OCBC Bank earns wins at Asian Banking & Finance Corporate & Investment Banking Awards

The financial institution emerged as the recipient of the Green Deal of the Year - China and Green Deal of the Year - Singapore awards.

OCBC Bank triumphed at the Asian Banking & Finance Corporate & Investment Banking Awards, receiving accolades for its first sustainability-linked interest rate swap and for its innovative green financing.

First sustainability-linked interest rate swap

OCBC China marked the successful completion of its first Sustainability-Linked Interest Rate Swap (SLL-IRS) for Genertec Universal Medical Group Limited (GUM), a milestone transaction that links financial risk management with sustainability performance.

This HK$400m-offshore swap marks the first of its kind in the service sector for China’s central enterprises. 

As the sole bank and advisor for the transaction, OCBC China worked closely with GUM to align key sustainability outcomes with swap pricing.

The SLL-IRS will help GUM hedge against interest rate fluctuations tied to an existing US$600m Sustainability-Linked Loan (SLL), all whilst linking the swap rate to the company’s performance in sustainability areas such as investment in green industries, modernisation of medical facilities, and employee upskilling through increased training hours.

These KPIs and their corresponding Sustainability Performance Targets (SPTs) were independently reviewed and validated by the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA) and confirmed to be in line with Sustainability-Linked Loan Principles (SLLP).

This transaction showcases OCBC China’s growing leadership in sustainable finance and also reflects GUM’s long-term commitment to sustainable healthcare development.

Innovative green financing to help construction clients decarbonise

OCBC has taken a major step in driving sustainability in the construction industry with a SG$90m Sustainability-Linked Loan (SLL) to Kim Seng Heng Engineering & Construction (KSH). This marks only the second loan of its kind in Singapore and in the region that ties financing to the reduction of carbon emissions from construction activities. 

The first was also introduced by OCBC with Kimly Construction.

Whilst the industry has made progress in reducing emissions from building materials like steel and cement, construction activity itself remains under-addressed in most sustainability efforts. OCBC believes that a truly inclusive net-zero transition must consider the full value chain, including the contractors actually building the assets.

OCBC then developed a proprietary emissions methodology tailored for construction firms, allowing companies to measure, benchmark, and reduce emissions.

Working closely with KSH, OCBC structured the SLL to track and reduce Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions based on the company’s energy and water usage at construction sites, and proposed practical interventions to help decarbonise their construction site activities. 

KSH’s track record of lowering emissions sets a strong foundation for achieving this new target.

This SLL is a testament to how the construction industry can align profitability with sustainability, and how OCBC continues to pioneer green finance solutions that bring real change to hard-to-abate sectors.

The Asian Banking & Finance Corporate & Investment Banking Awards acknowledges banks and financial institutions in Asia that embody outstanding performance, innovation, and excellence in the corporate and investment banking industry.

The ABF Corporate and Investment Banking Awards is presented by Asian Banking & Finance Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's unique and successful initiatives and deals that have made significant contributions to the industry, please contact Julie Anne Nuñez-Difuntorum at [email protected].