James Carlisle
Operational Director - Transaction Advisory & Due Diligence
Environmental Lending Risk Advisor
RPS has been retained by a large UK Banking Group since 1995 to provide environmental advice on an ongoing basis. This has included undertaking due diligence assessments (and reviewing assessments provided by others) on a range of proposals where the bank has been requested to advance funds to identify the suitability of property as bank security and assess lending proposals in support of acquisitions or specific projects.
Overview
This has included support to the Project Finance, Acquisition Finance, Commercial Credit and Business Banking sections.
In addition to the retainership role, RPS support has included secondment to the bank, assistance in the development of bank policy, preparation of the Environmental Risk Handbook, development of a management training video and associated workbook.
Key details
Project name
- Environmental Lending Risk Advisor
Client
- Large UK Banking Group
Location
- UK
Services provided
- Environmental & Technical Due Diligence
- Planning Due Diligence
- Environmental Liability & Risk Assessment
- Contaminated Land
- Environmental Compliance & Permitting
Challenge
The Bank’s Environmental Risk department sits within the Commercial Risk section and as a consequence the retainership role includes the provision of advice in connection with industrial and Equator Principles projects, in additional to smaller acquisitions and refinancing projects, largely covering property, retail, manufacturing, agriculture, waste management, oil & gas, chemical and power related deals.
RPS serves as a trusted advisor to the bank to rapidly assess the environmental and planning risks associated with the provision of banking finance, all within a 24 hour service delivery timescale. The breadth and depth of enquiries mean that RPS expertise is needed on a number of differing business and industry sectors.
Solution
The retainership model has brought a number of acknowledged benefits to the Bank, permitting them to receive advice on a regular basis and to utilise RPS advisors as a sounding board on certain projects. Our long-term involvement during the past 20+ years is testament to the service provided, trust built and commercially focused advice delivered.
Key contacts