London, 25 November 2010

BNP Paribas Commodity Derivatives has consistently demonstrated strength in commodity markets, and energy markets in particular. A long-standing partner to the industry BNP Paribas leverages its history in the energy and commodity trade, structured export and project finance, with over 20 years experience providing innovative risk management solutions for sovereigns producers, consumers, refiners, traders, and investment funds.

BNP Paribas Commodity Derivatives offer a complete range of services and products; from OTC cross-energy derivatives solutions, as well as being one of the largest executors and clearers of crude oil and oil products futures. Having been a leader in financial trading, the acquisition of Fortis’ physical energy trading operations in Houston and Canada has allowed them to offer clients a broader range of services – and a sign of the company’s strategic commitment to the energy sector.

In the current economic climate, with credit and capital severely constrained, BNP Paribas have worked actively with refiners and storage/inventory management companies across the oil and gas value chains to unlock capital using innovative derivative structures.

“With the evolving LNG spot market and European deregulation across gas and electricity, energy markets are converging. As such, BNP Paribas offers value-added, integrated, cross-energy derivative solutions, capturing arbitrage opportunities across the energy and emission complex,” says Guy Isherwood, Awards Patron and Publisher/Editor of Commodities Now magazine.

Since 2005, BNP Paribas Commodity Derivatives have also been providing value-added solutions addressing every stage of the carbon project cycle. The BNP Paribas team is also a leader in the secondary emissions market, trading with over 100 European corporates across all industry sectors, providing market access as well as tailor-made emission products.

BNP Paribas’ have demonstrated their desire to continue developing their energy market coverage, recently trading ethylene for the first time, and offering it globally on a case-by-case basis.

Of particular note is the BNP Paribas / Kosmos Energy Total Project off the coast of Ghana – one of the most significant oil discoveries in Africa in the past ten years. BNP Paribas led the development of an innovative hedging structure – the first large limited-recourse project development financing for a mid-cap private African company, and a transformational deal for Ghana in a challenging economic environment.

“BNP Paribas’ commitment to the energy sector is unsurpassed and, as reflected in the strength of its nomination and the votes cast by the industry, BNP Paribas are truly deserving winners of this year’s Excellence in Energy Markets Award,” added Isherwood.