Freedom Finance placed ESG bonds in support of sustainable development

20.11.23 11:45
/KASE, November 20, 2023/ – Freedom Finance JSC (Almaty), whose securities are officially listed on Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE), has provided KASE with the following press release dated November 20, 2023: quote Freedom Finance JSC placed three-year "green" bonds of Black Biotechnology LLP (BBT) in the amount of 1.5 billion tenge on Kazakhstan Stock Exchange JSC (KASE) with a yield to maturity of 21.5% per annum. These securities are classified as ESG bonds due to their compliance with the International Capital Markets Association's (ICMA) Green Bond Principles, as independently rated as High/Excellent by Green Investment Group. The issue volume is 2 billion tenge. The coupon interest on BBT bonds will be paid twice a year at a rate of 21.5% per annum, which is fixed for the entire three-year circulation period. The bonds are included in KASE official list under the trading code BKBTb1. The coupon rate will be predominantly subsidized by "Damu" Entrepreneurship development fund JSC in the amount of 15.5% per annum, the remaining 6.0% per annum will be serviced by the issuer itself. In addition, the fulfillment of obligations under the bonds is guaranteed by "Almaty" Social Entrepreneurial Corporation JSC", which assumes an irrevocable joint and several obligation with BBT to pay the principal debt in the amount of up to 1.5 billion tenge (75% of the issue volume). In addition to the bonds specified in the prospectus, covenants are provided that provide additional protection for the interests of investors, in case of violation of which the holders have the right to demand early redemption of bonds. Monitoring compliance with covenants is carried out by a representative of bondholders, who is one of the professional participants of Kazakhstan's securities market. unquote The complete press release is available at – https://kase.kz/files/emitters/FFIN/ffin_relizs_201123.pdf [2023-11-20]