2006 award winners and special commendations

Sustainable Bank of the Year

HSBC

The UK-based banking group is the first winner of the FT Sustainable Bank of the Year award. A leading adopter of the Equator Principles, HSBC has impressively integrated throughout its operations an emphasis on the triple bottom line, focusing on the opportunities as well as the risks of sustainability-related business, whether in project financing or the creation of innovative products and services. It has also shown an increasing focus on developing sustainable business opportunities in the emerging markets.

Commitment towards best practice in sustainable banking has come from the top of the organisation, with the bank taking a leading position with respect to climate change and the environment. HSBC was the world’s first major bank to achieve carbon neutrality. It has issued internal guidelines on business related to land and forest products, freshwater infrastructure and the chemicals industry and is due to issue further guidelines this year on climate change and energy, and metals and mining. HSBC’s stated business values include a commitment to the exercise of corporate social responsibility through detailed assessments of lending proposals and investments, the promotion of good environmental practice and sustainable development, and an attention to the welfare and development of local communities

Commended

ABN Amro

For global excellence in environmental and social risk management

The Dutch banking group is a leading adopter of the Equator Principles and has had a longstanding commitment to using sustainability as a driver for business growth and asset quality. Its comprehensive implementation of innovative risk management procedures in this area has been outstanding, as shown in its willingness to conduct due diligence on particularly complex projects.

Commended

Bank Sarasin

For a track record of sustainability leadership and innovation within the asset management arena.

The Swiss bank has been an early leader in the integration of sustainability into asset management as well as private equity, and is particularly noted for the high quality of its sustainability research and advisory services.

Emerging Markets Sustainable Bank of the Year

Banco ABN Amro Real

The Brazilian affiliate of ABN Amro has shown outstanding leadership in sustainable banking, applying world-class standards to the integration of social and environmental objectives as a business driver throughout the institution. As such, the bank has helped set best practice in sustainable banking on the agenda for other Latin American banks. It played a leading role in the development of the BOVESPA sustainability index and intermediated Brazil’s first carbon credit trade. As many as 4,280 socio-environmental deals were approved in 2005.

Sustainable Bankers of the Year

WestLB

Foster Deibert, Sharon Maharg, Marcus Rehm, Marek Wallenfels, Manfred Kammans, Martin Gernert, Hendrik Garz

The sustainable banking team at WestLB has shown outstanding achievement and leadership in rapidly integrating a focus on environmental and social considerations as a business driver throughout the German-based organisation. The risk management expertise of the team has helped differentiate WestLB as a lead arranger for complex transactions in the project finance arena.

Commended

Citigroup

Shawn Miller, John Gilliland, Pamela Flaherty, Jeffrey Shafer, Rashmini Yogaratnam

For exemplary leadership in integrating best-in–class environmental and social policies across the global operations of the group.

This relatively small team has done extraordinary work in establishing a focus on sustainability across the world’s largest banking group. This involved the systematic application of the Equator Principles across key business lines in a global operation with 300,000 employees in 100 countries.

Sustainable Deal of the Year

Citigroup/Banamex & Financiera Compartamos

Citigroup and its Mexican affiliate Banamex placed the first ever peso-denominated investment grade bond for Mexico’s leading microfinance provider Compartamos, helping to finance an expected 60,000 new loans to women micro-entrepreneurs in the country. The deal, conducted in September 2005, was innovative in its use of capital markets to broaden Compartamos’ investor base and to promote micro-credit. The bonds were 34 per cent guaranteed by the IFC, resulting in an AA rating from Standard & Poor’s.

Commended

ABN Amro

For leadership in carbon finance

The Dutch bank created the world’s first bank-intermediated carbon credit transaction between two private sector entities, selling Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs) from two small-scale hydro-electric plants in Fiji. This was a significant transaction that is transformational for the sector and could be replicated elsewhere.

Commended

HSBC

For innovative private-partnerships around sustainable mass transit finance

The UK-based bank and its Chilean affiliate helped create a partnership between Volvo and the city of Santiago, halving the number of city buses and replacing them with high-capacity, low-emissions vehicles. This deal was notable for the fact that it was in an area – mass transit – that is normally seen as high risk but is in dire need of investment on social and environmental grounds.

Sustainable Energy Finance Deal of the Year

Credit Suisse

The Swiss-based banking group executed the initial public offering on the NYSE of Suntech, the first major China-based alternative energy company. The IPO raised $455 million and was 22 times over-subscribed, generating close to $9 billion of demand for the shares. The deal showed the potential demand for offerings related to alternative energy while scaling up interest in renewables in China.