Norway

Sparebanken Sør Boligkreditt sold its first green covered bond on 17 October, a €500m seven year trade that inaugurates the first green and sustainability bond framework from a Norwegian bank, which takes in social activity in emerging markets, and a new green mortgage highlighted by an official at the issuer.

SR-Boligkreditt inaugurated a green bond framework with the first negative-yielding euro benchmark covered bond from the Nordics on Tuesday, while Sparebanken Sør Boligkreditt is set to follow with a green covered bond debut off the first Norwegian framework also targeting social goals.

SpareBank 1 SMN inaugurated its green bond framework on 4 September with a EUR500m seven year senior preferred issue soon after it received an improved ESG rating from Sustainalytics, with its fisheries-related element welcomed by the Marine Stewardship Council.

Sparebanken Vest has established the first Norwegian green bond framework that allows for both senior unsecured issuance by the bank and covered bond issuance by its dedicated subsidiary, Sparebanken Vest Boligkreditt, with green buildings and hydropower the eligible categories for loans.

SpareBank 1 SMN has established a green bond framework and could sell the first senior unsecured green bond benchmark in euros from a Norwegian bank, while offering investors a rare opportunity to gain exposure to the “life below water” Sustainable Development Goal.

Sunndal Sparebank sold the first green bond from a Norwegian savings bank on 1 February, a NOK75m (EUR7.65m) three year senior unsecured deal with proceeds allocated to hydro power plants and loans for electric and hydrogen powered vehicles, rated “dark green” by Cicero.

Norway’s DNB Boligkreditt issued the biggest green bond from a European bank yesterday (Tuesday), a EUR1.5bn green covered bond debut that provided the clearest evidence yet of a possible “greenium” in the asset class. Sweden’s Handelsbanken today unveiled a new “dark green” framework.

DNB Boligkreditt has established a green covered bond framework based on residential mortgages for the most energy efficient properties in Norway, after compatriot SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt tightened its criteria on the basis of feedback during its Climate Bonds Initiative certification process.