CaseStudyBARBADOSBLUEBONDSFOROCEANCONSERVATION©tocomeCASESTUDY:BARBADOSBLUEBONDFOROCEANCONSERVATION|1ExecutiveSummaryInSeptember2022,theGovernmentofBarbados(GoB),TheNatureConservancy(TNC),andtheInter-AmericanDevelopmentBank(IDB)announcedthecompletionofaUSD150milliondebtconversionthatcreatedlong-termsustainablefinancingformarineconservationandsecuredaGoBcommitmenttoprotectupto30%,or~55,000squarekm,ofitsExclusiveEconomicZone(EEZ)andTerritorialSea.ThisprojectwillfacilitateBarbados’commitmenttotheUnitedNationsGlobalBiodiversityFramework,whichaimstoprotect30%oftheworld’sland,ocean,andinlandwatersby2030.Thetransaction,aspartofTNC’sBlueBondsforOceanConservationProgram,enabledBarbadostoreplacerelativelyexpensivepre-existingdebt(7.2%averagecost)withsignificantlylowerall-incostoffinancing(4.9%).Thisdebtrepurchasewasfundedbynewfinancing(the“BlueLoan”)arrangedbyCreditSuisseandCIBCFirstCaribbeaninUSD(50%)andBarbadianDollars(BBD)(50%),andco-guaranteedbyIDBandTNC.ThenetsavingswillallowBarbadostochannelanestimatedUSD50millionintoconservationfundingover15years:USD23millionintoanindependentconservationfund,theBarbadosEnvironmentalSustainabilityFund(BESF)(USD1.5millionperyearonaverage),andUSD17milliontowardsalong-termendowmentforBESF,whichisexpectedtogenerateanadditionalUSD10millionofreturnsover15years.Theprojectincorporatesoceanconservationcommitmentsincludingdevelopingatransparent,participatory,andcollaborativeMarineSpatialPlan(MSP)thatisguidedbythebestavailablescience,data,andinformation;anaspirationalgoaltoprotect30%ofthecountry’soceanby2030;andtheestablishmentofBESFtoallocateconservationfundinginBarbadosthroughagrantsprogramalignedwithnationalconservation,environmental,andsustainabledevelopmentpriorities.TNCwillsupporttheseactivitieswithtechnicalassistance.TransactionHighlightsKeyTransactionComponents•Barbadosrepurchased:»USD77.6millionofits6.5%2029Eurobondatapriceof92.25centsonthedollarand»USD72.9million(BBD145.9million)ofits8%DomesticBondSeriesEatpar.•CreditSuisseandCIBCFirstCaribbeanarrangeda15-yearamortizingBlueLoanofUSD146.5million(50%inUSDand50%inBBD).•IDB(USD100million)andTNC(USD50million)co-guaranteedtheBlueLoancoveringoutstandingprincipal+onesemiannualcoupon.•Barbadoscommittedtobindingmarineconservationtargetsanddirecting100%ofthedebtservicesavingstowardsconservationover15years.KeyConservationImpact•Aspirationalgoalof30%ofoceanareaunderprotectionby2030,halfinhigh-protectionbiodiversityzones.•Science-based,participatory,andinclusiveMarineSpatialPlanningtoidentifynewprotectedareasanddevelopanoceanmanagementplan.•CreationandfundingoftheBarbadosEnvironmentalSustainabilityFund(BESF);anindependentconservationfundtodisbursegrantstoconservationpractitionersinBarbados.KeyConservationFunding•USD1.5millionperyear(onaverage)intoBESFforgrantfunding.•USD17millionendowmenttogrowtoUSD27million(est.)by2037.BlueLoan•Principal:USD146.5million•Debtstockreduction:USD4.1million•InterestRate:3.8%•Maturity:2037(9.3WAL)•All-incost:4.9%(inclusiveofguaranteefees+TNCConservationAdvisory,Monitoring,andReportingCostRecovery)•Optiontodeferupto2yearsofprincipalpaymentsfollowingaNaturalDisasteroraPandemicEventAWARDS2022CASESTUDY:BARBADOSBLUEBONDFOROCEANCONSERVATION|2BackgroundTNCistheworld’slargestconservationorganization,currentlyworkinginover79countriesandterritories,withamissiont...
