Sustainable Finance

The Norinchukin Bank Sustainable Finance

As a member of a cooperative organization supporting agriculture, fishery and forestry industries, the Norinchukin Bank understands that our businesses are part of the life, natural environment, and the affluent lives of community members sustained through these industries. As such, we aim to resolve environmental and social issues through sustainable finance.
We set a target ¥10 trillion in new finance between fiscal 2021 to 2030.

Sustainable finance includes loans originated through our group company the Norinchukin Trust & Banking Co., Ltd., external management contracts of ESG funds managed by Norinchukin Zenkyoren Asset Management Co., Ltd., as well as investment and finance through Norinchukin Australia Pty Limited and Norinchukin Bank Europe N.V.

ESG Integration

The Bank incorporates ESG integration into our investment and lending cases as a measure toward environmental and social risk management.
Our investment decisions are based on a comprehensive evaluation integrating financial analysis and ESG assessment related to the customer. We learn the concerns and issues of our customers through engaging in dialogue throughout this process. In doing so, we support the sustainability initiatives of our customers and create new business opportunities.

Initiatives for Impact Creation and Visualization

The impact investment and lending approach creates positive environmental and social impacts while generating appropriate economic returns. This approach has been attracting increasing interest in recent years as a way to directly contribute to solving environmental and social issues through investment and financing activities. In addition to making steady progress toward the aforementioned sustainable finance target, the Bank also implements Impact Measurement and Management (“IMM,” below). This enables the visualization and quantitative management of the impact of our investment and lending activities on environmental and social issues.

Examples of Impact Creation

The Bank began issuing green bonds from 2021. Funds raised through green bonds are used to invest in finance projects that contribute to improving the environment, such as renewable energy projects. They are additionally used to measure and disclose the impact of such investments and finance. As of March 31, 2023, funded renewable energy projects contributed to an annual CO₂ reduction of approximately 640,000 tons (of the Bank's share).

Impact Investment Initiatives

In collaboration with its group company Norinchukin Zenkyoren Asset Management Co., Ltd., ("NZAM,” below), the Bank launched an investment program that allows for up to ¥15 billion in Impact Private Equity Fund* investments in FY2022. We funded a total of four funds and ¥10 billion in the program as of March 31, 2023, aiming to create a positive impact on climate change, educational opportunities, healthcare, welfare, and other issues.

In addition, the Bank and NZAM participate in the ESG Data Convergence Project, which aims to standardize ESG reporting in the private equity sector. Historically, ESG reporting has been conducted differently by each individual investment company. This project works to bring together more than 100 investors and investment companies in the private equity sector to collaborate to standardize and improve the quality of ESG reporting and clarify the status of ESG initiatives. Through these initiatives, the Bank will encourage expansions in impact investments and contribute to the creation of a sustainable environment and society.

*Private equity funds that intend to generate economic returns and environmental and social impact at the same time.

GHG Measurement and Financial Support for Agricultural Corporations

The Bank entered into a Sustainability Linked Loan Agreement in December 2022 with Suzunari Inc., an agricultural corporation in Shizuoka Prefecture (the “Company,” below). The agreement targets reducing the Company Scope 1-2 GHG emissions. The Company measures GHG (Scope 1-3), with the help of the Bank and the CO₂ visualization, reduction, and reporting services of Asuene Inc.

Initiatives to Solve Environmental and Social Issues in Cooperation with Electric Power Companies

Hokuriku Electric Power Company (the “Company,” below) commits to sustainability management through the stable supply of electric power.
The Bank has collaborated with the Company in various ways, including through a joint investment to establish the FreDelish Corporation. FreDelish produces and sells lettuce in a fully-artificial plant factory and aims to solve problems faced by local communities and agriculture, such as a decrease in the number of farmers and poor growth of vegetables due to unfavorable weather conditions. In addition, the Bank has utilized our unique knowledge and network in the agriculture, fishery and forestry industries to continue discussions with executives and employee regarding future carbon neutrality strategies. Through these collaborations and dialogues, the Bank sympathized with the philosophy and strategy of the Company to decarbonize power sources for carbon neutrality. In light of their priority initiatives, the Bank entered into a Sustainability Linked Loan Agreement with the Company in August 2022, setting these two priority initiatives as Sustainability Performance Targets (SPTs). These initiatives include (1) newly constructing and re-powering hydrogen generation and (2) increasing the ratio of biomass co-firing in coal-fired power generation. The Bank will contribute to the creation of a sustainable society through business partnerships and financing.

