Another step for promote global solutions and a continuation of the implementation of California's climate policy.

This is the World Bank's second offer of green bonds and the first one issued in U.S. dollars. SEB, lead manager for the World Bank's first green bonds in SEK, is the sole lead manager for this transaction. The World Bank will allocate the loan amount from this 3-year bond to a special account for loans to qualified "green" projects in member countries.

- This is a milestone for investment - our first in terms of solutions to global climate change, said Lockyer. To buy these green bonds are financially good for California. It reinforces the diversification in our portfolio while providing a good investment with a triple-A issuer. It also sends the message to the world that when it comes to battle climate change, California is not only willing to contribute their policies, but also their money.

- We all know that the challenge of dealing with climate change will require raise of capital through all available tools on the capital markets.
The World Bank's green bonds are a way to start doing this, and we hope that it helps to accelerate innovations in the field. We are very pleased that Bill Lockyer and his colleagues in California join this work, and the trust the state shows in the quality and liquidity of the World Bank bonds as a way to do it, says Kenneth Lay, Finance manager at World Bank.

- We see a lot of interest in the product, and this investment from the financial management in the State of California is a further confirmation that the product meets the requirements of the investors, says Magnus Carlsson, Executive Vice President and head of large corporations and institutions at SEB.

                                                                        Tony Harken