Ahren Lester

Microfinance firm issues first social bond in Panama

BBVA Microfinance Foundation-owned Microserfin has raised $5 million from the first social bond in Panama as part of a planned $40 million programme.

Hard-to-abate 'transition' bonds can be 'green' if obsolescence risk managed

Bond issuances tackling hard-to-abate sectors can have their transition-focused bonds judged as green bonds if they manage "obsolescence risk," a sustainable bond investor told an Environmental Finance event.

TotalEnergies pauses SLB plans amid weak market development

French oil supermajor TotalEnergies told Environmental Finance it has paused plans to only issue sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) after the market for the performance-based instrument did not "develop as anticipated" - especially in the US.

'Huge opportunity' for private transition credit growth, says HSBC

There is a "huge opportunity" for private credit markets to provide transition finance, in particular direct lending through sustainability-linked loans (SLLs), said HSBC Asset Management (HSBC AM).

Loan round-up: Odfjell, Gerald Group, Société de la Tour Eiffel and ... more

Sustainable bonds 'on track' for $1bn issuance in 2024

Sustainable bond issuance is looking set to return to a billion-dollar market in 2024 after a record-breaking first quarter, according to Environmental Finance figures.

Sovereign green bonds should 'move on from railways' for impact

Sovereign issuers have been urged by an investor to look beyond clean transport - in particular, railways - for their green bond allocations in order to improve impact, an Environmental Finance event heard.

Transition and good returns 'aligning more' in bond markets

The link between issuers with good transition strategies and good returns in the bond market is increasingly becoming clearer, two transition bond fund managers told an Environmental Finance event.

Exclusive: KfW raises CNY2bn from green bond

German development bank KfW has raised CNY2 billion ($275 million) from its first Chinese yuan-denominated green bond deal of 2024, Environmental Finance has learned - consolidating its position as the largest foreign issuer of green notes in this currency.

Nordea to close social bond fund after just over a year

Nordea Asset Management is closing its social bond fund, highlighting the travails of the market.