BBVA, the world’s best investment bank for sustainable finance

Once again, BBVA stood out at the 22nd edition of the Global Finance Best Investment Bank Awards, where the prestigious U.S. magazine specializing in financial markets recognizes investment banking capacities. Global Finance has named BBVA the best investment bank for sustainable finance in the world, a global recognition of its constant efforts to offer its clients a wide range of investment banking products and solutions, and accompany them in their transition toward a more sustainable future. The publication previously presented the bank awards for the best investment bank for sustainable finance in Western Europe and Latin America at the 2020 edition.

This award represents clear support to continue the journey the bank began in February 2018 with the announcement of the Pledge 2025, BBVA’s strategy to fight climate change and promote sustainable development. In line with the Paris Agreement on climate change, this road map will help the bank to comply with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; align its activity to a 2ºC scenario and strike a balance between investments in sustainable energy and fossil fuels. This strategy is based on three lines of action - financing, management and engagement - and will serve as the guide that allows the bank to mobilize €100 billion in green financing, sustainable infrastructure, social entrepreneurship and financial inclusion through 2025. By the end of 2020, the bank had already mobilized over €50 billion.

BBVA has the capacity, knowledge and experience to provide its corporate and institutional clients superior advice for sustainable finance solutions and is playing a key role in developing this market.

Best investment bank in Argentina, Spain and Turkey

Being one of the main M&A and Equity Capital Markets actors in Latin America and having profound knowledge of the international and Latin America companies that operate in the region has given BBVA the recognition needed to win the award for the best investment bank in Argentina. The group provides advice of high added value to international and local clients in the countries where it has a presence; and has an unsurpassable level of experience on an industrial, regional and product level, as well as in the execution of cross-border transactions, according to the institution. In Turkey, Garanti BBVA reconfirmed its leadership as the best investment bank, an award he already won for the first time in 2017 and has retained four times.

BBVA was also selected as the best investment bank in Spain, a distinction it has received every year since 2012. The bank is one of the main financial advisors in the country and clients turn to BBVA for the execution of complex and/or strategically relevant transactions.

The bank’s accolades also included the award for the best equity bank in Western Europe. Global Finance recognizes BBVA’s efforts to accelerate the strategy for its equity business in order to build a stronger franchise of investment products and take advantage of the opportunities this market has to offer.

A key role in a post-pandemic world

The editors of Global Finance, advised by sector experts, analyzed the applications presented by the different banks, taking into account a series of criteria: market participation, number and size of the agreements (announced or completed in 2020), service and advice, structuring capacity, distribution network, efforts to address market conditions, innovation or prices. They present the awards on a global, regional and country level.

“Investment banks will play a leading role in rebuilding the global economy after the pandemic,” said Joseph D. Giarraputo, publisher and editorial director of Global Finance, in the press release where his magazine announced this year’s winners. “More than ever before, companies need to understand the specialization and skills that investment banking provides,” he added.