Climate Bonds Blog

Posted: May 15, 2013

Join us next week for this webinar on

Green Sukuk – why, what, howFinancing renewable energy in the Islamic World

From the Green Sukuk Working GroupGulf Bond and Sukuk Council / Climate Bonds Initiative / Clean Energy Business Council MENA

Invitation: Green Sukuk Webinar - 23 May 2013, 5pm Dubai / 3pm CET / 2pm BST / 9am EDST
Posted: May 14, 2013

The Climate Bonds Initiative | CDC Climat (Group Caisse des Dépôts)Supported by EuroPlace |The Paris Financial Markets Organization

Invite you to a seminar

Financing the energy transition in France: What role for Climate Bonds?Paris | Tuesday 4 June 2013, 14:30 – 18:30

Caisse des Dépôts | 15, quai Anatole France 75007 Paris

The mobilization of private finance will be a key factor in achieving a low-carbon energy transition in France. Bonds will have to be a key part of the mix of capital instruments. What are the next steps?

Programme

Join us in Paris, 4 June: Seminar "Financing the energy transition in France: What role for Climate Bonds?"
Posted: May 12, 2013

Germany’s MBB Clean Energy AG last week raised a 6 year, €72 million ($94.6m), saying it would invest the proceeds in 1,500 MW of existing wind and solar power plants.  Coupon was 6.25%. The bond will be listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Bookrunner was Donner & Reuschel AG.

Germany’s MBB issues €72m clean energy bond / BlackRock’s Schulten calls for green bond standards / first Climate Bond Standard verification / NY Green Bank looking for a President
Posted: May 8, 2013

According to the Wall Street Journal’s MoneyBeat column, Mario Draghi on Thursday said the European Central Bank (ECB) was working to promote a funding market for asset-backed securities, which allow banks to pool together shorter-term debt they have sold – such as car loans, credit cards, and residential mortgages – and sell those pools as a single package to investors.

This is welcome news.

ECB's Draghi backs the need to support securitization – let’s make that ‘green’ securitization!
Posted: May 8, 2013

The Climate Bonds Initiative is focused on mobilizing institutional investors, such as pension funds, to help engineer a rapid transition to a low-carbon - and sustainable - economy.

 

Fiduciary duty is the term used to describe a pension fund trustee's responsibility to act in the best interests of the person whose assets they are in charge of. The boundaries of that responsibility have usually been defined as being limited to stock (and bond) picking decisions; but such an approach can be limiting in the face of systemic threats like the financial crisis - or climate change.

Webinar: ITUC President Sharan Burrows in conversation on fiduciary duty, tomorrow 9 May @11am EDT / 4pm BST
Posted: May 3, 2013

Fund manager Foresight Investment has issued a £60m bond - Senior Secured index-linked notes with a 21 year maturity - with the funds being used to refinance four of the solar parks it has developed in the UK. The solar parks are FIT-accredited with aggregate output of 15.70MW. The bond has been issues under the name Mirabaud Securities LLP; bookrunner is Independent Debt Capital Markets, with the bond to be listed on the London Stock Exchange. Coupon is 2.598%.

Foresight issues £60m, 21yr, solar bond to refinance UK solar parks - first swallow of summer?
Posted: Apr 30, 2013

French semiconductor manufacturer Soitec has issued a South African Rand denominated bond worth $111m to help finance the construction of a 44MW concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) solar plant in Touwsrivier, South Africa.

Soitec issues R1bn ($111m) solar bond
Posted: Apr 29, 2013

The European Investment Bank issued a SEK500m ($75.9m), 6 year, Climate Awareness Bond last week. Interest rate was 3%. Placement was 40% Nordic, 20% Asian, the rest in Europe. Proceeds from the bonds are used to finance renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, as detailed in annual newsletter they publish. Since 2007, EIB Climate Awareness Bonds have raised over EUR 1.7bn equivalent.

EIB issues $75.9m climate bond, first of the year
Posted: Apr 21, 2013

Trade Finance magazine reports that the IFC is planning to issue $1bn a year of Green Bonds. After talking with IFC folk in Washington DC last week I think I can say that the resounding success of last month’s first $1bn IFC Green Bond is making them think much more ambitiously than before.

IFC planning to issue $1bn Green Bonds p.a. / Hawaii setting up bond-funded green bank / Germany’s PNE Wind planning a €100m corporate bond
Posted: Apr 16, 2013

You're invited to two events:

A presentation by DNV on 'How Climate Bonds certification works', 2 May 2013, 10.30am

Recent climate bonds from the IFC and KEXIM show that there is appetite among institutional investors for this type of asset class. However, uncertainty remains about what "climate" or “green” means, particularly where corporate issuers are concerned.

Invitations: DNV on 'How Climate Bonds certification works' 2 May 10.30am (free) / Reminder: Env Bonds Conf London 25 April (25% discount)