Allens has advised the QIC Shopping Centre Fund (QSCF) on its first A$300 million green bond issuance. The issuance was certified as a green bond by the Climate Bonds Initiative, with the proceeds to be directed towards sustainability-focused projects within QSCF's portfolio.
QSCF owns a portfolio of shopping centres and the first investments will be allocated towards the Eastland mall in Melbourne, Grand Central in Toowoomba and Robina Town Centre on the Gold Coast, for the purposes of improving the sustainability of these retail centres through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
QSCF is managed by QIC Limited, a global diversified alternative investment manager for sovereign wealth funds, superannuation funds and other institutional investors.
'We were delighted to advise QSCF on its first green bond issuance, working alongside NAB and CBA as arrangers,' said James Darcy, lead Partner on the transaction and Head of Allens' Debt Capital Markets team.
'We are increasingly seeing Australian corporates, including property and infrastructure owners, looking to adopt sustainability-focused financing through green bonds or products such as green loans. The strength of the issuance demonstrates increasing investor appetite for green bond products,' he said.
This transaction builds upon Allens' work on impact investments, including the firm's recent experience with sustainable loans and social impact bonds in the Australian and Asian loan markets.
Allens legal team
Banking & Finance
James Darcy (Partner), Paul Cerche (Managing Associate) and Rujuta Natu (Associate).
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Notes for editors.
Allens is a commercial law firm working throughout Australia and Asia. Through its integrated alliance with Linklaters it provides clients access to 40 offices in 28 countries around the world.