News

Gunvor Group (“Gunvor”), one of the world’s largest physical energy commodities traders, has closed a new sustainability-linked borrowing base facility (“Facility”) to support operations at Gunvor Refinery Ingolstadt. The EUR 450 million Facility complements Gunvor’s other US $725 million sustainability-linked borrowing base for refining activities in the ARA, and similarly has an interest rate dependent on the company’s year-on-year improvements in multiple sustainability criteria in the areas of “environment”, “social impact” and “governance”.

“We’re pleased to be working closely with our banking partners to find new areas of our business for sustainability-linked opportunities,” said Muriel Schwab, Chief Financial Officer, Gunvor Group. “And despite the recent market volatilityVolatility refers to the degree of uncertainty or variation in the price or value of a particular financial instrument or market. In the context of energy commodities trading, volatility describes... Read more and uncertainty, it is very promising to see such strong lender support for this approach, as the Ingolstadt facility was heavily over-subscribed.”

In 2018, Gunvor was the first energy commodities trading company to close a financing in which the interest rate was dependent on the company’s ability to meet sustainability criteria. Per the deal, Gunvor received a discount on its interest rate as sustainability targets were met; had Gunvor underperformed on the sustainability targets, a premium would have been added to the interest rate. That original facility has been renewed under the same terms.

Gunvor continues to view the long-term challenge for companies in the physical energy commodities trading sector to be effectively positioning themselves within the “energy transitionEnergy Transition refers to the global shift from traditional fossil-fuel based energy systems to more sustainable and renewable sources of energy. It involves the gradual transformation of the energy sector,... Read more.” In 2019, “transitional” commodities (i.e., natural gasNatural gas is a fossil fuel composed mainly of methane, a hydrocarbon compound. It is formed deep beneath the Earth's surface as a result of the decomposition of organic matter... Read more, LNG and biofuelsBiofuels are a type of renewable energy derived from biological sources, such as plants and animal waste. These fuels are used as an alternative to fossil fuels, with the aim... Read more) comprised 45% of total trading activity (compared with “traditional” crude oilCrude oil refers to unrefined petroleum that is found with the Earth’s crust. Read more and oil productsOil products, also known as petroleum products or refined products, refer to the various fuels and petrochemicals that are derived from crude oil refining processes. These products play a critical... Read more), an increase from 28% the year prior. Gunvor also acquired two biofuel plantsBiofuel plants refer to facilities or installations where organic materials, such as crops, agricultural residues, or waste, are converted into biofuels. These plants typically employ various processes, such as fermentation,... Read more, and committed to no longer physically trading coal, activities which ceased in 2018. The company is now actively measuring its CO2 footprint while devising a sustainability plan, of which financing is an important aspect. Gunvor is on target to substantially reduce its CO2 footprint in 2020, and will continue to work toward continuous reductions year-over-year.

Banks participating in the Ingolstadt Facility included:

Bookrunner, Mandated Lead Arranger and Sustainability Coordinator

• UniCredit Bank AG

Mandated Lead Arranger

• CA Indosuez (Switzerland) S.A
• DZ Bank AG Deutsche Zentralgenossenschaftsbank
• KfW IPEWX-Bank GmbH

Lead Arranger

• Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd., London Branch

Arranger

• Bank of China Ltd, London Branch
• Commerzbank AG
• Erste Group Bank AG
• First Abu Dhabi Bank (PJSC)
• Raiffeisen Bank International AG