QBE put gender equality centre stage when it sold the first capital instrument from a financial institution to be in social bond format on 9 November. Here, QBE group treasurer Paul Byrne discusses the inspiration for the landmark and its execution.
The European Commission launched a public consultation yesterday (Monday) on how ESG factors could be integrated into the fiduciary duties of asset managers and institutional investors, as Valdis Dombrovskis spoke of the importance of private capital in achieving climate targets at COP23.
Barclays became the first UK bank to issue a green bond yesterday (Monday), selling a EUR500m six year non-call five HoldCo issue flat to fair value in a strong credit market, shortly after the UK government established a green finance taskforce of which the issuer is a member.
Australia’s Westpac Banking Corporation will on Thursday begin a roadshow ahead of a planned debut euro green bond, while compatriot QBE will follow up its first green bond from the insurance sector with a gender equality US dollar AT1 deal.
Engagement from fixed income investors with bond issuers remains relatively uncommon, according to the PRI, but a series of studies launched last week shows it can deliver benefits for both sides, with Pimco highlighting the particular relevance of ESG analyses when investing in banks.
Moody’s is allocating more resources to its Green Bond Assessment team as part of a broader expansion of its ESG capabilities, the rating agency announced on Wednesday, after it highlighted the growing prominence of ESG analysis amongst mainstream investors and policymakers.
Swedbank yesterday (Monday) achieved what is believed to be the tightest spread of any five year senior unsecured euro benchmark since the financial crisis with its first green bond, a EUR500m deal that a Swedbank official said had already stimulated enquiries for green financing from corporates.
Companies in the banking and broader finance sector foresee the demands of customers increasingly driving their sustainability measures in the future, according to oekom survey findings exclusively shared with Sustainabonds, with positive sustainability ratings of even more importance to such institutions than others.
Deutsche Hypo will next month become only the second issuer of a green benchmark covered bond, after having today (Wednesday) announced a roadshow ahead of a debut backed by commercial real estate, in a boost to the sustainable covered bond segment, which has lagged other asset classes.
A market initiative to produce a standardised pan-European protocol and portal for financial data on energy efficient mortgages, EeDaPP, has won support and funding from the European Commission, ahead of the forthcoming pilot phase of the Energy efficient Mortgages Action Plan (EeMAP).
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