Ahren Lester

Articles by Ahren Lester

  • Debut corporate sustainable bond issuance falls to record low in 2024

    11 July 2024

    The global share of debut sustainable bond issuance has declined significantly in 2024 to "record lows", according to Barclays research - but US debut issuance has recorded a modest increase.

  • Sustainable Debt Round-up: European Investment Bank, CyrusOne, Deutsche Bank and more

    10 July 2024
  • Monte dei Paschi di Siena raises €750m from social covered bond debut

    10 July 2024

    Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS) has raised €750 million ($810 million) from a social covered bond, which is the first sustainable bond issued by the Italian bank.

  • EU Green Bond label faces slow start

    10 July 2024

    Investors would be keen to buy the gold-standard of sustainable bonds, but issuers are struggling to meet the criteria, writes Ahren Lester

  • Sustainable loan volumes down a third in first half of 2024

    08 July 2024

    Borrowing through sustainable loans is down a third in the first six months of 2024, led by a sharp decline in sustainability-linked loan (SLL) lending.

  • Mercedes-Benz issues first green asset-backed security

    08 July 2024

    German firm Mercedes-Benz has raised CNY765 million ($105 million) from its first green asset-backed security (ABS), which is also believed to be the first instrument of this type from an overseas carmaker in the Chinese market.

  • Japan not currently seeking CBI certification for next transition bond

    05 July 2024

    Japan is not currently looking to secure Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) certification for its transition bond issuance later in July. This follows the sovereign stepping back from the certification process for its third deal in May.

  • Debut Deutsche Bank social bond 13-times oversubscribed

    04 July 2024

    The debut €500 million ($537 million) social bond from German lender Deutsche Bank was more than 13-times oversubscribed by investors, feeding expectations the major green bond issuer will also become a regular in the social bond market.

  • Ground-breaking 'Transition Loan Principles' expected by November

    03 July 2024

    With formal principles on the horizon, the 'transition loan' market could be on the cusp of a new era - a dramatic step-change that could extend into the bond market. Ahren Lester reports

  • Turkish snack firm Ulker issues $550m sustainability-linked bond debut

    02 July 2024

    Turkish biscuit and chocolate maker Ülker has raised $550 million from its debut sustainability-linked bond (SLB).