Contact SLL highlights New Zealand’s growing sustainable-finance options

Contact Energy (Contact)’s new sustainability-linked loan (SLL) incentivises improvements in areas such as corporate governance, stakeholder engagement and environmental impact. Participants in the deal believe that the SLL product will be applicable for a broad set of borrowers in New Zealand as it is elsewhere.

Westpac’s outcome highlights US dollar edge in new-year issuance options

Westpac Banking Corporation (Westpac) executed a multitranche senior-unsecured deal and a covered-bond transaction in the US dollar market on 9 January 2020. The issuer says it received strong ongoing support as major-bank benchmark deals continue to flow freely in domestic and global markets, though the US has been the jewel in the crown.

Westpac preparing RMBS transaction

On 16 January, Westpac Banking Corporation (Westpac) revealed plans to engage investors regarding a potential self-led, Australian dollar denominated residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) deal from its WST programme.

Full pricing details on BNP Paribas’s A$300 million senior nonpreferred EMTN transaction

BNP Paribas launches 7.5-year senior nonpreferred EMTN transaction

On 10 January, BNP Paribas (A+/Aa3/AA-) launched a new 7.5-year, Australian dollar denominated, senior nonpreferred, EMTN, benchmark transaction, offered in either or both fixed and floating-rate format. Indicative price guidance for the forthcoming deal, which is expected to price on the day of launch, is 140 basis points area over swap benchmarks.