Paris, December 24 - EDF today announced the successful syndication of a new €1.5 billion revolving credit facility with an initial maturity of three years, the cost of which will be indexed to four performance indicators, with a particular focus on its social responsibility.
This new credit line, in which 9 European and North American relationship banks are participating, reaffirms the central role of sustainable finance tools in EDF's financing strategy. Bank of America and Natixis acted as ESG Coordinators, Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank as documentation agent and facility agent and Société Générale as syndication agent. Bank of America, BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank, Natixis, Société Générale and Wells Fargo also acted as Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners.
EDF continues to be at the forefront of responsible finance, with EUR 9.1 billion of ESG-indexed credit facilities at the end of 2021, i.e. more than 75% of its credit lines, and an ambition to reach 100% in the years to come. Aligned with its Raison d'Etre, this approach allows EDF to strengthen its commitment to innovative financing solutions and to integrate the Group's CSR commitments.
The indicators of this credit facility are based on 4 areas linked to EDF's principles of Fair and Inclusive Transition, in favour of all its stakeholders:
- Employees: the Group has set itself the goal of reaching 33% of women on management committees by 2026;
- Customers: thanks to digital energy efficiency solutions, EDF enables its customers to better understand their consumption and reduce their energy bills;
- Suppliers: in line with its Excell Plan, EDF is implementing an action plan to promote the relocation and support of SMEs in the nuclear sector as part of the France Relance programme;
- Communities: the Group is committed to an ongoing dialogue with communities and territories wherever it operates. To this end, it organises a dialogue and consultation process for new projects, in line with the Equator Principles, involving local communities throughout the project life cycle.
This line of credit indexed on social indicators complements the range of sustainable finance tools that EDF has been developing for several years, particularly in the green and now social bond market, where the Group has established itself as a benchmark issuer with the equivalent of €10 billion issued since 2013.
Xavier Girre, Group Executive Vice President in charge of EDF's Finance Department, said: "With this new innovative transaction, EDF is demonstrating that its financial strategy is at the heart of the Group's strategy to promote a fair and inclusive transition and that it is committed to involving its financial partners in this strategy”.