NYK Introduces Its Green Bond Initiatives

Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), the first company in the global shipping industry to issue labelled green bonds, presented its initiatives at a seminar conducted by Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co. Ltd. in Tokyo.

A green bond is one in which the proceeds are used solely for the purpose of funding environment-friendly projects.

The importance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives is getting a lot of attention in capital markets, and this seminar provided information on current ESG affairs to issuers interested in ESG bonds.

Yuichi Shirane, deputy manager of the Corporate Finance Team in NYK’s Finance Group, participated in a panel discussion titled “Current ESG and ESG Bond Initiatives.” Together with other ESG issuers, investors, and media, he discussed the background of green bond issuance, the difficulty experienced before issuing, and public response.

NYK will continue its efforts to keep a wide range of stakeholders involved in the company’s proactive approach to environmental investment, contribute to revitalizing the domestic green bond market, and realize a sustainable society, he said.

In accordance with its medium-term management plan “Staying Ahead 2022 with Digitalization and Green,” the company issued green bonds in May this year to contribute to the sustainable development of society and enrichment of the company's corporate value.

To address environmental regulations that will be strengthened from 2020, the green bonds will be used to construct vessels powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), develop eco-friendly fuel, equip ships with SOx scrubber systems (a system that uses seawater and chemicals to remove sulfur from ship exhaust gases), etc.