Solving Climate Change Issues through Collaboration with Companies and Other Cooperatives

The Bank participates with Mitsubishi Estate Co. Ltd., (the “Company,” below) in a wide range of SDGs that work to improve the city, such as the Daimaruyu SDGs ACT5. Various companies collaborate in this act and promote SDG activities in the Otemachi, Marunouchi, and Yurakucho areas. The Bank deepens the conversation among executives and employees through such activities. As such, we entered into the Sustainability Linked Loan Agreement in October, 2022. This agreement sets SPTs that contribute to solving climate change issues (FY2025: 100% transition to renewable energy, FY2030: 70% reduction in Scope 1-2 emissions and 50% in Scope 3 compared to 2019)
The Bank will contribute to solving climate change issues by collaborating with companies and encouraging customer initiatives.

Contributing to the stable supply of food and the conservation of marine resources through the onshore farming business

Fish Farm Mirai LLC (the “Company,” below) is a rainbow trout onshore farming business that takes measures against environmental and social issues. Their efforts include the prevention of marine pollution, the preservation of biodiversity, sustainable provision of foods, and the revitalization of local industries.
The Bank entered into a sustainability loan agreement with the Company in March 2022 to provide financial support for initiatives that help resolve diverse environmental and social issues. We assist the Company in many areas including financial support..
This business was highly evaluated on the effects on social benefits and environmental improvement, and obtained the highest rating of SU1 (F) by the Japan Credit Rating Agency, Ltd.

Preserve under a demonstration experiment

Contributions to sustainable environments and society through investments

The Bank tackles the equity needs of customers to expand our finance tools for helping customers resolve their environmental and social issues. We contribute to a sustainable environment and society by returning investees’ initiatives and technologies to our customers and member organizations.

Topics

Business Alliances for Decarbonization and The Establishment of a New Company
- Excess Electricity Circulation Solar PPA* Service -

*Power Purchase Agreement

The Bank partnered with JA Mitsui Leasing, Ltd., ("JA Mitsui Leasing,” below), JA Mitsui Energy Solutions, Ltd., iGrid Solutions, Ltd., and VPP Japan, Ltd., to establish the Circular Green Energy LLC (the "Company").
In addition to providing on-site consumption services for solar power generation facilities, the Company began offering the Excess Electricity Circulation Solar PPA Service. This service effectively utilizes the excess energy generated by such facilities. Users of this service can install solar power for their own consumption with no maintenance or initial investment allowing users to reduce GHG emissions and power costs, procure stable power, and have access to emergency power sources. The Bank will work towards decarbonatization through the installation of these systems on the roofs of buildings owned by customers of JA Mitsui Leasing or the Bank, and affiliate organizations such as JA.

Green Procurement Initiatives

Issuance of Green Bonds

The Bank issues U.S. dollar-denominated Norinchukin Bank debentures as green bonds in overseas markets. Norinchukin Bank debentures are bonds authorized to be issued under the Norinchukin Bank Act to raise funds for the Bank.
This is the first green bond issuarance for the Bank and limits the use of proceeds to investments and loans for projects that help improve the environment, such as renewable energy projects. Prior to issuance, we developed the Green Bond Framework to ensure compliance with the Green Bond Principles 2021 of International Capital Markets Association (ICMA).
We will contribute to the creation of a sustainable environment and society through the issuance of green bonds and the investment and finance of the proceeds.