Paris, Frankfurt, London, 5 January 2022 – BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank announce that the transfer of clients, technology and key staff from Deutsche Bank’s Global Prime Finance & Electronic Equities businesses to BNP Paribas has been successfully completed by the end of 2021, in line with the targeted timeline.
The successful global integration was driven by strong collaboration between the teams of both firms as well as full support from the management at BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank. Over the course of the past two years, BNP Paribas has transferred approximately 900 staff globally from Deutsche Bank.
Olivier Osty, Head of Global Markets and member of the Executive Committee, BNP Paribas said: “We are delighted to have completed this global migration on schedule. By leveraging the strengths of the integrated platform, BNP Paribas is well-positioned to become the leading European Prime Services player on the global stage, establishing the new standard in prime services and electronic equities for institutional investors and corporate clients across the world”
Rebecca Short, Chief Transformation Officer and member of the Management Board, Deutsche Bank said: “We are pleased to have completed this complex transition on schedule. It is the result of strong and sustained collaboration between both teams who worked seamlessly to provide continuity to clients as well as a significant number of employees. With this, Deutsche Bank has achieved a key milestone in its ongoing transformation that is seeing it re-focus its business to become sustainably profitable”
Oosterhout, 2 November 2021 – The renewed Hypotheek Aflos Verzekering from BNP Paribas Cardif can now also be applied for with an existing mortgage. In addition, the customer and advisor now choose the amount to be redeemed on the mortgage. With these changes, the insurance is now available to the majority of homeowners in the Netherlands.
More advice options
By also making the insurance available for existing mortgages, advisors can also offer the insurance to their customers at a later, quieter moment. In addition, the insurance is now also ideal for aftercare processes. Moreover, the advisor and customer now choose the level of the repayment of the mortgage in the event of disability. An amount can be chosen up to a maximum of 60% of the mortgage debt with a minimum of € 25.000 and a maximum of € 150.000.
More beneficial with a new mortgage
If you apply for the insurance no later than three months after the mortgage is passed on, you will receive a 15% discount on the premium for the disability coverage. With a new mortgage, the customer can also opt for additional coverage for unemployment.
The first repayment insurance for incapacity for work
In 2017, BNP Paribas Cardif introduced the Hypotheek Aflos Verzekering; the first repayment insurance for disability. The Hypotheek Aflos Verzekering pays off a large part of the mortgage at once if the customer becomes incapacitated for work. This lowers the mortgage, so that the monthly mortgage payments decrease, at a moment when the customer needs it the most. Find more information here.
Amsterdam, 26 October – BNP Paribas Nederland, Arcadis, and G&S Vastgoed today announced their plan to move into joint new headquarters at the Zuidas in Amsterdam mid-2024. The office building will be built on the last remaining Mahler plot on the corner of the Parnassusweg and the Claude Debussylaan. The shared ambition is to achieve a new standard for healthy and future-proof office buildings. The building has been acquired by a.s.r. real estate, which will add it to the portfolio of the ASR Dutch Mobility Office Fund.
On the first day of Provada 2021, the involved parties jointly announced to be the initiators of the project as well as the future tenants of the building. Arcadis is responsible for the sustainable design and engineering, BNP Paribas Real Estate and G&S Vastgoed developed the RE\DEFINE-philosophy applied to this project, to realise sustainable, healthy, and productive offices. G&S Vastgoed is also responsible for the project development. The three parties have been collaborating successfully on the ‘vertical forest’ Wonderwoods in Utrecht’s city centre.
The ASR Dutch Mobility Office Fund is involved as an investor in both project Wonderwoods and in this newly announced initiative on the Zuidas. The office fund of a.s.r. real estate is the only Dutch fund to focuse entirely on office buildings located in public transport hubs in the Netherlands.
The design of the headquarters is being developed by Florian Idenburg, a Dutch architect who has been running SO-IL architects in New York since 2008 with Jing Liu. Among other things, Idenburg designed the recently opened Amant Art Campus in Brooklyn, New York. He is known for his innovative use of materials, such as a handmade ‘chainmail’ veil that he designed for the Kukje Gallery in South Korea.
