The firm advised IFC on all aspects of its first-of-a-kind investment in PT Bank BTPN Tbk’s $500m issuance of five-year green and social bonds. The investment supports the environmental and social financing goals of both institutions. BTPN, a subsidiary of Japanese banking giant, SMBC, will use funds raised by the issuance to grow its sustainable portfolio by funding projects that support renewable energy, energy efficiency, climate-smart agriculture, and sustainable…

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Closing the Gender Gap: New Report Highlights Strategies to Boost Housing Finance for Women in Emerging Markets

Stuart Mitchell

A new report from IFC explores how differentiated approaches and tailored financial products and services can expand access to housing finance for women in developing countries. The report, Her Home II: Housing Finance for Women in Ghana, Senegal, and Indonesia provides country-specific insights into the barriers women face in obtaining housing finance and what steps can be taken to overcome them. The report builds on the insights from the first Her Home study published in 2020, which found that increasing access to housing finance would not only benefit economic growth…

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IFC Issues 500 Million Canadian Dollar Social Bond to Support Underserved Communities in Emerging Markets

Stuart Mitchell

IFC issued a Benchmark Five-Year Social Bond, raising 500 million Canadian Dollars for sustainable investments supporting women entrepreneurs and low-income households in need of essential services. The transaction, which generated diverse investor interest, is IFC’s second in the Canadian Dollar market under its Social Bond Framework, following a 500 million Canadian Dollar transaction in January 2022. “It’s great to be back in the Maple market with our second Social Benchmark Bond,” said John Gandolfo, IFC Vice President and Treasurer, Treasury & Mobilization. “We’re committed to maintaining a diverse investor base…

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