USA

New York, August 7, 2025 – BNP Paribas, a leading European bank, today announces the appointment of five senior equity research analysts to its NYC-based team:

Matt Akers is appointed to Senior Analyst, U.S. Aerospace & Defense and Government Services. Matt has been covering the industry since 2012 and joins BNP Paribas from Wells Fargo, where he was Senior Analyst covering the same group. Prior to Wells Fargo, Matt was part of a highly ranked A&D team at Barclays. Matt began his career as an engineer in the defense industry, including work on the F-35, F-22 and Enhanced Night Vision Goggle. Matt holds an MBA from New York University and MS in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer. He is a CFA Charter-holder.

Nicholas Jones is appointed to Senior Analyst for U.S. Large Cap Internet, and will cover e-commerce, online travel, social media, digital advertising, mobility, property technology, and other internet-based businesses. Nicholas has been covering the internet sector since 2016, and technology stocks more broadly since 2012. He joins BNP Paribas from Citizens Bank where he was a Senior Analyst covering Large Cap Internet stocks. Prior to Citizens, Nicholas was a Senior Analyst at Citi, also covering the internet sector. Nicholas holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University at Buffalo in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s degree from the University at Buffalo in Finance, focused on Financial Engineering.

Seth Weber is appointed to Senior Analyst for U.S. Business & Industrial Services. Seth has more than 25 years of sell-side equity research experience, most recently serving as a Managing Director at RBC Capital Markets and Wells Fargo Securities, where he covered a wide range of Industrial and Business/Information Service companies. Previously, Seth was a senior equity research analyst at UBS and Bank of America Securities, after starting his career at Merrill Lynch. Seth holds a Bachelor’s degree from Bates College and an MBA from Cornell University.

Steve McManus is appointed to Head of Restaurants Equity Research and will lead U.S. restaurants and convenience store coverage. Steve has been with BNP Paribas for five years, previously covering U.S. Retailing Broadlines & Hardlines. Prior to joining BNP Paribas, he spent two years at Nomura on the Retailing Broadlines & Hardlines team, after having worked at BMO Capital Markets and Sidoti & Co. Steve began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in accounting. He graduated from Fairfield University with a Master’s degree in Accounting and is a CPA.

Xian Siew is appointed to Senior Analyst for U.S. Leisure. Xian has been covering the consumer sector since 2016. He joined BNP Paribas in 2020 as part of the Retail Department Stores & Specialty Softlines team. Prior to joining BNP Paribas, Xian was a member of the Retail Hardlines team at Morgan Stanley. Xian holds a Bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College and is a CFA Charter-holder.

Matt, Nicholas, Seth, Steve, and Xian all report to Michael Rietbrock, BNP Paribas Director of Equity Research, Americas.

José Placido, Chief Executive Officer of BNP Paribas USA and CIB Americas, said: “These five appointments today help deliver on our global strategy of providing cutting-edge products and services to our clients which further solidifies being our clients’ bank of reference. We warmly congratulate and welcome Matt, Nicholas, Seth, Steve, and Xian, and look forward to their contribution in helping the U.S. BNP Paribas Equity Research team excel in the U.S. cash equities space.”

Adil El Batji, Head of Global Equities in the Americas at BNP Paribas, said: “The BNP Paribas Equity Research US team continues to grow and offers our clients a “one stop” opportunity in every area of the equities space including research, financing, execution, and derivatives areas. We look forward to additional growth in the near future.”

In 2021 BNP Paribas acquired 100 percent of Exane following a successful 17-year partnership and in November 2022, BNP Paribas launched BNP Paribas Equity Research in the US, aligning this offering with the bank’s leading Global Markets platform. Also, in 2024 BNP Paribas further expanded the award-winning NYC-based equity research team when it announced five senior U.S. Analysts.

BNP Paribas has been ranked the number one industry research provider in Europe for nine consecutive years by Extel/Institutional Investor. In addition to best-in-class equities research, clients will continue to benefit from the bank’s top-tier electronic execution and prime brokerage platforms, its state-of-the-art execution platform driven by Cortex Equities, and well-recognized equity derivatives expertise developed over 30 years.

