Investments in World Bank Green Bonds Surpass U...

The latest issue of World Bank green bonds has pushed the total amount of such
financing to more than USD 1 billion, reflecting continuing strong investor
interest in this unique investment opportunity. World Bank green bonds support
projects in the World Bank's member countries that meet specific criteria for
low carbon development. They are a rare opportunity for institutional investors
to support climate change solutions within their high-grade fixed income
investment mandates.

"Investing in the World Bank's top-rated green bonds is a great way to promote
smart and clean economic development in our planet's emerging economies while
delivering dependable returns for the New York State Common Retirement Fund and
its more than one million members. Investing in these bonds helps New York join
the effort to curb harmful climate change while delivering bottom-line returns,"
commentedThomas P. DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller, an investor in
USD-denominated World Bank Green Bonds.

The latest issue, a World Bank green bond denominated in Swedish Kronor (SEK),
attracted investors including WWF-Sweden, Church of Sweden, European private
banks and life insurance companies, as well as the Swedish National Pension Fund
AP3. The first World Bank green bond, also denominated in SEK, was launched in
November 2008. Since then, additional bonds have been issued in USD and other
currencies, for investors in the US, Europe and Japan.

"The amounts involved in the negotiations on official climate financing are very
small compared to the investment needs in emerging markets. Consequently,
private financial flows must play the lead role. But for that to happen,
investments must be profitable. The World Bank green bond provides a good
investment and a safe return, while offering investors the opportunity to
actually help combat climate change," said Klas Eklund, Senior Economist, SEB.

"Climate action in developing countries - specifically, mitigation and
adaptation initiatives -requires important financing by the international
community, from both public and private sources. We're pleased to see continued
investor support to what the World Bank is carrying out in conjunction with our
country partners; it's an indication that investors fully understand the
inextricable link between development and climate change. Helping one clearly
helps the other," saidWarren Evans, Director of the Environment Department at
the World Bank.

World Bank green bonds support World Bank-funded projects that are designed to
tackle the causes and consequences of climate change in the developing world.
The types of projects that may be supported by World Bank green bonds include
alternative energy installations, funding for new technologies that reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, reforestation, watershed management and flood
protection.

Summary Terms for recent SEK issue

Amount: SEK 500,000,000
Settlement Date:February 22, 2010
Maturity date: December 15, 2017
Issue price:100.0972%
Redemption Amount:100%
Coupon:  3.25% per annum
Denomination:SEK 50,000
Clearing systems:  Euroclear, Clearstream
Lead Manager:SEB

For more information on SEB and the World Bank Green Bonds, please
visit

http://www.sebgroup.com/greenbonds and


http://treasury.worldbank.org/greenbonds.

This press release is not an offer for sale of Notes of the International Bank
for Reconstruction and Development ("IBRD"), also known in the capital markets
as "World Bank". Any offering of the Notes will be made only by means of a
prospectus containing detailed information that will made available through SEB,
the lead manager of the notes, and Credit Suisse AG, the co-lead manager of the
notes, and issubject to restrictions under the laws of several countries.
Securities may not be offered or sold except in compliance with all such laws.
SEB is a North European financial group serving some 400,000 corporate customers
and institutions and five million private individuals. SEB offers universal
banking services in Sweden, Germany and the Baltic countries - Estonia, Latvia
and Lithuania. It also has local presence in the other Nordic countries, Ukraine
and Russia and a global presence through its international network in major
financial centres. On 31 December 2009, the Group's total assets amounted to SEK
2,308bn(~EUR 225bn) while its assets under management totalled SEK 1,356bn (~EUR
132bn). The Group has about 20,000 employees. Read more about SEB at
www.sebgroup.com <

http://www.sebgroup.com/>.

The World Bank is a global development cooperative owned by its member
countries. Its purpose is to help its members achieve equitable and sustainable
economic growth in their economies and to find solutions to regional and global
problems in economic development and environmental sustainability, all with a
view to reducing poverty and improving standards of living. The International
Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), rated Aaa/AAA (Moody's/S&P) is
owned by 186 countries. It is the oldest and largest entity in the World Bank
Group and provides its members with financing, risk management products, and
other financing services, as well as specialized expertise and strategic and
convening services requested by its member countries. To fund this activity,
IBRD has been issuing World Bank bonds in the international capital markets for
60 years. The World Bank is one of the most recognized and innovative borrowers
in the international capital markets. More information about the World Bank and
its activities in the capital markets is available on the web
at:www.worldbank.org/debtsecurities <

http://www.worldbank.org/debtsecurities>.

_____________________________________________
For further information, please contact:

SEB

Christopher Flensborg, Coordinator, Capital Markets, SEB, +46 (0)8
5062 31 38,[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]>
Elisabeth Lennhede, Press Officer, SEB [phone], +46 (0)70 763
99 16,[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]>

The World Bank
Jeff Brez, Communications, Sustainable Development, +1
202 458 7628,[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]>




[HUG#1386913]





    Press release (PDF): 

http://hugin.info/1208/R/1386913/345406.pdf