Ahren Lester

Articles by Ahren Lester

  • Enel returns to sustainability-linked bonds with €1.75bn deal

    17 January 2024

    The biggest issuer of sustainability-linked bonds (SLB) has returned to the market after nearly a year's absence.

  • France raises record €8bn from new green bond

    16 January 2024

    France has raised €8 billion ($8.8 billion) from a new green bond in the largest ever debut deal from the long-standing sovereign issuer.

  • Kenya steps closer to 'attractive' sovereign green bond debut

    16 January 2024

    Kenya has taken a step closer to issuing its debut sovereign green bond after the government approved its framework, opening a path to becoming only the fifth African sovereign to issue a labelled sustainable bond.

  • Northvolt signs 'largest' European gigafactory green loan

    16 January 2024

    Northvolt has secured a $5 billion green loan to expand capacity at its "circular" battery manufacturing site in Sweden. It is believed to be the largest green loan for a 'gigafactory' in Europe to date.

  • Oman publishes first Gulf State sustainable finance framework

    15 January 2024

    The Sultanate of Oman has become the first Gulf sovereign to publish a framework which allows it to issue both green and social bonds and loans.

  • NIB raises NOK2.5bn from debut green bond of 2024

    15 January 2024
  • France launches €15bn green bond issuance plan

    15 January 2024

    France will issue a new 25-year green bond in "coming days", as it kicks off a potential €15 billion ($16.4 billion) issuance programme for 2024, according to the country's treasury department.

  • Euro, US dollar sustainable bond liquidity diverges in 2023

    12 January 2024

    The declining issuance of sustainable bonds in the US is leaving its mark on secondary market liquidity for the instruments, according to Barclays.

  • ESG resolution support among US asset managers slumps in 2023

    11 January 2024

    Key environmental, social and governance (ESG) shareholder resolutions at US firms in 2023 were backed by just half of major US asset managers, according to Morningstar - significantly falling behind their European peers.

  • Loan round-up: China Oil and Gas, Iberdrola, Bahrain Steel ... and more

    11 January 2024