Ahren Lester

Are transition bonds ready for a new dawn?

With updated bond market guidance on transition finance expected this week in Japan, are transition bonds finally ready to end their time in the purgatory of being half labelled and half loved, asks Ahren Lester

BMO raises CAD200m from pioneering 'Indigenous Bond'

Canadian lender BMO has raised CAD200 million ($144 million) from the first 'Indigenous Bond' focused on financing sustainable projects supporting Indigenous communities and businesses.

Australia urged to leverage new climate target in 'transition-linker' bond

Bond investors have been urged to encourage Australia to use its updated 2035 national climate target in a 'transition-linker' bond as a way to put the bond market "to work" on global climate action, according to Anthropocene Fixed Income Institute (AFII).

Iberdrola issues first 'hybrid' EuGB

Iberdrola has raised €1 billion ($1.2 billion) from its second 'European Green Bond' (EuGB), which the Spanish utility firm said is the first 'hybrid' bond in this format to date.

Bogota Council readies $600m green bond debut

Debut 'methane abatement bond' expected in 2026

AllianceBernstein says there has been 'positive' issuer interest in methane abatement bonds, and US investors appear primed to unlock their impact potential. Ahren Lester reports

Sri Lanka plans sovereign green bond, SLB amid climate financing push

Sri Lanka is unveiled a raft of measures to scale up the sustainable debt market in the country, including plans to raise more than $11 billion from sovereign green bonds by 2030.

CA-CIB: Investors are asking for more SLLB issuance

Investors are asking for more issuance of sustainability-linked loan bonds (SLLBs) as the roster of financial institutions (FIs) issuing the innovative instruments grows, according to one of the pioneering issuers.

PPC praises 'valuable' SLB despite green bond switch

Public Power Corporation (PPC) has replaced its sustainability-linked bond (SLB) with a debut green bond, but the Greek power company reiterated the performance-based instrument is still an option for the future after demonstrating its strategic value.

Lithuanian state firm issues first Nasdaq-listed 'defence bond'

Lithuanian state-owned investment firm Valstybės Investicinis Kapitalas (VIK) has raised €25 million ($29 million) from the first 'defence bond' issued under the Nasdaq Europe defence bond framework criteria.