Sustainability is an important principle in developing this office building. With their own headquarters, Arcadis, G&S Vastgoed, and BNP Paribas Nederland now have a unique opportunity to set the bar high and use the building as a breeding ground for new sustainable concepts. Sustainability goes beyond the environmental impact of construction and development – it is also about enhancing the long-term liveability of the built environment. To this end, G&S Vastgoed, in collaboration with Arcadis and Transsolar, developed innovative construction techniques with the ambition of realising the most sustainable building on the Zuidas.
BNP Paribas Nederland has signed a letter of intent to establish its new headquarter in the Zuidas, where the various entities of the bank in the Netherlands can come together at one location. The central location on Parnassusweg, the nearby new Zuidas NS railway station, and the already developed Mahler car park, together offer various possibilities for a flexible mobility mix for employees.
At the ground level, The Cube is being developed where visitors of the Zuidas and Amsterdam citizens will be able to discover sustainable and digital innovations from Dutch origin.
Geert Lippens, CEO BNP Paribas The Netherlands: “The new headquarter in Amsterdam reflects our growth ambitions in The Netherlands. By bringing our various entities closer together in one headquarter, we will accelerate the One Bank strategy and clients will benefit fully from our interdisciplinary approach and broad international expertise. I am proud to be developing a headquarter that sets a new sustainability standard. With the expertise of BNP Paribas Real Estate, Arcadis, and G&S Vastgoed, we intend to inspire others to develop future-proof concepts for the next generation. Supporting our clients in their pursuit of sustainable and responsible growth is what we stand for, and the new headquarter underscore this ambition.”
Jason Blackmore, Managing Director G&S Real Estate: “The partnership with Arcadis and BNP Paribas Real Estate has proved to be a success formula that has made us not only happy to take on this project, but even to move in together. Nowadays, building as sustainably as possible is a requirement, but we are convinced that current times call for going a step further. We are therefore very proud that, together with our partners, we are realising this sustainable project on the last Mahler plot at the Zuidas.
Carolien Gehrels, Global Director Energy Transition Arcadis: “In recent years we have worked intensively on future-proof buildings that respond to the consequences of climate change. We use the most sustainable materials and digital applications, with the requirements and demands of the users and the residents as the most important starting point. We are proud to be able to demonstrate this in our ‘own’ headquarter. The building symbolises Arcadis’ ambition to be climate neutral in all respects by 2035.”
Pieter Vandeginste, Fund Director ASR Dutch Mobility Office Fund: “We are extremely proud to acquire the development of the last Mahler plot on the Zuidas. This great sustainable office building fits perfectly into the line-up of our current pipeline which includes Wonderwoods , EDGE Eindhoven, and Tree House in Rotterdam. The location near the station, high sustainability ambitions, and leading organisations such as BNP Paribas, Arcadis and G&S Vastgoed as tenants complete the picture for us.”
Over 3GW of aggregated installed renewable energy capacity funded in the first year
The aggregated installed capacity, funded by the strategic partnership of BNP Paribas and NN Investment Partners (NN IP), has surpassed 3 gigawatts, generating enough clean energy to power over 2 million homes. One year after the initiation of the partnership, the capacity funded by the renewable energy loans, amounts to a reduction in carbon emissions of approximately 2.3 million tonnes of CO2 per annum.
BNP Paribas is one of the market leaders in Europe in renewable energy loans and has doubled its financing of renewable energy in four years to €15bn at the end of 2020. Both BNP Paribas and NN IP are increasing their investments in renewable energy to accelerate the energy transition and contribute to a more sustainable future. BNP Paribas originates and underwrites loans for its own balance sheet and for its clients. Subsequently, BNP Paribas distributes part of these loans to NN IP’s institutional investors, accommodating increased investor demand. NN IP is targeting to invest 500 million euros on behalf of its clients in renewable energy loans via the partnership with BNP Paribas. The collaboration perfectly fits the shared ambition in making renewable energy more accessible to institutional investors, while allowing both BNP Paribas and NN IP to increase their commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050.
