HSBC named Asia’s best bank for sustainable finance two years running

HSBC has been named Asia’s Best Bank for Sustainable Finance for the second year, in the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2019.

It was also named the World’s Best Bank for Sustainable Finance and the Best Bank for Sustainable Finance in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA).

“If there is one bank that is bringing the urgency of getting capital working for the planet, it is HSBC,” said Euromoney in its coverage of the awards, “The bank dominates in green bonds and green loans, and as a trusted bank in the sector, HBSC nearly always appears with firsts.”

HSBC Global Head of Sustainable Finance Daniel Klier said: “We are honoured that Euromoney have recognised our achievements to date. HSBC is proud of its work in Sustainable Finance, which is key to our long term strategy. We believe that we are still at the start of an exciting journey to a sustainable, low-carbon economy and will continue to support our customers’ investments in this area.”

Euromoney noted that in Asia, HSBC has been ‘working across the entire region across the spectrum – helping improve livelihoods and helping companies with their low carbon transition’. The award highlighted HSBC as ‘the green structuring agent on more than half of the green, social or sustainability deals in the time period reviewed’.

HSBC has acted as Green Structuring Advisor2 on over half of the bond deals where the bank was a bookrunner, covering more currencies and for more markets than any other bookrunner. HSBC was the leading bookrunner2 in the Green/Social/Sustainable (GSS) league table in Asia (excluding China) with nearly $ 3 billion worth of deals.

HSBC has delivered a range of sustainable finance transactions in Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and South Korea.

HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives CEO Mark Prothero said: “As the world’s fastest-growing and most populous region, Asia presents unique challenges and opportunities in the transition to a low carbon economy. 

At HSBC Sri Lanka, weare engaging clientsin conversations to help them understand the impact of climate changeon their businesses and how they can use our expertise in financing, investments and supply chain solutions to meet their needs.  We want to play our role in ensuring the country’s development is environmentally and socially sustainable.”

The following landmark deals helped HSBC clinch this award, including:

• HSBC Amanah Malaysia’s UN Sustainable Development Goals Sukuk
• Hong Kong’s inaugural sovereign $ 1 b green bond
• Link REIT’s green convertible bond, the first from the real estate sector
• The first green loan in Singapore for Ho Bee Land
• Macquarie University’s first sustainable bond from a university

The award also cited HSBC’s holistic approach to sustainability including:

• Activities to communicate ESG to governments, corporates and investors; 
• ESG-linked investment products and portfolio tools for retail and private banking clients, and
• SME funding in mainland China and microfinance initiatives in India.