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Press Contacts:

BNP PARIBAS

Jelena Nedelka

+1 (332) 280-1394

Jelena.Nedelka@us.bnpparibas.com

Guy Taylor

+1 (332) 323-3704

Guild.Taylor@us.bnpparibas.com

About BNP Paribas

Leader in banking and financial services in Europe, BNP Paribas operates in 64 countries and has nearly 178,000 employees, including more than 144,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main fields of activity: Commercial, Personal Banking & Services for the Group’s commercial & personal banking and several specialised businesses including BNP Paribas Personal Finance and Arval; Investment & Protection Services for savings, investment and protection solutions; and Corporate & Institutional Banking, focused on corporate and institutional clients. Based on its strong diversified and integrated model, the Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates and institutional clients) to realise their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. In Europe, BNP Paribas has four domestic markets: Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg. The Group is rolling out its integrated commercial & personal banking model across several Mediterranean countries, Türkiye, and Eastern Europe. As a key player in international banking, the Group has leading platforms and business lines in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas as well as a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific. BNP Paribas has implemented a Corporate Social Responsibility approach in all its activities, enabling it to contribute to the construction of a sustainable future, while ensuring the Group’s performance and stability.

Since 2020, BNP Paribas has supported Canadian tennis player Félix Auger-Aliassime in the deployment of his #FAAPointsForChange humanitarian project in support of youth in Togo
Since its inception, BNP Paribas, has been a committed partner to #FAAPointsForChange, to support future generations, both in the world of tennis and beyond

New York, NY / Indian Wells, CA, March 10, 2025 – Since 2020, BNP Paribas has supported Félix Auger-Aliassime, a 24-year-old player ranked 18th in the world, in his commitment to building a better future for youth in the West African nation of Togo, his father’s home country. Félix Auger-Aliassime has pledged to donate $5 for each point he wins during the tournament and BNP Paribas will match it with $15 per point.

During the first five years of the program, money raised financed initiatives to improve the conditions of young people in the Kara region of Togo. The project focused on the protection of children’s rights and access to education and sport, benefiting more than 20,000 people.

At the beginning of 2025, Félix Auger-Aliassime, in collaboration with BNP Paribas, decided to enhance the program to support students who are further along in their academic careers, namely deserving students from disadvantaged rural backgrounds in their university academic journey.

Excellence scholarships will be awarded to 30 students enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s program at the University of Lomé in Togo to cover their tuition and living expenses. The students will also benefit from mentoring programs and extracurricular activities, facilitating their studies and professional growth.

The main eligibility criteria for applicants will include academic merit, the student’s economic situation, their motivation to succeed, and their desire to engage and give back to their communities.

A selection committee will evaluate the applications and choose the 30 laureates after an individual interview. The scholarship will be awarded for one year and is renewable under the condition of maintaining good academic performance.

This program will be deployed with the logistical support of the King Baudouin Foundation, a public utility foundation that will collect donations and ensure their proper use by the local association “Les Salésiens Coopérateurs de Don Bosco.” Recognized in Togo since 2010, this association works for the development of children and young people in several regions of Togo. It will manage the student selection process, daily support for scholarship recipients, and the extracurricular mentoring program.

Félix Auger-Aliassime visited Togo at the end of last season to refine the details of this new program, in collaboration with BNP Paribas and various stakeholders. This year, Felix wishes more than ever to contribute to the future of young generations, especially the most disadvantaged, a commitment that echoes BNP Paribas’ corporate mission to support young generations worldwide to enable them to build a better future and live their dreams.

Félix Auger-Aliassime, tennis player ranked 18th in the world, said: “The involvement of BNP Paribas in this venture is essential. Together, we have been able to raise several hundred thousand dollars to support a cause that is close to my heart. For me, it is a great way to add meaning to my tennis successes and contribute to something close to my heart. I also hope to inspire other young people to give back, as I have been inspired by my family and other athletes.”

Vincent-Baptiste Closon, Head of Sponsoring Tennis for BNP Paribas, said: “The genesis of the project is based on our ambition at BNP Paribas to support those who want to make a difference and have a positive impact on the world. It is in this spirit that we met Félix, driven by the same desire to make a difference through his tennis career. Together, we have created a charitable initiative that goes far beyond sports. This project is part of a transmission approach: those who receive today learn to give tomorrow, creating a truly virtuous circle.”

