S&P and Point Carbon to Jointly Consider Developing Carbon Offset Risk Assessment Services

Oslo -- 2 March 2010 -- 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.


###

About Point Carbon
Point Carbon is a world-leading provider of independent news, market analysis and advisory services for global power, gas and carbon markets. Point Carbon’s comprehensive services provide professionals with market-moving information through monitoring fundamental information, key market players, and business and policy developments.

CONTACT
North America
Adam Williams
Marketing Coordinator, North America
P: +1 202 460 9734
E: aw@pointcarbon.com

Europe
Candida Jones
PR Manager
P: +44 (0) 777 5754 763
E: cjo@pointcarbon.com