18 May 2017 The Equator Principles (EPs) aim to be a global benchmark, providing a framework for due diligence to support responsible risk decision-making on environmental and social issues in financing projects. Certain transactions have highlighted the challenges in the differentiated approach between Designated and non-Designated countries in the Equator Principles, an issue that was…

Tokyo, 01 May 2017 The Norinchukin Bank, one of Japan’s largest financial institution serving agricultural, fishery and forestry cooperatives, announced its adoption of the Equator Principles, a risk management framework, adopted by financial institutions, for determining, assessing and managing environmental and social risk in projects. The Norinchukin Bank becomes the 90th member of the Equator Principles…

Nanjing, 20 January 2017 Bank of Jiangsu has become a signatory of the Equator Principles (EPs), a risk management framework, adopted by financial institutions, for determining, assessing and managing environmental and social risks in projects. It becomes China’s first city commercial bank to adopt EPs. Bank of Jiangsu, a modern joint-stock commercial bank, was founded by…

Seoul, 2 January 2017 Korea Development Bank (KDB) announced its adoption of the Equator Principles, a globally recognized benchmark for determining, assessing and managing environmental and social risk in bank financed projects. As a first mover in the Korean finance industry to uphold environmental and social safeguards in project financing, KDB sets a standard for domestic…

Madrid, 26 October 2016 ICO’s General Board approved the institution’s decision to become a signatory to the Equator Principles at its meeting on Friday 21 October, as part of the framework of commitments in its CSR and environmental policies. The Principles, which are voluntary but widely recognised internationally, require signatory financial institutions to guarantee that…

São Paulo, 30 June 2016 Banco Votorantim has become signatory of the Equator Principles, a risk management framework, adopted by financial institutions, for determining, assessing and managing environmental and social risk in projects and is primarily intended to provide a minimum standard for due diligence to support responsible risk decision-making. The voluntary decision of Banco…

Stockholm, 23 June 2016 Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) has adopted the Equator Principles, a global framework to promote sustainable environmental, social and human rights decision-making in financing projects. http://www.handelsbanken.se/initiatives

1 June 2015, Johannesburg Standard Bank has been appointed the new chair of the Equator Principles Association for 2015/16, making it the first African Bank to be elected to this position. The appointment, which takes effect on the 1 June 2015, comes at a critical juncture in the integration of environmental and social considerations within…

The Equator Principles Association is pleased to share a new document ‘Equator Principles (June 2013) Implementation Note’ with external stakeholders and other interested parties. The document, written by EPFIs, contains selected information and examples to support the understanding of the requirements in, and implementation of, the Equator Principles. Ryosuke Ueda, Head of Sustainable Development Department, Mizuho Bank and Chair…

Mizuho Bank, Ltd. (MHBK; Yasuhiro Sato, President and CEO) will take on the role of Chair of the Equator Principles Association (EPA) from 1st May. This is the first time an Asian bank has been appointed as the EPA Chair. The EPA is an association of 79 global financial institutions that adopt the Equator Principles…