KUALA LUMPUR: Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) has become the first commercial bank in Malaysia and Southeast Asia to issue a sustainability-linked loan (SLL), with a US$150 million facility extended to Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik Malaysia (AT&S Malaysia).
In a joint statement with AT&S, Maybank said this landmark deal marks the first SLL from a local bank to a multinational company in Malaysia’s semiconductor industry.
From left: Datuk John Chong, Group Chief Executive Officer, Global Banking of Maybank; Michael Mertin, President and CEO, AT&S; Petra Preining, Chief Financial Officer, AT&S.
The loan complements a US$250 million financing secured by AT&S Malaysia from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in March 2025. Together, they form part of a parallel loan package arranged by IFC.
Proceeds from the loan will support the development of AT&S’ first high-end IC substrate manufacturing facility in Kulim Hi-Tech Park, which will feature advanced equipment and closed-loop recycling systems in line with the company’s sustainability strategy.
The plant is set to produce sophisticated IC substrates that are critical for meeting rising demand for high-performance processors, data centres, and AI infrastructure. 
AT&S noted that with more than US$1 billion invested, this project is the group’s largest initial outlay in Malaysia.
The SLL includes targets such as a 31% reduction in annual greenhouse gas emissions by March 31, 2028, using FY2022 levels as the baseline.
Maybank’s global banking group CEO Datuk John Chong said the financing aligns with the bank’s strategic push in the semiconductor sector and reinforces its commitment to sustainable finance and the green transition in the region.
“This transaction also deepens our collaboration with the International Finance Corporation,” he said.
From 2021 through Q1 2025, Maybank has mobilised RM125.46 billion in sustainable financing across ASEAN, exceeding its RM80 billion target ahead of schedule.
