Ahren Lester

Articles by Ahren Lester

  • Consultation opens on climate change lobbying framework

    29 June 2020

    The consultation on a framework to help investors assess the extent to which a company's lobbying is aligned to the Paris Agreement has been opened, after three investors launched the project earlier this month.

  • Central banks overlooking ESG factors in Covid-19 response, say academics

    29 June 2020

    There is limited evidence that central banks are taking sustainability goals into account in their response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis, reported a group of researchers who also suggested ways the banks could adjust current instruments to help meets these goals.

  • Coronabonds webinar: Pimco gives EM sovereigns 'benefit of the doubt'

    29 June 2020

    Investors are likely to give the "benefit of the doubt" to some emerging markets (EM) governments issuing bonds targeting relief efforts amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, said fixed income investor PIMCO.

  • ESG data market 'to more than double, to $5bn'

    26 June 2020

    The environmental, social and governance (ESG) data and services market could more than double to over $5 billion by 2025, it has been forecast, as institutional investor interest grows in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

  • Third of investor votes back Mizuho Financial climate resolution

    25 June 2020

    More than a third of Mizuho Financial investors backed a ground-breaking shareholder resolution urging the Japanese bank to disclose its climate risks and publish a plan to align investments with the Paris Agreement.

  • Coronabonds webinar: Axa adopts 'flexible' approach as it invests heavily

    25 June 2020

    Axa Investment Managers has tried not to be "too stringent" when assessing bonds issued in response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, as its total investment in so-called 'coronabonds' approaches half a billion euros.

  • Energy efficiency outperforms amid 'enduring appeal'

    24 June 2020

    Resource efficiency-focused investments have outperformed since the start of 2020, WHEB Asset Management tells Ahren Lester, as customers and investors recognise their "enduring appeal" despite the economic shock caused by the coronavirus pandemic

  • Investor support for Mizuho Financial climate resolution grows

    23 June 2020

    Mizuho Financial faces growing pressure as more investors back a shareholder resolution calling on the bank to disclose its climate risks and publish a plan to align investments to the Paris Agreement.

  • Cleantech Solar secures $75 million green loan

    23 June 2020

    Cleantech Solar has signed a $75 million green loan with the Singapore branch of Dutch lender ING Bank, the largest Asian green facility for commercial and industrial rooftop solar projects.

  • Olam signs $250m sustainability-linked loan

    22 June 2020

    Olam has signed sustainability-linked revolving credit facility (RCF) worth $250 million, the third sustainability-linked loan the food and agriculture firm has signed over the last two years.