On July 6, 2017 the Financial Times reported on the growing popularity of social bonds with ethical investors and the interest of standard-setting organizations in this new asset class.
According to the article, “(t)he market is still small — just $3.5bn of social bonds were issued in the second quarter of 2017, according to figures from data provider Dealogic — but this was the best quarter on record and more than double the previous record.” Dealogic reports that the largest social bond issues are from the following countries, in order of size: The Netherlands, Spain, France, USA, Australia, Japan and The Philippines.
The International Capital Markets Association (ICMA) has issued both Green Bond Principles (GBP) and Social Bond Principles (SBP), frameworks which should help these bonds appeal on a wider scale.
Registered users may read the article on the Financial Times internet site.