State of California Buys USD 300 Million World ...

The World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
- IBRD) and California State Treasurer Bill Lockyer announced today
that the State has purchased USD 300 million of World Bank green
bonds in furtherance of California's climate change mitigation
policies. This is the World Bank's second issue of green bonds and
the first denominated in U.S. dollars. SEB, the lead manager for the
World Bank's inaugural green bonds in Swedish kronor, is the sole
lead manager for this transaction as well. The World Bank will credit
the proceeds of this 3-year floating rate note issue to a special
account funding loan disbursements to qualifying "green" projects in
its member countries.


"This is a landmark investment - our first in global climate change
solutions," said Lockyer.  "Buying these green bonds makes financial
sense for California.  It strengthens our portfolio's diversity while
adding a sound investment with a triple-A rated issuer.  And it tells
the world that when it comes to battling climate change, California
is prepared to contribute not just its policies, but its money, too."

"We are seeing a great interest for the product and the investment
from the Treasurer of the State of California is a further
confirmation that the product meets investor requirements," said
Magnus Carlsson, Executive vice president and Head of Merchant
Banking, SEB.

"We all know that meeting the climate change challenge means raising
finance through the full array of tools available in the capital
markets.  World Bank green bonds are one way to begin doing this, and
we hope it helps accelerate innovation in this area.  We're very
pleased that Bill Lockyer and his colleagues in California are
joining in this effort, and with the confidence the State is showing
in the quality and liquidity of World Bank bonds as a means to do
it," said World Bank Treasurer Kenneth Lay.

Summary Terms
Issuer: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
Rating: Aaa/AAA
Amount: USD 300,000,000
Maturity date: April 24, 2012
Issue price and Redemption Amount: 100%
Coupon Type: 3-month USD Libor Floating Rate
Denomination: USD 100,000.00 and integral multiples thereof
Clearing system: DTC
Lead Manager: SEB acting through SEB Enskilda Inc N.Y.

For more information on SEB's commitment to reducing climate change
and on the World Bank Green Bond distributed by SEB, please visit


http://www.sebgroup.com and


http://treasury.worldbank.org/newsinvestors.
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 sole
underwriter of the notes, and is subject 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, Poland, Ukraine and
Russia and a global presence through its international network in
major financial centers. On 31 December 2008, the Group's total
assets amounted to SEK 2,511bn (~EUR 230bn) while its assets under
management totalled SEK 1,201bn (~EUR 110bn).The Group has about
22,000 employees. Read more about SEB at 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 185 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 debt securities 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.

_____________________________________________
For further information, please contact:

SEB
Christopher Flensborg, Coordinator, Capital Markets, SEB, +46 (0)8
5062 31 38, [e-mail]
Klas Eklund, Senior Economist, Environmental issues, SEB, +46
(0)70 763 80 88, [e-mail]
Elisabeth Lennhede, Press Officer, SEB [phone], +46
(0)70 763 99 16, [e-mail]

The World Bank
Doris Herrera-Pol, Global Head of Capital Markets, [phone],
[e-mail]
Jeff Brez, Communications, Sustainable Development, [phone],
[e-mail]

California State Treasurer's Office
Tom Dresslar, Communications Director, [phone],
[e-mail]


This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is 
solely responsible for the content of this announcement.