Geert Lippens, CEO BNP Paribas Netherlands, says: “We are very pleased that within one year, we have realised 40% of the renewable energy loans that NN IP targeted to invest. The partnership perfectly suits our ambition to accelerate the energy transition by making renewable energy accessible to all investors. Due to our longstanding experience in the financing of renewable energy projects, we are uniquely positioned to offer this expertise to our clients as well as giving them access to the largest renewable energy projects in Europe.”
Valentijn van Nieuwenhuijzen, CIO NN IP, adds: “One of the ways through which we positively contribute to society is by accelerating the energy transition, which is a key theme within our responsible investing strategy to work towards a more sustainable path. Being a leader in responsible investing and a frontrunner in alternative credit makes this partnership with BNP Paribas a good fit. The partnership allows for increased deal volumes for our clients, accommodating their growing interest in renewable energy loans. We have great confidence in this partnership and are continuously looking to broaden opportunities for investors to invest responsibly.”
NN IP is one of the signatories of the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative, which aims to achieve emissions reduction targets by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050 or earlier.
BNP Paribas is one of the founding members of the industry-led, UN-convened Net-Zero Banking Alliance that brings together 43 banks, which are committed to aligning their lending and investment portfolios with net-zero emissions by 2050.
- The green financing concerns a new lease construction by BNP Paribas for a project of more than 28,000 solar panels on a 7-hectare solar meadow;
- The 7-hectare solar meadow will reduce CO2 emissions by 5.1 million kilograms a year and is part of the 17-hectare Cosun Solar Park;
- Every year, 9.2 million kWh of renewable energy is generated to supply the speciality factories of the subsidiary Cosun Beet Company with green energy.
Royal Cosun, a leading international agricultural cooperative, has signed a 10-year lease contract with BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions to finance more than 28,000 solar panels located at the Cosun Solar Park in Puttershoek. This is the first green financing Cosun has concluded and it contributes to the ambition of becoming CO2 neutral by 2050. This is the third investment in solar panels that Royal Cosun has made in recent years. Solar panels had previously been installed on the roof of the cold store of Aviko, a subsidiary in Steenderen, and on the roof of the new Aviko production plant for frozen fries and potato flakes in Poperinge, Belgium. The investment in the solar meadow project, which has now been completed, will generate a total of 9.2 millionkWh per year: this is equivalent to the energy consumption of approximately 3250 Dutch households.
The lease construction, developed by BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions, is a first for the financing of solar parks in the Netherlands and internationally one of the first on this scale. This customised solution provides Royal Cosun with greater flexibility in its financing options for its regular investments. The financing of solar parks is a logical next step for BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions in expanding the possibilities for the financial lease of sustainable goods such as charging stations, LED solutions, E-bikes and solar panels.
Hans Meeuwis, CEO of Royal Cosun: “We are delighted that we have secured tailor-made financing for our solar meadow with BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions. This fits in with our aim of maximum energy efficiency and making energy use greener, and it helps to further realise our CO2 reduction targets.”
Geert Lippens, CEO of BNP Paribas Nederland: “The cooperation with our partner Royal Cosun is in line with BNP Paribas’ commitment to provide green financing solutions to its customers. It is a prime example of our One Bank strategy: the interdisciplinary cooperation within BNP Paribas Netherlands has culminated in the development of a customer-oriented lease construction that can be added to the wide range of financing options that contribute to the realisation of the Paris climate objectives.”
The 17-hectare Cosun Solar Park is located on the site of the former Cosun Beet Company sugar factory. This site with industrial zoning is being redeveloped into a sustainable business park with a harbour basin. The 7-hectare solar meadow, which is owned by Cosun, is directly connected to the nearby Cosun Beet Company specialities factory to make the factory’s entire electricity consumption sustainable. The speciality factory in Roosendaal will also become more sustainable by using the surplus of renewable energy generated by the solar meadow. The Cosun Solar Park has more than 65,000 solar panels, 10 hectares of which were purchased by the Klimaatfonds Nederland at the end of 2020, and will supply energy directly to the Dutch energy grid.
