Oslo, 3 March 2010

Standard & Poor’s and carbon analysts Point Carbon have signed an MoU to collaborate on carbon offset project risk assessment products and services.

Standard & Poor’s, one of the world’s leading providers of financial market intelligence,  and carbon analysts Point Carbon have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to investigate jointly developing carbon offset project risk assessment products and services.

Under the MOU both firms will work together to determine how S&P’s valuable global credit markets expertise in combination with the reputable carbon market data and expertise of Point Carbon may be successfully leveraged in the global carbon markets which, according to Point Carbon predictions, will be worth €121 billion ($170bn) in 2010.

Vickie Tillman, Senior Vice President, Sustainability Business Development  of The McGraw-Hill Companies, S&P’s parent company, said: “Demand for independent evaluation of the risk of carbon offset projects is growing rapidly around the world. We are combining S&P’s established strengths in developing risk assessment tools and benchmarks for the financial community with Point Carbon’s recognised expertise in carbon offset projects This agreement underscores McGraw-Hill’s commitment to providing participants in the global carbon markets with the standards, benchmarks and critical analysis they require for more effective decision making.”

“By combining forces with S&P, Point Carbon is reinforcing its position as the leading provider of independent carbon project risk assessment. Our new joint offering could, if successfully developed, take carbon risk assessment to the next level; it would aim to provide a valuable service for market participants and represent a positive development towards a more mature carbon market,” said Per-Otto Wold, CEO of Point Carbon.

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