Milestone transaction supports healthcare real estate while advancing DBS’s sustainable finance agenda
DBS today announced the issuance of its first social loan for the healthcare sector. The 10-year JPY 8.8 billion (SGD 72 million) facility was made to Parkway Life REIT[1] (PLife REIT), one of Asia’s largest listed healthcare REITs.Proceeds from the social loan will be used to finance PLife REIT’s elder care facilities in Japan, where a rapidly ageing population is driving urgent demand for quality aged care services. The number of people in Japan aged 65 or older hit a record high of 36.25 million in 2024[2], making up around 30% of the country’s population. This is well above the global average of 10%[3], according to the World Bank.
This marks PLife REIT’s first social loan following the establishment of its Sustainable Finance Framework, which DBS helped develop in line with leading international principles and guidelines[4]. The framework, verified by an independent third party, adheres to internationally recognised market principles, including Social Loan Principles[5]. It outlines how PLife REIT will allocate proceeds from sustainable financing to eligible green and social projects across its portfolio in Singapore, Japan and Europe. These projects include enhancements to healthcare and eldercare infrastructure, energy efficiency upgrades, renewable energy initiatives and climate-resilient building improvements, ensuring financing directly supports initiatives with meaningful environmental and social impact.
Impact indicators for the social loan include the number of nursing home accommodations availed, as well as the number of individuals benefitting from PLife REIT programmes and initiatives.
Yong Yean Chau, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Parkway Trust Management Limited, said: “This refinancing exercise marks an important milestone in PLife REIT’s sustainable financing journey, as we undertake our inaugural 10-year social loan under the Sustainable Financing Framework. As demand for quality healthcare and aged care facilities continues to grow alongside ageing populations, the Framework enables us to channel capital towards assets that deliver meaningful environmental and social outcomes while creating sustainable value for our stakeholders.”
Eugene Hong, Head of Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals, Institutional Banking Group, DBS, said: “As DBS’ first social loan in the healthcare sector, this transaction demonstrates how a well-structured sustainable financing framework can move quickly from intent to impact. For the healthcare sector, this is especially important. As demand for healthcare infrastructure rises, directing capital towards assets and services that strengthen social resilience – while meeting internationally recognised sustainable finance principles – is increasingly part of how the sector grows responsibly. This is how sustainability commitments can translate into tangible outcomes on the ground.”
Shilpa Gulrajani, Head of Sustainable Finance, Institutional Banking Group, DBS, said: “Sustainable finance goes beyond addressing environmental challenges – it is increasingly also about delivering meaningful social impact. At DBS, we are committed to mobilising capital towards projects that strengthen communities and enhance resilience. By directing funding to quality elderly care facilities, social loans expand access to essential healthcare infrastructure and support Japan’s long-term demographic needs. We are delighted to have played a key role in supporting PLife REIT’s inaugural Sustainable Finance Framework and its first social loan.
