Ahren Lester

'Milestone' year ahead for floundering sustainability-linked bonds

The next 18 months will be a critical period for the sustainability-linked bond (SLB) market with a flurry of target observation dates, after the performance-based instrument recorded another dramatic fall in annual issuance in 2024.

Carrefour SLB six-times oversubscribed

Climate adaptation 'needs more guidance' for sustainable bonds

Adapation-focused sustainable bonds are expected to accelerate in 2025, but Sustainable Fitch argues more guidance is needed for it to fully emerge front of stage. Ahren Lester reports

IFC raises $2bn from largest social bond

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has issued its largest ever social bond, with the $2 billion deal also attracting the largest ever orderbook for the instrument from the development finance institution.

China plans debut sovereign green bond in 2025

China is planning to issue its inaugural sovereign green bond in 2025 which would leave only a handful of G20 countries yet to issue a sustainable bond.

NIB 'very keen' on SLLBs as work continues on debut deal

Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) is still working towards entering the nascent sustainability-linked loan bond (SLLB) market, as the long-standing sustainable finance focuses attention...

Japan: The case for transition bonds

A transition bond is 'beneficial' for investors, GX Acceleration Agency's Hideki Takada tells Ahren Lester

NIB: Transmission line expansion powers up green bond issuance prospects

Long-standing green bond issuer Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) is confident of strong issuance in 2025 after a successful expansion of its framework, in particular related to electricity power grid investments.

A $1trn market again - sustainable bonds saw issuance grow in 2024

The sustainable bond market crossed the $1 trillion milestone in 2024, for the first time since its record-breaking 2021 total - but market share fell as issuers, especially in the US, prioritised conventional fixed income instruments.

Standard Chartered, Apollo launch $3bn energy transition infrastructure credit partnership

Standard Chartered has launched a $3 billion clean energy and transition financing partnership with Apollo, which has resulted in the acquisition of a minority stake in debt origination firm Apterra.