Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance advises Anheuser-Busch InBev on its inaugural USD10.1 billion sustainability linked financing

International law firm Clifford Chance advises Anheuser-Busch InBev, the Belgian multinational drink and brewing company, on an inaugural 10.1 Billion USD Sustainability Linked Revolving Credit Facility. This milestone facility is the largest ever sustainability linked loan revolving credit facility and the first syndicated facility of its kind among publicly listed companies in the alcohol beverage sector.

The facility incorporates a pricing mechanism that incentivizes improvement in the following four key performance areas, that are aligned with and contribute to the company’s 2025 Sustainability Goals:

• Further improving water efficiency in AB InBev's breweries globally, supporting the Water Stewardship Goal;
• Increasing PET recycled content in PET primary packaging, contributing to the Circular Packaging Goal;
• Sourcing purchased electricity from renewable sources as outlined in the RE100 commitment; and
• Reducing GHG emissions as a part of the science-based Climate Action Goal.

The above-listed goals form part of the criteria influencing, upwards or downwards, the margin of the facility and reinforce AB InBev’s long-standing commitment to sustainability.

The team was led by London finance partner Peter Dahlen working with Julia House, Lydia Morrell, William Goulbourne and Arpan Bhatt.