- Dutch Youth Foundation Sport & Culture (Jeugdfonds Sport & Cultuur) extends its partnership for three years with the Dream Up programme of the BNP Paribas Foundation, which supports projects with a cultural and social purpose
- BNP Paribas foundation’s Dream Up programme offers children and teenagers around the world the opportunity to practice a wide range of artistic disciplines
- For the next three years, the Dream Up programme in the Netherlands will be supporting the El Jackson Education project, which helps children to develop life skills through soccer, theatre, dance and music in a playful manner
- Two-time world champion ‘groundmoves’ (freestyle soccer) and ambassador of the Youth Foundation Nasser el Jackson is giving the lessons in collaboration with Corpo Máquina
Following a successful collaboration, the partnership between Youth Foundation Sport & Culture and the Dream Up programme of the BNP Paribas Foundation has been extended for three years. In the coming years, Dream Up will make a budget available in the Netherlands for the El Jackson Education-project of Youth Foundation ambassador and two-time world champion ‘groundmoves’ (freestyle soccer) Nasser el Jackson. In this project, children receive weekly lessons from Nasser.
One in eleven children in the Netherlands cannot afford to participate in activities that are part of their peers’ daily lives, such as soccer, dance or music lessons, due to a lack of money at home. Youth Foundation Sport & Culture supports these families in paying for lessons and supplies. Sport and culture are of great importance to the physical, mental, and social development of a child as they offer inspiration, new friends and a broader outlook from which children can benefit their whole life. An investment in the youth, is an investment in the future.
With Dream Up’s contribution to Youth Foundation Sport & Culture, more children can participate in the El Jackson Education project. In this project, children get weekly group lessons where life skills, theatre, dance and music are combined with a (soccer)ball, and this way learn about themselves. Nasser el Jackson, ambassador of Youth Foundation Sport & Culture, is giving the lessons. Other than concentration, dedication and playfulness, trust and brotherhood are the basic elements in Nasser’s training.
Nasser el Jackson: “In theatre, perfection is not a goal. It allows you to show your vulnerable side. A softer side, where it’s not about performance but about sharing and expressing.” In this project, Nasser is collaborating with choreographer Guilherme Miotto and Corpo Máquina, an inclusive cultural movement with a focus on dance.
“It is important that children and young people have access to sporting and creative activities, simply because they contribute to their development. By doing something fun with peers, children learn where their interests lie and gain insight into who they are and what they find important. They also become more connected and attached to the community in which they play their sports, dance or make music,” says Monique Maks, Director Youth Foundation Sport & Culture.
The BNP Paribas Foundation supports projects in the fields of culture, environment, and social commitment. The Foundation’s Dream Up programme was launched in 2015 with the aim of providing education through the practice of art to underprivileged children. The programme offers them the opportunity to pursue an artistic discipline. This year, the partnership between the Youth Foundation Sport & Culture and the BNP Paribas Foundation is renewed for the second time for a period of three years.
Geert Lippens, CEO BNP Paribas Netherlands, says: “We strongly believe it is important that all children and teenagers should have the opportunity to play sports and participate in various cultural activities. We are proud that BNP Paribas, as a partner of Youth Foundation Sport & Culture, can contribute to the social and cultural development of a new generation.”
- BNP Paribas acted as sole sustainability co-ordinator and sole arranger on an inaugural Green Loan for Olatein, a Joint Venture between DSM, a global science-based company in Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living and Avril.
- The bilateral Green Loan facility include a dedicated Green Loan framework which defines use of proceeds. Financing will support Olatein in the development of a production plant that will manufacture CanolaPRO® a non
- GMO high quality plant-based protein isolate extracted from canola/rapeseed meal. CanolaPRO® will be used in a variety of food products enhancing vegan
and vegetarian products such as meat and dairy alternatives, beverages, baked products, bars, and ready-to-mix drinks for sport nutrition.
- A second Green Loan supports the construction of a waste water treatment plant that will clean the wastewater of the manufacturing process and contribute to the production of biogas. The biogas facility will contribute to supplying the local energy network and minimize the environmental footprint of production. The total quantity of biogas energy produced will equate to heating about 500 homes on a yearly basis.
- The transaction adheres to the Green Loan Principles.
