Herbert Smith Freehills has advised the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) on its A$25 million additional investment in the Artesian Green and Sustainable Bond Fund, which aims to enhance issuer disclosure and attract new investment capital to support the transition to a net-zero economy.
This latest round of investment follows the CEFC’s original A$25m investment in the Artesian Green and Sustainable Bond Fund in 2021, in relation to which Herbert Smith Freehills also advised the CEFC.
The Artesian fund invests in highly-liquid, investment-grade green and sustainable bonds issued by Australian and international issuers, as well as cash. The CEFC’s investment will be used to generate and support more Australian green bond issuances, while also driving market-leading measurement approaches with issuers around climate-related disclosures.
The Herbert Smith Freehills team comprised partner Fiona Smedley, Special Counsel Yorick Ng, and Senior Associate Adam Hickey.
Fiona Smedley said, “We are delighted to continue our collaborative relationship with the CEFC. We are so proud to have worked with the CEFC on this matter, and of the CEFC’s ongoing leadership in driving sustainable investment.”
Yorick Ng added, “Congratulations to the CEFC on this important investment, which marks yet another success for the CEFC to help transition towards a more sustainable, lower carbon economy”.
This Herbert Smith Freehills team has advised the CEFC across a range of equity investments, including in The Ellerston 2050 Fund, Adamantem’s private equity fund, Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Asset’s infrastructure platform, Mirvac’s build-to-rent club, the Australian Renewables Income Fund, the Morrison & Co Growth Infrastructure Fund, the Investa Commercial Property Fund and the Mirvac Wholesale Office Fund.