Zug Estates issues third green bond

Press release  
Zug, 26 August 2024

Today, Zug Estates Holding Ltd placed a further green bond amounting to CHF 100 million. In the run-up to the transaction, the existing Green Bond Framework was expanded into a Green Finance Framework. Based on the new, stringent selection criteria, 95% of the portfolio is classified as green properties.

In 2019, Zug Estates was the first Swiss real estate company to issue a green bond. After switching its entire bond portfolio to green bonds in 2022, a further green bond with a payment date of 30 September 2024 and amounting to CHF 100 million was placed today. It has a coupon of 1.65% and a term of seven years. The proportion of unsecured bonds in relation to all interest-bearing financing will thus increase to around 45%.

In the run-up to the issue, the existing Green Bond Framework was expanded into a Green Finance Framework which in future will enable Zug Estates to take out not only green bonds but also access other types of green financing instruments.

Under the new, stringent selection criteria, buildings and sites will be classed as green if their greenhouse gas emissions during operation are lower than 1kg pro m² energy reference area (<1 kg CO₂eq / m² ERA p.a.) or if they have certification from BREEAM (very good or higher), DGNB/SGNI (Gold or higher), the Swiss Sustainable Building Standard SNBS (Gold or higher) or Minergie.

Despite these very ambitious guidelines, green buildings and sites account for 95% of Zug Estates' total portfolio, thanks to the company's long-standing systematic implementation of its strategy in the field of environmental sustainability. Of these, properties at the Suurstoffi site with a market value of CHF 418.4 million as at 30 June 2024 will be allocated to the two existing green bonds and the newly launched green bond.

ISS Corporate Solutions, one of the world's leading agencies for ESG research and rating, has provided a Second Party Opinion (SPO) on the Green Finance Framework. Moreover, on 23 August 2024 ISS (International Shareholder Services) awarded Zug Estates a "C+" rating, which corresponds to the "Prime" status.

Today's placement was met with broad-based interest among institutional investors, as the funds can be invested directly and entirely in properties that meet the most stringent sustainability requirements and that are already operated on on an almost CO₂-free basis.

UBS AG and Basler Kantonalbank are acting as joint lead managers in the issue. An application has been submitted for trading on SIX Swiss Exchange. 

Disclaimer:
This press release and the information it contains may not be forwarded or transmitted to the United States of America (USA) or distributed or transmitted to US persons (including legal entities) or to media with broad distribution in the USA. Any violation of these restrictions may give rise to a breach of US securities legislation. This bond will not be offered for public sales outside Switzerland. This media release does not constitute an offer to buy or subscribe securities and is not an issuing prospectus pursuant to Art. 35 FinSA.

Downloads:

Green Finance Framework (PDF)
Second Party Opinion (SPO) - ISS (PDF)
Green Finance Reporting
Press release (PDF)

Important dates:

27 August 2024 | Sustainability Forum
20 February 2025 | Publication of Annual Report and Sustainability Report 2024
10 April 2025 | General meeting of shareholders

For further information, please contact:

About Zug Estates
The Zug Estates Group conceives, develops, markets and manages properties in the Zug region. It focuses on central sites that are suitable for a wide range of uses and allow sustainable development. The real estate portfolio is composed mainly of the two sites in Zug and Risch Rotkreuz. The Group also runs a city resort in Zug incorporating the leading business hotels Park Hotel Zug and City Garden and a comprehensive range of restaurants. The total value of the portfolio as of 30 June 2024 was CHF 1.84 billion. Zug Estates Holding AG is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, Zurich (ticker symbol: ZUGN, securities number: 14 805 212).

Zug Estates Holding AG | Baarerstrasse 18 | CH-6300 Zug | T +41 41 729 10 10 | www.zugestates.ch