EPM signed its first credit contract linked to sustainability

This EPM release was published using machine translation.

EPM executed the signing of its first sustainable credit line for USD 700 million with international commercial banks through a group of four banks: BBVA, BNP Paribas, Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank) and SMBC. These resources will be used to finance the investment plan in the Company's energy, gas, water and sanitation transmission and distribution businesses.

This loan with these European, North American and Asian banking entities consolidates EPM as one of the Colombian publicly owned corporations, a leader in developing a public credit operation with sustainability criteria, which includes agreed indicators in line with the Sustainability Linked Loan principles. Principles (SLLP) of the Loan Market Association (LMA).

This type of credit directly linked to sustainability aims to facilitate and support the economic activity and the environmentally and socially sustainable growth of companies. For this, financial entities grant financing resources that will have a benefit in the financial cost, subject to compliance with the objectives agreed with the organizations that access the credit.

The general manager of EPM, Jorge Andrés Carrillo Cardoso, indicated that "this transaction demonstrates the trust and support of international banks in EPM, which as part of its commitment to sustainability, provides public services that promote the social development of the territories where we are present, seeking the conservation, management and proper use of natural resources, aligned with our purpose of contributing to the harmony of life for a better world”.

The structuring of this credit operation includes the commitment to comply with two key indicators in the Organization's management. Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions (greenhouse gases), measured in tons of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) and the rate of water loss per billed user (IPUF) measured in m3/user/month, which will be monitored annually in development of the term of the credit operation.

The subscription of this public credit operation was authorized by resolution of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit of Colombia, additionally the operation had the favorable concept of external indebtedness from the National Planning Department.