Burberry Group plans to issue a benchmark-sized, medium-dated, sterling public Sustainability Bond – the first sustainability labelled bond issued by a luxury company. It will diversify Burberry’s sources of funding, introducing long-term financing into the company’s capital structure. The proceeds will be used to finance eligible sustainable projects.
Burberry has applied to be rated by Moody’s and expects the Bond to be rated Baa2 (Stable Outlook).
The Bond will be issued pursuant to the company’s Sustainability Bond Framework, which has received a ‘second party opinion’ from Sustainalytics. The proceeds will be used to finance and/or refinance eligible sustainable projects as described by Burberry’s Sustainability Bond Framework.
The company has a conservative capital allocation policy and already holds substantial liquidity. Following the outbreak of Covid-19, earlier in the year the company drew down its £300 million Revolving Credit Facility and issued £300 million of short-dated commercial paper under the Bank of England’s Covid Commercial Financing Facility (CCFF), with a maturity in March 2021. The RCF drawings were repaid in full in the first quarter of FY 2020/21.
The Bond will be offered to professional investors and eligible counterparties. Applications will be made for the admission of the Bond to be listed on the official list of the UK Listing Authority and to be traded on the main market of the London Stock Exchange.