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Press Contact:

BNP PARIBAS

Guy Taylor

Media Relations

+1 (332) 323-3704

Guild.Taylor@us.bnpparibas.com

About BNP Paribas and tennis

BNP Paribas is a major partner of world tennis, with a historic commitment that began in 1973 and applies to all levels of tennis around the world – singles, wheelchair tennis, team and family tennis – from beginners to the biggest professional tournaments.

Professional tennis: Official sponsor of the French Open since 1973, Sponsor of three ATP Masters 1000 tournaments (BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells, Rolex Monte Carlo Masters, Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome), the Open 13 Provence in Marseille, the Moselle Open in Metz and the BNP Paribas Nordic Open in Stockholm (ATP250), the Internationaux de Strasbourg (WTA500);
Wheelchair tennis: Title partner of the BNP Paribas World Team Cup; partner of the French Riviera Open, the WJP Challenge Tennis and the Swiss Open Geneva;
Junior and University tennis: Partner of the French Federation of University Sport and the BNP Paribas Master’U since 1993;
Amateur tennis: Sponsor of the BNP Paribas Family Trophy and the National Tennis Cup and partner with numerous amateur tournaments supported by the bank around the world;
Support for younger generations: BNP Paribas supports more than 160 young tennis and wheelchair tennis hopefuls in building their careers through its “Team BNP Paribas Jeunes Talents” programme in France (under the patronage of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in association with the FFT), the United States (with John and Patrick McEnroe), Belgium (under the patronage of Justine Henin) and Italy, Poland, Canada, Japan and Portugal. BNP Paribas has also been a partner in the selection of ball boys and girls at the French Open for 25 years.
Solidarity-based tennis: A driver of social projects linked to tennis alongside more than 20 national tennis federations and dozens of charities, based on a conviction that tennis is an even better sport when it is collective and geared towards young people.
- At the initiative of the “#FAAPointsForChange” programme in partnership with young Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime and the solidarity programme “Points For Change” for the inclusion of young generations through sport;
- Partner CityParks Tennis charity in the United States. This program in New York City provides free tennis lessons to more than 6,000 children between the ages of six and 16 within the five boroughs of New York City. The program is active in more than 39 parks across the five boroughs, including the BNP Paribas Aces Tennis Program for advanced junior players. The Bank supports hundreds of other community tennis initiatives around the world.
Sport in the workplace: The BNP Paribas internal tournament (We Are Tennis Cup) is one of the world’s leading corporate sporting events (3,500 participants each year with 2.5 million fans worldwide).
- In 2011, BNP Paribas created wearetennis.com – a platform dedicated entirely to tennis news, providing a constant flow of information covering players and tournaments around the world;
- The website and its associated social networks (Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, TikTok & YouTube) underscore BNP Paribas’ commitment to the world of professional tennis.
Also in the US, the Bank provides ongoing support toward the heritage and history of tennis through its sponsorship of the International Tennis Hall of Fame located in Newport, Rhode Island.

These various communications initiatives ensure that tennis is a fantastic vehicle for the brand image of BNP Paribas:

In 2023, BNP Paribas was considered the leading sponsor of tennis in the minds of the French (31% spontaneous recognition, rising to 48% among tennis fans). Source: CSA/2023
58% of tennis fans believe that BNP Paribas’ partnership with tennis gives a better image of the brand. Source: CSA/2023
7/10 is the score given to BNP Paribas by those familiar with We Are Tennis (i.e. 73% of tennis fans). This is 1.2 points more than for all French people. Source: CSA/2023

About BNP Paribas

BNP Paribas is the European Union’s leading bank and key player in international banking. It operates in 63 countries and has nearly 183,000 employees, including more than 145,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main fields of activity: Commercial, Personal Banking & Services for the Group’s commercial & personal banking and several specialised businesses including BNP Paribas Personal Finance and Arval; Investment & Protection Services for savings, investment and protection solutions; and Corporate & Institutional Banking, focused on corporate and institutional clients. Based on its strong diversified and integrated model, the Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates and institutional clients) to realise their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. In Europe, BNP Paribas has four domestic markets: Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg. The Group is rolling out its integrated commercial & personal banking model across several Mediterranean countries, Turkey, and Eastern Europe. As a key player in international banking, the Group has leading platforms and business lines in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas as well as a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific. BNP Paribas has implemented a Corporate Social Responsibility approach in all its activities, enabling it to contribute to the construction of a sustainable future, while ensuring the Group’s performance and stability.

