Ahren Lester

SPO providers hail sustainable debt market innovation despite contraction

Optimism for SLB prospects is widespread among SPO providers, as issuers continue to focus on sustainable debt innovation amid the market slowdown. Ahren Lester reports

Transition bonds: 'Too niche and too complicated'

Attempts to develop a dedicated transition bond market could prove "self-defeating" for sustainable bond markets, yet could add "maturity" by opening it up to more diverse industries and projects.

Honolulu launches $223m green bond

Sustainalytics no longer biggest SPO provider, after S&P and Moody's surge

S&P Global and Moody's were the two largest sustainable finance framework second-party opinion (SPO) providers in the first half of 2025 after they strengthened their share at the expense of long-standing market leader Morningstar Sustainalytics.

Austria raises CHF140m from Swiss franc green bond tap

Austria has raised CHF140 million ($174 million) from a tap of its existing 15-year Swiss franc-denominated green bond - as it responded to demand from bank treasuries.

FAB issues 'milestone' HKD390m 'blue bond'

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) has become the first Gulf bank to issue a 'blue bond', describing the HKD390 million ($50 million) deal as a "defining milestone".

Sustainable commercial paper market strengthens as 'appreciation' expands

Interest in sustainable corporate paper (CP) is growing, as issuers, investors and other market participants grow more confident about the valuable role of the short-dated instruments in sustainable finance, according to NatWest.

Saudi Awwal Bank launches 'Tier 2' green bond debut

Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB) has launched a debut US dollar-denominated 'Tier 2' green bond amid growing issuance of the regulatory capital instrument in sustainable format.

SocGen: Growing interest in 'Orange Bonds' in Asia - but scalability doubts remain

Asian sustainable bond markets are increasingly interested in 'Orange Bonds' focused on gender equality, but Société Générale (SocGen) said it is still "difficult" to see how scalable it can be.

Bank Windhoek raises NAD250m from pioneering Namibian SLB

Bank Windhoek has raised NAD250.5 million ($14 million) from the first sustainability-linked bond (SLB) from a Namibian issuer, which the longstanding sustainable bond issuer described as a "significant evolution" of its approach.