ABN Amro (2025)

As a signatory to the Equator Principles (EP), ABN AMRO is committed to integrating the EP into its environmental and social (E&S) risk management practices, internal policies, and credit procedures. The Bank aims to ensure that all in-scope transactions are assessed and managed in accordance with the Equator Principles.

To facilitate implementation of this commitment, ABN AMRO has established a dedicated Sustainability Risk Standard for Project Finance, which defines the applicable E&S requirements for project financing activities.  This standard aligns with both the Bank’s overarching Sustainability Risk Management Framework and the Equator Principles. It includes:

• an overview of the Equator Principles and their applicability;
• detailed E&S requirements for project-related finance; and
• governance arrangements for the identification, assessment, mitigation, and monitoring of E&S risks.

In line with its policies, ABN AMRO conducts a thorough review of all transactions falling within the scope of the Equator Principles. The Bank will not provide Project Finance or Project-Related Corporate Loans where clients are unwilling or unable to comply with the requirements of the Equator Principles.

Governance, roles and responsibilities

ABN AMRO’s sustainability risk management process assigns roles and responsibilities based on the transaction’s sustainability risk level—categorized as low, medium, or high (or category C, B or A in terms of Equator Principles). This assignment is structured across different lines of defence to manage and mitigate environmental and social risks in project finance transactions.

• Business Line – First Line of Defence
  Responsible for originating project finance transactions, maintaining client relationships, and ensuring that relevant E&S considerations are identified early in the transaction lifecycle.
• Sustainability Expertise Team – First Line of Defence
  This specialised ESG team acts as the Equator Principles reviewers. It is responsible for the identification, categorisation (A, B, C), and detailed assessment of environmental and social risks. The team ensures compliance with EP requirements, and monitors and reports on all in-scope projects throughout the lifecycle.
• Credit Risk Sustainability – Second Line of Defence
  This team provides oversight following the four-eye principle, reviewing and approving the environmental and social impacts for Category A high-risk transactions and clients classified as high-risk under our Inherent Sustainability Risk Sector Classification.

Roles and responsibilities are aligned with the Bank’s lines of defence model, ensuring appropriate segregation of duties, independent review, and robust risk governance.

Integration into credit and risk management processes

Environmental and social risk assessments conducted under the Equator Principles are embedded in ABN AMRO’s credit risk management and decision-making processes. Senior management, represented through relevant governance committees, oversees adherence to these procedures, ensuring an additional layer of accountability.

The Equator Principles assessment is required prior to credit approval. It forms part of the credit proposal and is included in the documentation reviewed by Credit Risk Decisioning. This governance structure ensures accountability and the consistent application of EP requirements across all applicable transactions.

Public disclosure

A summary of the Sustainability Risk Standard for Project Finance is publicly available on ABN AMRO’s website: Summary – Sustainability Risk Standard for Project Finance.

In addition, an annual overview of transactions within scope of the Equator Principles that have reached financial close is disclosed through the Equator Principles Association website.