Bruné Singh, Head of Group Treasury DSM: “As purpose-led company, DSM is deeply committed to sustainability. It is a core value, a key responsibility, and an important business growth driver for us. We provide products and solutions that help to enhance the health of people and planet through sustainably produced food. Therefore, I am pleased that together with partners we’ve been able to conclude these innovative Green Loan financing arrangements in support of our Olatein joint venture. It underscores the importance of sustainability in everything we do, and that includes corporate finance.”
“In line with its purpose – Serving the Earth -Avril is committed to ensuring that by 2030, 100% of its investments, whether industrial or financial, are based on economic, environmental and social criteria.” says Aymeric Mongeaud, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, Avril. “The financing of the Olatein and
Circulargaz projects through Green Loans is a first concrete step in this commitment; we are proud that the positive impact of these two projects on the environment has made it possible to set up this financing.”
Cecile Moitry, Co-head, sustainable finance markets at BNP Paribas said “these green loan transactions for Olatein demonstrate how sustainable finance can accelerate the circular economy, sustainable consumption, and support innovation in the transition to a low carbon economy”.
For more information please contact:
CFF Communications
Janneke Dijkstra
Tel: +31 (0)6 27 07 27 60
janneke.dijkstra@cffcommunications.n
BNP Paribas Real Estate Netherlands announces today that it has entered a strategic partnership with Quantum Projects, a distributor with global sales rights of amongst others air purifiers of ActivePure Technologies from technology company Aerus. These air purifiers are the only ones in the world that use certified aerospace technology and can actively remove bacteria, viruses and fungi from both the air and surfaces, including the COVID-19 virus. This new technology fits the RE\define housing programme of the future. RE\define is a knowledge platform developed by BNP Paribas Real Estate Netherlands, ARCADIS, G&S Vastgoed and MMEK to work together on a healthy and safe living environment.
After successful applications in government buildings, hospitals, schools and numerous other (public) buildings in the North American market, Aerus in cooperation with Quantum Projects will now also enter the Benelux market with its ActivePure technology. In 2017, ActivePure Technologies, formerly known as Aerus Holdings, was recognised by the Space Foundation[1] as the only surface and air-purification technology to effectively adapt and market technology originally developed for NASA to improve the quality of life for all humanity. The Aerus’ air purifiers produce submicroscopic hydroxyls and ions, so-called ActivePure molecules, that destroy contaminants. People who work or live in rooms where the air purifiers are installed are therefore less exposed to viruses, including RNA and DNA viruses, bacteria and fungi. Independent scientific studies repeatedly show that the patented ActivePure technology is the most powerful air and surface cleaning solution ever. More than 99% of micro-organisms and airborne contaminants on the surface are reduced.
“BNP Paribas Real Estate Netherlands has always been actively involved in creating better and safer working and living environments and this has been accelerated by the corona pandemic. As part of the RE\define programme, we work together with partners to create better and healthier places to live and to work, we equip organisations better for the challenges of today and of the future. The partnership with Quantum Projects enables us to make and keep spaces free of bacteria, fungi and viruses, including COVID-19. With Quantum and its ActivePure product line, we can further expand our service. We will soon offer the Aerus air purifiers to our clients and the clients of our RE\define partners,” said Sicco Posthumus, CEO BNP Paribas Real Estate Netherlands.
“We are pleased about the strategic partnership with a top ten international real estate provider such as BNP Paribas Real Estate Netherlands. Forward-looking, future-oriented and with an eye for social interest were important criteria in our search for a partner. BNP Paribas Real Estate Netherlands felt like a perfect match from the start. They have an innovative mindset and focus on advising their clients on the subject of safe working during the COVID era. Their focus on the future of the office environment is an extension of our ambition to help reopen the Netherlands and prevent new lockdowns,” said Roy de Ruiter, founder and managing director of Quantum Projects.
The performance of Aerus products has been scientifically proven for decades in independent FDA-certified laboratories. Testing of the ActivePure technology was conducted by one of the world’s best testing facilities, the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), which primarily tests for the US military and Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The UTMB study was conducted in late November 2020 at the Bio Safety Level (BSL) -3 and -4 laboratory that studies the world’s most deadly pathogens. In tests, the ActivePure technology deactivated more than 99.9% of the highly concentrated SARS-CoV-2 airborne virus in just 3 minutes, to below detectable levels.
