Nomura was one of the largest lead managers of corporate social bond issuances in 2021.

In 2021, Nomura was involved in 31 social bond deals which raised a combined $8.2 billion, according to Environmental Finance Data. Of these, 11 were issued by corporates to raise almost $3 billion – making Nomura the largest lead manager of corporate social bonds.

SMBC Nikko folowed in second, with almost $1.5 billion raised from eight corporate social bond deals, according to EF Bond Data.

Nomura was also involved in the Japan Financial Serives Agency’s Working Group on Social Bonds, which led to the publication of a set of Social Bond Guidelines for the Japanese capital market in October.  

Highlights of Nomura's year in corporate social bonds include several bonds from Japanese road operator West Nippon Expressway, encompassing individual bonds worth JPY150 billion ($1.3 billion), JPY100 billion and JPY80 billion, respectively.

It was also involved in smaller issues from East Nippon Expressway, Hanshin Expressway and Tokyo University.