Archive

2020 sustainable bond issuance jumps two-thirds amid social breakthrough

Concern as EU Taxonomy proposals diverge from TEG recommendations

The EU's trail blazing sustainability taxonomy passed another milestone, with the publication of the draft technical criteria, reports Ahren Lester. But divergences from the expert recommendations show that significant challenges face the closely watched 'green' list

Industrial Bank issues second 'blue bond' in China

The Hong Kong branch of China Industrial Bank (IB) has issued a 'blue bond', which was nearly five times oversubscribed, just a few weeks after the maiden blue bond in the country was announced.

Green bond comment, October 2020: Automotive green bonds drive up corporate issuance

Issuance from car makers has shifted to a higher gear in recent months, and it is a sign that corporates more broadly are tapping the market, says Ahren Lester

Green, social and sustainability bond market nearly doubles in third quarter

In a year thrown into disarray by the coronavirus pandemic, Ahren Lester reports on how issuance of green, social and sustainability bonds has continued to power ahead, helped by a broadening range of issuers and more large issues.

Defining transition finance: how to be inclusive yet specific

Transition finance has garnered a lot of attention, but the challenge of delineating what exactly it is remains unresolved. Three recent reports try to balance the need for the definition to be both broad enough to be inclusive, yet specific enough to protect the instruments from claims of greenwashing. Ahren Lester reports.

Basic definition essential for transition bond issuance, says ISS ESG

The market does not have to 'reinvent the wheel' on the structure of transition bonds to support future issuers, ISS ESG tells Ahren Lester, but a clear definition of what activities demonstrate 'transition' is essential for this potentially large market to grow

ECB gives green light to sustainability-linked bonds

The European Central Bank (ECB) has announced that sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) will be eligible as collateral and for its asset purchase programmes from 2021, delivering an important boost to the nascent asset class.

Paper firm Suzano outlines sustainability-linked financing framework

Brazilian paper and pulp firm Suzano has launched its sustainability-linked securities framework ahead of a potential bond issue, less than three months after international principles for the instruments were revealed.

Green bond comment: September 2020: Sustainable loans market should learn a transparency lesson from bonds

The sustainable loan market is emulating the labelled bond market in terms of its rapid growth. But the same cannot be said of the level of information it offers, laments Ahren Lester