This Year’s Event Contributes to the Accessibility and Promotion of Tennis

New York, NY / Indian Wells, CA, March 3, 2025 – BNP Paribas, Europe’s leading financial institution and foremost global sponsor of tennis, announces the start of the 2025 BNP Paribas Open and confirms its long-standing commitment to the sport through numerous initiatives. BNP Paribas has been supporting tennis for over 50 years and aims to promote tennis at every level, including championing accessibility and inclusivity, as well as community programs and professional tournaments.

BNP Paribas is a strong believer in the power of tennis and that making it accessible will inspire and bring positive change to communities. The bank’s initiatives reflect that commitment. At the 2025 tournament, the bank will activate many local programs which focus on community engagement and support causes such as youth development and education, among others:

Points for Change: Launched during the 2023 French Open, the “Points for Change” campaign is now a feature at all BNP Paribas-sponsored professional tournaments, including the BNP Paribas Open. As part of the program, every point scored during these tournaments are transformed into donations which benefit local groups by promoting education and inclusion through sport. 2025 marks the second year during which proceeds from the points scored at the BNP Paribas Open will be donated to the non-profit Girls on the Run Riverside Chapter, serving Riverside and San Bernadino Counties. This results in approximately 125,000 points for the entire tennis season and a point meter is available on the BNP Paribas We Are Tennis website. The final point total at the 2024 BNP Paribas Open was 26,755, resulting in $26,755 for Girls on the Run.
#FAAPointsForChange: Since 2020, BNP Paribas has supported Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime (ATP World No. 21) in his commitment to building a better future for youth in the West-African nation of Togo, where his father is from. Félix has pledged to donate $5 for each point he wins during the tournament and BNP Paribas will match with $15 per point. Since the beginning of 2025, the program has evolved into college scholarships for excellence granted to talented students from rural areas, enabling them to succeed in higher education. At the end of 2024, Félix Auger-Aliassime visited Togo to meet various stakeholders working on the project.
BNP Paribas Open Scholarship Program: Celebrating its 10th anniversary, BNP Paribas is once again excited to award scholarships to four deserving high school students from the local Indio High School. The recipients will be named and each awarded $20,000 college grants during a ceremony at their school on Wednesday, March 12. They will also be congratulated during an on-court presentation at the BNP Paribas Open later that evening.

Team BNP Paribas Young Talents, featuring Team Mac 1: Helping the next generation of top-level tennis players reach their goals and dreams, this global program provides coaching and financial support to over 160 talented young athletes around the world on the path to professional careers. Players are granted the opportunity to train under the direct supervision of tennis professionals and legends. The program began in 2018 with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in France and in 2019 with John and Patrick McEnroe in the United States, which provides financial support and trains children 11-17 years old who have the potential to become tomorrow’s champions. The Young Talents Group currently consists of 10 players. In 2025, the Wild Cards for the qualifying rounds are Hanne Vandewinkel from the Belgian Young Talent Team and Theo Papamalamis from the French Young Talent Program who’s currently playing for Texas A&M University. Arthur Cazaux (ranked 101^st Singles), from the French Young Talent team, will be playing in the 2025 BNP Paribas Open. Additionally, Zizou Ahmad is playing in the Fila International Junior Championships also taking place at the Indian Wells Garden.

International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF): Letters to Greatness is a new collaboration at the BNP Paribas tent, open to the public starting Mar 2. Fans are welcome to record or write their messages of congratulations to the ITHF’s Class of 2025, Maria Sharapova and Bob and Mike Bryan. On Mar 5 at 2 p.m., press is invited to attend as ITHF Presidents Kim Clijsters and Patrick McEnroe join the Bryan Brothers in the tent. On Mar 8 at 12 p.m., local students will have a meet-and-greet with Clijsters and other Hall of Famers as part of the ITHF’s Be Legendary program. BNP Paribas has been a long-term partner with the ITHF supporting the “Legends Ball” in NYC, the induction celebrations, as well as participating as a member of the group’s board. The ITHF is a non-profit organization in Newport, Rhode Island, that preserves the history of tennis and celebrates its champions to inspire excellence across generations globally.
Ticket Donation: BNP Paribas will again allocate a significant number of BNP Paribas Open tickets to local schools and nonprofit organizations to give young groups the opportunity to experience the thrill of live, professional tennis, a first for many.

