In granting this award, Euromoney underlined the significant steps taken by BNP Paribas aimed at having a positive impact on society.
Helen Avery, Sustainable Finance Editor, Euromoney said: “BNP Paribas has committed itself to sustainable finance in a way that is unmatched in the sector. By turning down deals and pulling out of sectors that are not sustainable, as well as driving new sustainable finance initiatives across all of its businesses.”
In particular Euromoney highlighted the Group’s decision to cease financing of oil and gas from shale and oil from tar sands, and its decision to cease financing and investment activities of tobacco companies. At the end of 2017, BNP Paribas had allocated 155bn euros towards financing projects which contribute directly to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Jean Laurent Bonnafe, CEO, BNP Paribas said:
“We are delighted to be recognised by Euromoney in their annual awards for excellence. At BNP Paribas, we put sustainable finance at the heart of our business model. We believe banks have a crucial role to play, leveraging our place at the centre of the economy, in order to bring together individuals, businesses and investors to channel resources towards projects which address the major social and environmental challenges facing society.”
“I would like to thank our clients and partners who entrust us with their projects and who have challenged us to provide new solutions as they also seek more sustainable models. And I would like to thank our staff who are passionate about having a positive impact in their work and have been a key driver in the bank’s focus on environmental and social issues.”
BNP Paribas was also recognised in the following categories:
• Best Bank for Sustainable Finance, Western Europe
• Best Bank, Luxemburg
• Best Investment Bank, France
Press contacts
Alexandra Umpleby – +44 20 7595 2436 –
Alexandra.umpleby@uk.bnpparibas.com
Coralie France-Savin – +33 (0)1 40 14 94 89 –
coralie.francesavin@bnpparibas.com
Claire Helleputte – +33 (0)1 55 77 89 63 –
claire.helleputte@bnpparibas.com
Notes to Editors
About BNP Paribas
BNP Paribas is a leading bank in Europe with an international reach. It has a presence in 73 countries, with more than 196,000 employees, including around 149,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main activities: Domestic Markets, International Financial Services (whose retail-banking networks and financial services are covered by Retail Banking & Services) and Corporate & Institutional Banking, which serves two client franchises: corporate clients and institutional investors.
BNP Paribas employs more than 9,000 people across 10 business lines in the UK. These include Corporate & Institutional Banking, Exane BNP Paribas, Leasing Solutions, Arval, Real Estate (including Strutt & Parker acquired in September 2017), Asset Management, Cardif Pinnacle, Commercial Finance, Personal Finance and Vauxhall Finance. Around half of its employees are in Corporate & Institutional Banking, based in London, while the others are based in various offices across the country, including Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester.
About Euromoney
For almost 50 years, Euromoney has been the leading publication for covering the growth of international finance. Over the last 12 months, its coverage has included interviews with close to 100 bank CEOs, ministers of finance and central bank governors around the world. Euromoney's Awards for Excellence are the awards that matter to the banks and bankers who matter. They were established in 1992 and were the first of their kind in the global banking industry. This year, Euromoney received almost 1,500 submissions from banks in an awards programme that covers 20 global awards, more than 50 regional awards, and best bank awards in close to 100 countries.
