Ahren Lester

EU Taxonomy secures final approval from Parliament

The EU Taxonomy for sustainable activities has secured final approval from the European Parliament after two years of negotiation, ahead of official standards coming into force from 2022.

Bond round-up: Unédic, Snam, Castle Peak, Northern States Power, Symbiotics ... and more

CapitaLand signs SGD300m sustainability-linked loan

Real estate firm CapitaLand has signed a SGD300 million ($216 million) sustainability-linked loan (SLL), taking its total sustainable financing to more than SGD2.7 billion in under two years.

Swedish regulator opposes easing capital rules for green investments

The Swedish financial supervisory authority has opposed proposals to cut the capital requirements required by pension funds for their 'green' investments, the latest intervention by a global regulator in the so-called 'green supporting factor' debate.

National Grid signs $740m green loan from export agencies

National Grid has signed a green loan worth $743 million to help fund the construction of an electricity interconnector between Denmark and the UK, believed to be the first covered green loan to be signed with more than one export credit agency.

Snam issues maiden €500m 'transition' bond after 'climate action' criticism

Italian energy infrastructure firm Snam has raised €500 million ($567 million) through its inaugural 'transition bond' to finance or refinance energy transition projects, just over a year after its 'climate action bond' attracted controversy.

Chinese green bond standard update a 'great signal' to market

After years of misalignment with global green bond standards, the new proposals from Chinese watchdogs should clear the way for greater green bond issuance. Ahren Lester reports

Private equity firm EQT enters €5bn ESG-linked loan facility

Private equity firm EQT has entered into an environmental, social and governance (ESG)-linked, fund-level bridge facility of up to €5 billion ($5.7 billion) with a syndicate of more than 15 lenders, including BNP Paribas and SEB.

Norges Bank and Unicef launch clothing supply chain child rights guidance

Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM) and children's charity Unicef have launched guidance for apparel and footwear firms on how to better integrate child rights in their global supply chains.

Sustainability-linked Bond Principles mark new era for bond market

A set of Sustainability-linked Bond Principles (SLBP) was launched today, in a landmark move that is expected to kickstart a new market of labelled bond issuance that will "complement rather than act as an alternative" to the green bond market.