NYC based Activations at BNP Paribas Midtown NYC Headquarters: Numerous events and promotions which include Aldo Sohm Wine Bar (151 W 51^st Street at 6½ Avenue) showcasing tournament coverage and exclusively serving tournament partner Spotlight 29 Casino’s signature drink – the Drop Shot; the BNP Paribas Tower lobby tournament promotion where tenants and employees can receive tournament giveaways; viewing events for employees at the bank’s NYC and Jersey City campuses; the special correspondent incentive contest where staff can win the opportunity to attend the tournament in California and report on their experiences; displaying the BNP Paribas Open logo in the bank’s Midtown NYC building as well as Captivate Screens advertising in elevators.

José Placido, CEO of BNP Paribas USA and CIB Americas said: “We are very happy to again be highlighting our global commitment to tennis as title sponsor of this incredible tournament and our many worthwhile community programs. A key focus at the bank is the benefits of tennis and making it more accessible to all, using it to help foster positive impact globally, including here in the Coachella Valley community. Our community actions reflect our core values and I am thrilled that we are celebrating the 10th year anniversary of our student scholarship program for local high schoolers. To our many partners and staff who help us achieve these goals while sponsoring the best of professional tennis, a special thank you. I also invite everyone to come join us and our clients in California for two weeks of exciting world-class tennis.”

BNP Paribas collaborates with local organizations and schools to support and promote tennis as a sport for all. BNP Paribas recognizes the importance of accessible and inclusive sporting opportunities and aims to contribute to promoting tennis throughout the local community.

The Indian Wells Tennis Garden – one of the world’s premier tennis facilities and home to the BNP Paribas Open – remains committed to building a better “Tennis Paradise” implementing new programs in the community and inspiring others to join.

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Press Contacts:

BNP PARIBAS

Guy Taylor

Media Relations

+1 (332) 323-3704

Guild.Taylor@us.bnpparibas.com

BNP PARIBAS OPEN

Matt Van Tuinen

MVT PR

+1 (773) 860-5828

Matt@mvtpr.com

About BNP Paribas and tennis

Professional tennis: Official sponsor of the French Open since 1973, Sponsor of three ATP Masters 1000 tournaments (BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells, Rolex Monte Carlo Masters, Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome), the Open 13 Provence in Marseille, the Moselle Open in Metz and the BNP Paribas Nordic Open in Stockholm (ATP250), the Internationaux de Strasbourg (WTA500);
Wheelchair tennis: Title partner of the BNP Paribas World Team Cup; partner of the French Riviera Open and the Swiss Open Geneva;
Junior and University tennis: Partner of the French Federation of University Sport and the BNP Paribas Master’U since 1993;
Amateur tennis: Sponsor of the BNP Paribas Family Trophy and the National Tennis Cup and partner with numerous amateur tournaments supported by the bank around the world;
Support for younger generations: BNP Paribas supports more than 160 young tennis and wheelchair tennis hopefuls in building their careers through its “Team BNP Paribas Jeunes Talents” programme in France (under the patronage of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in association with the FFT), the United States (with John and Patrick McEnroe), Belgium (under the patronage of Justine Henin) and Italy, Poland, Canada, Japan and Portugal. BNP Paribas has also been a partner in the selection of ball boys and girls at the French Open for 25 years.
Solidarity-based tennis: A driver of social projects linked to tennis alongside more than 20 national tennis federations and dozens of charities, based on a conviction that tennis is an even better sport when it is collective and geared towards young people.
- At the initiative of the “#FAAPointsForChange” programme in partnership with young Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime and the solidarity programme “Points For Change” for the inclusion of young generations through sport;
- Partner CityParks Tennis charity in the United States. This program in New York City provides free tennis lessons to more than 6,000 children between the ages of six and 16 within the five boroughs of New York City. The program is active in more than 39 parks across the five boroughs, including the BNP Paribas Aces Tennis Program for advanced junior players. The Bank supports hundreds of other community tennis initiatives around the world.
Sport in the workplace: The BNP Paribas internal tournament (We Are Tennis Cup) is one of the world’s leading corporate sporting events (3,500 participants each year with 2.5 million fans worldwide).
- In 2011, BNP Paribas created wearetennis.com – a platform dedicated entirely to tennis news, providing a constant flow of information covering players and tournaments around the world;
- The website and its associated social networks (Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, TikTok & YouTube) underscore BNP Paribas’ commitment to the world of professional tennis.
Also in the US, the Bank provides ongoing support toward the heritage and history of tennis through its sponsorship of the International Tennis Hall of Fame located in Newport, Rhode Island.

