BNP Paribas sealed the Loan structurer/arranger/coordinator of the year award for the second time in a row after it continued to take a lead in developing the sustainability-linked loan (SLL) market.

After securing the nod for the inaugural award last year, BNP Paribas continued to be a prominent arranger of key SLL transactions. Environmental Finance Bond Awards judges were particularly impressed by the myriad of outcomes targeted by the loans BNP Paribas was involved in – including racial equality, affordable housing and healthcare.

The firm was sole arranger for the first sustainability-linked subscription facility from a private credit fund, signed by ADM Capital in May 2020, and played a key role in the €2.3 billion ($2.7 billion) credit line for EQT – the largest ever private equity sustainability-linked credit line. The bank was also the sole sustainability coordinator for the £2.5 billion sustainability-linked revolving credit facility signed by Tesco and the $3.2 billion SLL from Cemex – the largest in Latin America – both closed in October.

In total, 2020 saw BNP Paribas involved in 92 SLL transactions totalling €109 billion. The bank acted as sustainability coordinator for 26 of these deals.

BNP Paribas was also active in the green loan market. The French bank served as the lead arranger for the $743 million green loan signed by National Grid, the first ever multi-export credit agency green loan.