Mobile TeleSystems Public Joint Stock Company announces the issuance of RUB 4.5 billion in exchange-traded series 001P-18 social bonds with a maturity of 3 years and a coupon of 6.50% (representing 6.61% yield to maturity at a nearly 40 bps premium to the OFZ curve). The new issuance marks the Company’s first sustainability-linked bonds, as well as the first to be marketed via digital channels, including the websites and mobile apps of the organizing banks. The bonds have been included in the Moscow Exchange’s (MOEX) Sustainability Sector, a grouping of green and social securities, as well as MOEX’s Level 1 Quotation List. The book building was held March 26-31 and saw nearly 3,000 orders from a broad spectrum of parties, with retail investors being the vast majority of participants in addition to banks and institutional investors. MTS has earmarked the proceeds from the bond issuance for broadband infrastructure development across eight Russian regions. The project is planned to bring online nearly 5,000 socially important facilities such as schools and medical clinics. The initiative is being carried out under Russia’s Digital Economy National Project, with the aim to help expand internet access to support socioeconomic development in rural and remote communities. An opinion report by credit rating agency Expert RA confirmed that the series 001P-18 bonds are aligned with the Social Bond Principles (SBP) of the International Capital Markets Association (ICMA), which provide a framework for debt instruments seeking to achieve positive social outcomes. Following issuance, MTS will report annually on the use of the proceeds, and bond holders will have the right to demand full early repayment in case of misuse of funds. The nominal price of the bonds is set at RUB 1,000, the coupon period at 182 days, and the price of placement at 100% of nominal value. VTB, Gazprombank, Credit Bank of Moscow, MTS Bank, BK Region, and Sberbank served as arrangers.