These various communications initiatives ensure that tennis is a fantastic vehicle for the brand image of BNP Paribas:

In 2023, BNP Paribas was considered the leading sponsor of tennis in the minds of the French (31% spontaneous recognition, rising to 48% among tennis fans). Source: CSA/2023
58% of tennis fans believe that BNP Paribas’ partnership with tennis gives a better image of the brand. Source: CSA/2023
7/10 is the score given to BNP Paribas by those familiar with We Are Tennis (i.e. 73% of tennis fans). This is 1.2 points more than for all French people. Source: CSA/2023

About BNP Paribas

BNP Paribas Senior US Economist Andrew Husby joins Yahoo Finance’s Josh Lipton on Market Domination to break down the May jobs report, which showed the U.S. economy added 172,000 jobs during the month.

Watch the segment here.

Guneet Dhingra, Head of US Rates Strategy, joined Paul Sweeney and Tom Keene on Bloomberg Radio’s “Surveillance” to discuss the bond market and the outlook for rates. Watch the segment here.

BNP Paribas Senior U.S. Economist Andrew Husby joined Cheddar to discuss the impact of AI on global macroeconomic level. He takes a positive overview claiming that AI will play a transformative role on the U.S. economy in the long-term. According to the bank’s analysis the unemployment rate doesn’t increase drastically and cites AI as a driver for GDP growth.

Watch the interview here.

New York, NY / Indian Wells, CA, March 12, 2026 – BNP Paribas, Europe’s leading financial institution and one of the foremost global sponsors of tennis, today announces the expansion of its scholarship program for the Coachella Valley community. For the 11^th annual BNP Paribas Open Scholarship program, the bank will award ten grants of $20,000 to each selected high school senior. This more than doubles the number of scholarships provided in previous years and widens the program’s reach from 1 school and 4 students per year, to 4 schools and 10 students per year. The winners of the 11^th annual BNP Paribas Open Scholarships are Logan Crabtree, Stephanie Kochel, Ethan Miller and Perla Lopez Palomares from La Quinta High School, Jose Luis Palacios Morales and Evelyn Rios from Shadow Hills High School, Edgar Avila Fuentes and Isabella Partida-Lopez from Coachella Valley High School, and Sinai Beltran and Angel Diarte-Salomon from Desert Mirage High School, all located in the Coachella Valley in California and all from the graduating class of 2026.

The scholarships are granted during the BNP Paribas Open and support each student’s pursuit of higher education. Each recipient must meet stringent requirements including a strong academic record and a demonstrable commitment to tennis. Each student will be awarded a $20,000 college grant at a ceremony hosted at La Quinta High School on Thursday, March 12, and will also be recognized during an on-court presentation at the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday, March 14.

José Placido, CEO of BNP Paribas USA and CIB Americas, said: “BNP Paribas has always believed that tennis has a positive impact beyond the court. For a decade, we have been immensely proud to support high-achieving students in the Coachella Valley who display a passion for tennis. Today, to mark our 11^th Annual Scholarship Awards, we are delighted to expand this program to ten exceptional young tennis players to support them in achieving their goals and help them go from the court to college. A warm congratulations to Logan, Stephanie, Ethan, Perla, Jose, Evelyn, Edgar, Isabella, Sinai and Angel, all of whom embody the principles of commitment, tenacity and hard work.”

