Bonds

Sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) offer investors a way to align their investments with measurable environmental outcomes, while also serving as a test of both government policy credibility and environmental ambition, according to Ninety One.

Nature finance is gaining momentum, but the complexity of the sector often leaves nature underpriced, undervalued and underfinanced, a new report has said.

Despite significant growth, the report’s authors call for greater transparency and more credible reporting, cautioning that without these safeguards gender bonds risk becoming little more than “vanity projects”.

The new strategy secured an £80bn investment from “a large UK defined benefit pension scheme”, fund manager Rory Sandilands tells Impact Investor. 

EM sustainable bond issuance has fallen by double digits year-on-year in the first half of 2025, down 33%, according to S&P Global Ratings.

Proceeds from the latest bond in the series will provide financial support for high-impact enterprises owned and operated by women, as well as disadvantaged communities in India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

To date, the African Local Currency Bond Fund has invested $420m in African companies in sectors ranging from financial inclusion to renewable energy and affordable housing.

Co-investment by public and private institutions such as pension funds is key to closing the global sustainable development financing gap, a UN-backed development finance conference in Seville heard.

The organisations are hoping their joint £16m commitment will accelerate net-zero projects in local authorities in the UK.

In February, PNO Media gave Achmea Investment Management a €150m mandate to invest in impact funds. Mario Hooghiemstra, investment manager ESG tells Impact Investor about the Dutch pension fund’s goals and aspirations for its impact portfolio.