[1] The inauguration in the Space Technology Hall of Fame occurred during a reception which was sponsored by SpaceX.
Active Pure Technology bij BNP Paribas Real Estate (c) Milan Hofmans
Sicco Posthumus, CEO BNP Paribas Real Estate (c) Milan Hofmans
Amsterdam, 5 March 2020 – With the arrival of Guido van den Brande and Peter Toutenhoofd, the Corporate & Institutional Banking team of BNP Paribas the Netherlands has been further strengthened. Guido van den Brande will become Co-Head Corporate Client Group the Netherlands on the first of April and Peter Toutenhoofd started as Head of Advisory the Netherlands on February the first.
Geert Lippens, CEO BNP Paribas the Netherlands: “Guido and Peter bring a lot of experience, a large network and will strengthen our offering as a major European player with a global platform. This will enable BNP Paribas to serve our clients on increasingly complex issues. In Europe, we have a leading position as a Corporate & Institutional Bank. We now want to actively expand this position. In addition to traditional Corporate Banking, where we are very strong in areas such as Financing, Trade Finance and Cash Management, our objective is to work more often with our clients on the strategic issues surrounding their business. I am looking forward to working with Guido and Peter to take advantage of the growth opportunities that the Dutch market offers.”
Guido van den Brande previously worked as Head of Corporate Clients RBS and in recent years as Managing Director Head of Coverage at HSBC. Peter Toutenhoofd comes over from Rabobank where he was Managing Director within the M&A team for the past 6 years. Both have over 25 years of Investment Banking and Corporate Finance experience.
Peter Toutenhoofd, Head of Advisory Nederland:“BNP Paribas occupies a special position in the Dutch market, with its Dutch roots dating back to 1863. Unlocking BNP Paribas’ global knowledge, expertise and opportunities for our Dutch clients is a challenge that I am happy to take up.”
Guido will lead the Corporate Client Group together with Matijn van Went as Co-Head. Matijn will focus specifically on Flow Banking, while Guido will focus on Strategic Dialogue.
Guido van den Brande, Co-Head Corporate Client Group Nederland: “I am happy to seize the opportunity with Matijn and our clients to realise the specific solutions for the complex assignments our clients are facing. With BNP Paribas’s strength, ambition and quality, we are well positioned to find those solutions and expand our market share in the Netherlands.”
BNP Paribas Securities Services, a leading custodian with EUR 10 trillion in assets under custody*, has been selected by Pensioenfonds PostNL to provide custody and value-added services.
Pensioenfonds PostNL is the company pension fund of PostNL, the leading mail and logistics solutions provider in the Netherlands and has a total asset base of EUR 8.6 billion **.
The mandate, effective from 1 January 2020, covers custody, investment accounting, investment compliance, regulatory reporting as well as performance and risk analytics services.
The award by Pensioenfonds PostNL reinforces BNP Paribas Securities Services’ position as a leading custody services provider in the Dutch institutional market. The bank has significantly grown its presence in the Netherlands in recent years, adding capacity, developing its local expertise and expanding its offering with a new pension fund dashboard enabling its Dutch institutional clients to monitor their investments daily for better oversight and enhanced risk monitoring.
René van de Kieft, Chairman of Pensioenfonds PostNL, said: “In the search for a new custodian, we selected BNP Paribas Securities Services, a stable, leading global provider with a solid infrastructure. Their Dutch team, which responded to our specific wishes for the fulfilment of the mandate, their capacity and set-up in the Netherlands, met our specific requirements. This gives us confidence in BNP Paribas Securities Services. The transition process that will take place in the coming months is of course exciting, but as a board we will be close to the process, ensuring that everything runs as smoothly as possible. ”
Mark Schilstra, Head of the Netherlands and Nordics at BNP Paribas Securities Services, added: “We are delighted to welcome Pensioenfonds PostNL as a client. This mandate win highlights our strong growth in the Dutch institutional market and our ability to deliver operational innovation and best-in-class service to major institutional investors. We look forward to our long-term partnership with Pensioenfonds PostNL.”