Environmental Finance's Sustainable Debt Awards 2024

Green bond of the year (supranational): European Investment Bank

The European Investment Bank raised the "largest-ever" US dollar-denominated green bond from a supranational in February last year, raising $5 billion for its Global Climate Awareness Bond (CAB).

Cyril RousseauThe 10-year bond attracted an order book "in excess of" $19.6 billion from over 190 investors, over half of which are EMEA-based. The bank said in its awards submission that 40% came from central banks and official institutions.

Environmental Finance previously reported the investor demand for the 3.75% coupon bond allowed the EIB to tighten pricing by two basis points (bps) compared with initial pricing guidance, to 48bps over the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) mid-swaps.

"Warm thanks to the more than 190 investors across the world for their support to the 10-year $5 billion Global CAB," Cyril Rousseau, director-general of finance at the European Investment Bank told Environmental Finance.

"The order book closed in excess of $19.6 billion – then the highest ever for any USD supra transaction. This result recognises the extra value in EIB's strategy of gradual alignment with the EU Taxonomy and the upcoming EU Green Bond Standard, which are developing building blocks of international cooperation for cross-border sustainable investment".

Deal highlights:

Issuer: European Investment Bank
Size: $5 billion
Maturity: 14 February 2033
Coupon: 3.75%
Use of proceeds: Activities contributing substantially to climate change mitigation, in line with evolving EU sustainable finance legislation
External reviewer: KPMG Luxembourg
Lead managers: BNP Paribas, CIBC, Citigroup
Credit rating: AAA/Aaa/AAA (Fitch, Moody's Standard & Poor's)