Major local telecoms company Melita has obtained approval for converting an existing €20 million revolving credit facility into a sustainability linked credit facility, CEO Harald Roesch announced on Wednesday morning.
“Melita is very focussed on becoming a sustainable and inclusive business,2 he remarked.
The sustainability linked facility will see the interest rate charged by lenders reduced, subject to Melita reaching specific sustainability targers.
These targets include a specified reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and commitments on inclusion and diversity at the workplace.
As part of the company’s ongoing effort to champion sustainable and inclusive business practices, Mr Roesch said:
“We are one of the very few Maltese organisations to have formally committed to the United Nations’ Science Based Target Initiative, which aims to achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.
“Making this type of binding commitment is the right thing to do but it is also increasingly important from a financing perspective as it reduces reputational risk and improves prospects. This, in turn, is encouraging the banks to offer more favourable terms to companies pursuing sustainability and inclusion, as has happened in this case.”
He takes over from Alejandro Gosttuski, who will now take on the role of an Advisor.
The company, set to launch soon, will seek to provide clients with ‘customer-centric and innovative’ financial services.
The Malta Stock Exchange recently joined other exchanges for the inaugural Ring the Bell for Climate initiative.
Family businesses account for more than 70% of Malta’s SMEs, and are hence vital components of the local economy.