Export Development Canada Honoured for Pioneering Canada's First 'Green Bond'

OTTAWA, ON--(Marketwired - November 27, 2014) - Export Development Canada (EDC) yesterday received the Excellence in Corporate Responsibility (ECR) Award in the category for product innovation and service. The announcement was made at the 12^th Annual Canadian Business for Social Responsibility Summit. 

The award, sponsored by Green Living Enterprises, recognizes EDC's pioneering work on its first Green Bond, a fixed income security that allows investors to play a role in financing green projects worldwide. EDC was the first organization in Canada to issue this kind of bond.

"The Green Bond made perfect sense for EDC because it brings together many elements of who we are as a company," said Signi Schneider, Vice-President of Corporate Social Responsibility, EDC. "It promotes Canada's values, supports projects that offset environmental degradation such as cleantech, which is a strategic priority, and achieves all this through a creative financial structure."

EDC's Green Bond was led by Susan Love, Vice-President and Treasurer. "Investor interest in bonds supporting environmental responsibility is expanding," said Love. "We were delighted with investors' positive response and the willingness of many new investors to purchase this bond which sold out in record time."

"We're proud it was able to mobilize so much support, and we believe the positive response is proof that investors are seriously behind the CSR movement," added Love. 

The ECR program is designed to celebrate Canadian individuals and organizations that are transforming business practices to create sustainable social and environmental change.

"We are thrilled to hear that EDC has been awarded this year's Excellence in Corporate Responsibility Award for product innovation and service," said Steve Fish, Executive Director, Canadian Business for Social Responsibility (CBSR). "EDC's Green Bond demonstrates leadership in the financial services sector and given the positive investor response, we anticipate increased interest and new sustainable investment products in 2015."

More information on other award categories and recipients can be found at http://greenlivingenterprises.ca/ecr-awards/about-ecr-awards/. 

About Green Living Enterprises

Green Living Enterprises is a pioneer and leader in developing social and environmental marketing programs that keep consumers and clients at the forefront of the green agenda. Green Living Enterprises is a full-service, one-stop solution for green marketing, product and program development, custom publishing and event management.

The Excellence in Corporate Responsibility (ECR) Awards was developed to honour and celebrate corporate Canadians for outstanding work and dedication towards creating sustainable and ethical practices within the business framework.

About Canadian Business for Social Responsibility

Founded in 1995, CBSR is a non-profit member organization with a mission to accelerate and scale corporate social and environmental sustainability in Canada and challenge the "business as usual" model.

About EDC

EDC is Canada's trade finance agency, providing financing and insurance solutions locally and around the world to help Canadian companies of any size respond to international business opportunities. As a profitable Crown corporation that operates on commercial principles, EDC works together with private- and public-sector financial institutions to create greater capacity for Canadian companies to engage in trade and investment. For more information about how EDC can help your company, visit www.edc.ca.