Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank ( Crédit Agricole CIB ) Japan has closed a 10.5-billion-yen ( US$79.52 million ) social loan for Nipro Corporation, a global medical equipment and pharmaceutical manufacturer based in Japan.

The transaction marks the first social loan issued by the bank in Japan and is supported by Nipro Social Bonds Framework, which benefits from a positive second-party opinion by R&I.

In line with the bank’s long-term objectives towards social cohesion and equal access to health and care services, it supports socially and environmentally engaged companies that implement the best environmental, social and governance ( ESG ) practices in their business activities.

Proceeds of this social loan will be allocated to finance or refinance Nipro’s capital investment or research and development spending on social projects.

Nipro has been actively engaged in initiatives in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and has been focusing on improving the health and quality of life for people around the world by providing a stable supply of medical devices and pharmaceuticals.