APC 2015 Annual Report Download - page 13

2015 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC 11
2015 IN BRIEF
Finance
On March 5, Schneider Electric successfully launched a
EUR750 million EMTN (Euro Medium Term Note) issue maturing
in 10 years. The interest rate environment and market conditions
helped to achieve a historically low coupon of 0.875%.
On September 3, Schneider Electric successfully launched a
EUR800 million EMTN (Euro Medium Term Note) issue maturing
in eight years with a fi xed coupon rate of 1.5%. This transaction
enables the Group to increase its debt maturity profi le at favorable
fi nancial conditions.
On November 9, Schneider Electric successfully launched a
climate bond in October 2015, raising EUR200 million with a
10-year maturity and a coupon of 1.841% in partnership with
AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM), Mirova and Neufl ize OBC
Investissements. This club deal, which was only targeting investors
who are signatories to the Green Bond Principles or to the Global
Investor Statement on Climate Change, was jointly managed by
Crédit Agricole CIB and Natixis. The objective of this bond issue
is to fi nance Schneider Electric’s R&D programs dedicated to
technologies enabling the Group’s customers to achieve tangible
CO2 savings. This is the fi rst corporate climate bond dedicated to
fi nancing low-carbon innovation programs.
On October 30, Schneider Electric announced it had reached
an agreement to sell Juno Lighting to Acuity Brands, one of the
world’s leading providers of innovative lighting solutions. Juno
Lighting is a North American supplier, specialized in recessed and
track lighting fi xtures, in both residential and commercial sectors.
On December10, Schneider Electric announced it had obtained all
required regulatory approvals and subsequently fi nalized the sale of
Juno Lighting to Acuity Brands.
On December14, Schneider Electric announced it had signed an
agreement to sell its Transportation b usiness to Kapsch Traffi cCom
AG. The Transportation b usiness targets major transportation ,
highways and infrastructure operators an municipalitites . It offers a
large range of solutions and services in the areas of traffi c, tolling,
tunnel and transit management, which make existing infrastructure
more effi cient, improve mobility and the safety of people, and reduce
pollution . The sale of the Transportation b usiness is consistent
with the Group’s strategy to optimize its b usiness portfolio and
concentrate its focus on core businesses.
Employees
On March5 , Schneider Electric announced the launch of a capital
increase reserved for employees under the employee savings plan
(plan d’ épargne salariale). This offering, which is in line with the
Group’s policy to develop employee shareholding, was proposed
in 33countries, including France. This plan covers around 90% of
employees .
On June 19, UN Women selected Schneider Electric to join the
HeForShe IMPACT 10x10x10 pilot group. This selection comes
following the 2015 Leadership Award won by Schneider Electric
on March 8 for its action in favor of gender equality, as part of
the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEP) from UN Women
and the Global Compact. Joining and promoting the HeForShe
IMPACT 10x10x10 program is a great opportunity for Schneider
Electric to accelerate its program and contribute actively to society.
On November13, Schneider Electric announced that as of end of
October2015 over 23,000 of its male employees had signed the
online petition of #HeForShe, the solidarity movement launched by
UN Women in favor of gender equality.
On June26, Schneider Electric announced the winners of Go Green
in the City 2015, its 5thinternational case study competition. The
fi nal event was held at the Group’s headquarters in Rueil-Malmaison,
France from June22 to25. The winners for this year’s challenge
were from India. Mohamad Meraj Shaikh and Spoorthy Kotla, from
the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, won the challenge for
their idea on an Effi cient Energy Management Application.
Corporate Social Responsibility
On January 23, Schneider Electric announced that Corporate
Knights had ranked it as one of the 100 most advanced companies
in the world in the fi eld of sustainable development. Schneider
Electric ranked 9th in the global list.
On January27, Schneider Electric announced the signature of a
three-way partnership agreement between the French Ministry
for National Education, Higher Education and Research, and the
Escuela Tecnologica Instituto Tecnico Central (ETITC) in Colombia.
Under this agreement, a training centre of excellence will be set up
in Colombia to develop knowledge and skills in the energy sector.
On March 2, Schneider Electric announced the launch of the
Energy Access Ventures Fund to improve access to sustainable
energy in Sub-Saharan Africa in partnership with CDC group– the
UK Department for International Development (DFID), European
Investment Bank, FISEA – PROPARCO, OFID, and AFD- FFEM.
The new fund aims to transform lives and stimulate economic
development across Africa in order to reduce poverty by providing
access to electricity for amillion people by 2025.