The new commercial paper will be integrated into the bank’s quarterly green reporting.
“In the current market more or less all green refinancing products are focusing the medium to long-term capital markets,” said MünchenerHyp head of treasury Rafael Scholz. “Investors are missing short-term investment opportunities in the money market.”
MunHyp intends to launch the commercial paper in mid-August. The issuance will follow the guidelines of its commercial paper programme.
The German lender launched its Ecological ESG Pfandbrief in October 2018.
“MünchenerHyp is limited with the issuance of ecological ESG Pfandbrief to energy efficient and sustainable loans in the cover pool and the green commercial paper is limited to the available volume of the green loan portfolio of the bank,” said Claudia Bärdges-Koch, MunHyp’s head of investor relations.
The programme is updated every year so it can achieve the Short-Term European Paper (STEP) label, which is recognised by the European Central Bank. The STEP initiative is meant to enhance market depth and liquidity.
A trend to follow?
This green initiative follows Credit Suisse, which issued the market’s first green Yankee certificates of deposit, two instruments totalling $200m, in June.
The Swiss lender issued a $50m fixed rate green YCD at a 2.33% yield and a $150m floating one year green YCD at 26bp over Sofr.
The bank issued the notes to finance a portfolio of eligible green assets, it said.
Commercial paper is a form of unsecured debt with a maturity of up to 364 days. It is issued at a discount, governed by the yield paid, and redeemed at par.