CIMB onboards first MNC to sustainability-linked Treasury programme

From left: CIMB Group wholesale banking and group treasurer co-CEO Chu Kok Wei, corporate banking Malaysia head Lau Su Chean, group wholesale banking ESG advisory and solutions head Jefferi Hashim, ISF CEO Takashi Ishigami and ISF chief marketing officer Khoo Yoke Lian

KUALA LUMPUR: CIMB Bank Bhd has onboarded its first foreign multinational client for its landmark sustainability-linked Treasury programme.

The group said in a statement its client, Intercontinental Specialty Fats Sdn Bhd (ISF), is a unit of Japan's largest processor and marketer of edible oils, The Nisshin OilliO Group Ltd.

According to CIMB, the programme enables and incentivises clients to embed their environmental, social and governance (ESG) aspirations into Treasury risk management solutions that are customised to their requirements.

In addition, the programme provides for a longer-term treasury solution by moving from one-off transactions towards a recurring business-as-usual flow programme framework.

"CIMB is honoured to onboard ISF as a key partner in this innovative programme, which will facilitate and support ISF’s sustainability goals whilst meeting their recurring hedging requirements over a longer-term horizon.

"This transaction highlights CIMB’s capabilities and commitment to help clients from a wide range of industries and sectors to advance their respective ESG agendas and create positive impacts through sustainable finance solutions," said CIMB head of ESG advisory and solutions Jefferi Hashim.

He added that this is in line with CIMB Group’s ambition to become a leading focused Asean bank and Asean sustainability leader under its Forward23+ strategic plan.