Japan\u2019s issuance of the world\u2019s first \u2018transition bond\u2019 could trigger sea of change
\nWhat is transition bond, and how is it different from a green bond?
\nHow ASX investors can get in on the action<\/p>\n
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Earlier this week, Japan<\/strong> announced that it will issue the world\u2019s first sovereign\u00a0Climate Transition Bond<\/strong><\/a> aimed at helping the Japanese government fund the country\u2019s shift toward net zero carbon by 2050.<\/p>\n Priced at a yield of 0.74% with a maturity of 10%, the 800 billion yen (US$5.3 billion) issuance was part of a wider \u00a51.6 trillion (US$11 billion) program announced previously by the Japan\u2019s Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n Prime Minister Fumio Kishida\u2019s office has stated that half of the proceeds will be earmarked for R&D (research and development) on emission reduction technologies, while the other half will be used for green subsidies.<\/p>\n So what is a transition bond, and how does it differ from the green bond?<\/strong><\/p>\n Transition bonds are often considered as a hybrid between green bonds<\/strong> and sustainability-linked bonds<\/strong>.<\/p>\n As we know, green bonds are linked to pre-identified environmentally friendly projects, such as solar power farms or sustainable waste facilities.<\/p>\n Sustainability-linked bonds, on the other hand, can be linked to any project as long as certain sustainability goals are met during the period in question.<\/p>\n Transition bonds meanwhile are like green bonds in that they are linked to a specific project, but the biggest difference is that issuers of transition bonds do not have to already be operating sustainably.<\/p>\n In other words, issuers can be companies (or a government in this case) that are in the process of transitioning to a lower carbon existence.<\/p>\n This means that, theoretically, any company operating in any industry could issue a transition bond.<\/p>\n \u201cTransition bonds have the potential to provide access to the sustainable bond market for issuers in sectors that do not generally qualify for green bonds, but still want to reach climate and other environmental goals,\u201d said a report released by the S&P.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n At the moment, major lenders including the Asian Development Bank (ADB)<\/strong> are refusing to fund projects like coal mining or natural gas exploration.<\/p>\n However, the ADB has said that it will give financial support to companies that are transitioning to cleaner solutions, essentially giving their blessing to transitional bonds.<\/p>\n \u201cWe think transition bonds can be the next evolution in helping allocate capital towards a low carbon economy,\u201d said a note from BNP Paribas<\/em>.<\/p>\n But some questions remain; for example, can any company actually issue transitional bonds regardless of the nature of their business?<\/p>\n \u201cWe note that some darker brown companies, such as coal mining, will never be able to transition successfully to a greener business, and as such are likely to be excluded from issuing transition bonds,\u201d added BNP.<\/p>\n The biggest challenge of all in establishing a solid transition bond market, according to BNP, is whether issuers are capable of gaining investor trust.<\/p>\n \u201cPart of the challenge faced by the sustainable bond market has been the lack of globally-accepted definitions or verification, and transition bonds potentially face the same issues,\u201d BNP concluded.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n While Japan\u2019s issuance could potentially trigger a sea change, it\u2019s worth acknowledging that the transition bond label has struggled to secure widespread adoption.<\/p>\n The reasons for this are manifold, and like BNP said, the biggest problem is that there is no universally accepted definition of what transition finance is.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a multitude of definitions of transition out there, but none has been internationally agreed upon,\u201d said Jarek Olszowka, head of sustainable finance IBD at Nomura.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThis, in turn, has led to a lot of confusion among international investors as to what is meant by a transition bond. The lack of agreement on the definition is preventing market growth.\u201d<\/p>\n Related to this is a fear of being accused of \u2018transition washing\u2019 \u2014 which is when companies provide so-called green finance to bankroll carbon-intensive firms that do not actually use the money to pivot their business away from fossil fuels.<\/p>\n But there\u2019s no doubt the sector is changing rapidly \u2013 Australia and Canada for example are working on their own transition finance definitions.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Australia aspires not only to transition its economy to net zero, but also to become a green energy superpower.<\/p>\n That will involve constructing a host of solar and wind farms, batteries, and electric vehicle charging stations, not to mention upgrades to the grid and investments in new technology.<\/p>\n All this needs funding, lots of it, to the tune of some $755 billion in power generation alone.<\/p>\n The scale means that superannuation funds and other big institutional investors must be involved to support the government\u2019s effort.<\/p>\n The government has issued its first green sovereign bond in June last year, but more needs to be done to fill the funding gap \u2013 and that may involve the use of transitional bonds.<\/p>\n \u201cAustralia\u2019s financial system must urgently transform itself to meet the climate challenge,\u201d market experts Alison Atherton and Gordon Noble wrote in The Conversation.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIf the financing of the transition were a bicycle race, Australia has now caught up to the global peloton. The next step is to take the lead.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n While an ETF focusing on transition bonds isn\u2019t available just yet, ASX investors can still invest in a green-bond themed ETF through the Betashares Sustainability Leaders Diversified Bond ETF \u2013 Currency Hedged (ASX:GBND)<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n Betashares says that at least 50% of GBND\u2019s portfolio is made up of \u201cgreen bonds\u201d (using the definition applied by the Climate Bonds Initiative), issued specifically to finance environmentally friendly projects.<\/p>\n The fund\u2019s objective, as per the term sheet is:<\/p>\n \u201cTo track the performance of an index that comprises a portfolio of global and Australian bonds screened to exclude issuers with material exposure to fossil fuels, or engaged in activities deemed inconsistent with responsible investment considerations (other than sovereign bond issuers).\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The fund\u2019s country allocation includes: Australia (37%), Germany (11%), and the US (3%).<\/p>\n In the past year, the ETF has returned 4.03% after fees of 0.49%.<\/p>\n The composition of the portfolio as of February 14th, is as follows:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Source: Betashares The post The Ethical Investor: Transition Bond \u2013 why it could be key to net zero\u2026 and can ASX investors trade it?<\/a> appeared first on Stockhead<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Not for any company<\/h2>\n
Confusion on definitions<\/h2>\n
Urgency in Australia<\/h2>\n
How ASX investors can get some action<\/h2>\n
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