Ahren Lester

'Sleeping' sustainability-linked leveraged loans 'need to be stamped out'

The unwelcome resurgence of 'sleeping sustainability-linked' leveraged loans - which are signed before key sustainability provisions are finalised - needs to be "stamped out" in 2024, according to Fitch Solutions-owned Covenant Review.

Hong Kong raises $750m from second 'digital' green bond

Hong Kong has raised more than $750 million from a multi-currency green bond, issued in digital format using blockchain technology.

Japan confirms ground-breaking 'transition bond' debut next week

Japan is going to raise around JPY800 billion ($5.4 billion) from its ground-breaking debut 'climate transition' bond (CTB) next week, becoming both the sovereign to use the 'transition' bond label.

Environmental Finance Sustainable Debt Award nominations close tomorrow

$1trn, again: Record sustainable bond issuance forecast for 2024

Sustainable bond issuance is forecast to see $1 trillion dollar of issuance in 2024, for the first time since the record-breaking total in 2021, according to Environmental Finance Data (EF Data).

'Pretty poor' 2023 for sustainability-linked leveraged loans

2023 was a "pretty poor" year for European sustainability-linked leverage loan deals as borrowers and investors avoided the instrument, according to Fitch Solutions-owned Covenant Review.

Sustainable bond fund universe expands to more than 100

A spate of fund launches pushed the number of vehicles specialising in labelled sustainable bonds past the 100 mark, research by Environmental Finance has revealed.

ESG fund launches in 2023 'down but not out', says Barclays

The number of environmental, social and governance (ESG) fund launches fell sharply in 2023, with passively managed funds bearing the brunt of the slowdown.

ESG controversy scores are impacting bond pricing

Climate risk is still not efficiently being priced in bond markets, but the impact of exclusions and controversy scores give a glimpse to the future. Ahren Lester reports

CA-CIB leads 2023 sustainable loan coordinator deal-making

Crédit Agricole CIB (CA-CIB) served as sustainability coordinator on 60 sustainable loan deals in 2023, making the French bank the most active coordinator of the year.