Issue to Includes Japan’s 1st Sustainability Bonds Aimed at Individual Investors, ‘MOL Blue Ocean Sustainability Bonds’

TOKYO - Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) today announced a plan to issue ‘Sustainability Bonds’ (its 22nd, 23rd, and 24th series of unsecured corporate bonds) through a public offering in Japan’s domestic market in July of this year. It also announced the acquisition of a preliminary evaluation from a third-party institute.

Sustainability bonds are used to both finance and refinance green projects, which protect and improve the environment, and social projects, which help address social issues. In the management plan “Rolling Plan 2019,” MOL’s goals include “develop environment and emission-free businesses into core businesses,” which continues from “Rolling Plan 2018,” and “promote initiatives for United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” In addition, the “MOL Group Environmental Vision 2030,” established in April 2017, clarifies the group’s vision on addressing environmental issues. The MOL Group also views responses to stricter environmental regulations and activities to reduce its environmental impact as opportunities to create new businesses and diversify its business portfolio, while addressing new challenges in technical innovation. To foster a deeper understanding of the MOL Group’s proactive initiatives on the environment among a wide range of stakeholders, the bonds are targeted to both institutional and individual investors. This is the first time a company in Japan has issued sustainability bonds aimed at individual investors.