Peggy Michel, Assistant Tournament Director of the BNP Paribas Open, also added: “The 2026 scholarship winners demonstrate that the positive impact of tennis extends beyond the court. It is wonderful to see BNP Paribas increase the number of scholarships this year and reaffirm its commitment to supporting talented young leaders in the Coachella Valley community. Congratulations to all of our remarkable award winners for their excellent achievements in both academics and sports, and we wish you all continued success as you embark on your college careers.”

Kelly May-Vollmar, Superintendent, Desert Sands Unified School District, said: “I am so proud of the ten students who earned this year’s BNP Paribas Open Scholarship Awards through their academic success, community involvement and dedication to tennis. Congratulations to all the recipients and thank you to BNP Paribas for more than doubling the number of grants awarded and supporting more students as they pursue their high education ambitions.”

Scholarship Winner Biographies

La Quinta High School

Logan Crabtree

Logan hopes to one day pursue a career in education or psychology so that he can help people with their mental health. He has demonstrated a passion for English Literature and enrolled in challenging Language and Literature courses, where he excelled in understanding complex literary texts. In addition to being a diligent student, he is involved in the performing arts and has taken on leadership roles in his dance classes, helping to guide his peers. Logan also spent three years on the varsity tennis team and has been part of the BNP Paribas tennis program for youth.

Stephanie Kochel

Stephanie is an exceptional student who has won multiple academic awards throughout her high school career, and her extracurricular activities showcase her passion for STEM: she is the STEM Club President and the captain of her school’s National Science Bowl team. Outside of school, Stephanie is a mathematics tutor. In addition, she has shown great dedication to tennis as the girls’ varsity tennis captain at her school, where she won the Coaches’ Award in 2025. Stephanie is also active as a mentor in her community; she is a volunteer tennis teacher for children aged K-8 and helps kids build confidence through martial arts as a Taekwondo instructor.

Ethan Miller

Ethan has excelled in his academic pursuits and has spent four years honing his leadership skills in the Air Force Junior ROTC, attaining the position of Squadron Commander and overseeing 107 cadets. Ethan has won national awards because of his academics, leadership and citizenship: Airforce Association Award, Military Order of the World Wars Award and Retired Enlisted Association Award. He aims to pursue aviation in college to achieve his dream of becoming a pilot. An avid tennis player, Ethan is the captain of boys’ varsity tennis team and credits the sport with helping him build confidence.

Perla Lopez Palomares

Perla is on her school’s Honor Roll and pursues a wide variety of extracurricular activities. She is a lifeguard, a section leader in the LQHS choir, the secretary of the school’s Interact club, and volunteers as a children’s music teacher at her church. She is a dedicated tennis player who has stood out not only for her technical skill and competitive drive, but also for her leadership abilities, sportsmanship and teamwork. She has won Most Improved Player and Sportsmanship awards through her efforts on the tennis court. Perla explores her artistic side through painting, drawing, singing and creative writing.

Shadow Hills High School

Jose Luis Palacios Morales

Jose is a dedicated and hardworking student who consistently pushes himself into new academic challenges, displaying a proactive approach to learning. Outside of the classroom, he revitalized the school’s the Model United Nations program, eventually serving as the club’s president. Jose is also a tennis player and notes that the sport showed him the importance of teamwork and commitment. Jose balances grades, clubs and tennis with community service. He is a volunteer with Raices Cultura, an arts and culture non-profit in Coachella, CA; he has contributed over 100 hours of his time to the organization and demonstrated responsibility, dedication and leadership.

Evelyn Rios

Evelyn is an Honor Roll student who has excelled in rigorous courses that require a high level of critical thinking, collaboration and effort. She brings enthusiasm and positive energy to the classroom, as well as a willingness to help her peers. Evelyn has also been a mentor through her school’s LINK program, which pairs juniors and seniors with incoming freshmen to help them feel welcome and included. In addition, she started playing tennis with no knowledge of the sport but quickly fell in love with it and dedicated herself to learning everything she could, eventually joining the varsity team in the doubles category.

Coachella Valley High School

Edgar Avila Fuentes

Edgar is an avid athlete who participates in multiple sports, but he is extremely passionate about tennis and plays almost every day, dedicating countless hours to practicing and training. He notes that he has a strong competitive streak, but that tennis also taught him valuable lessons in consistency, humility and respect. As a student, he is trustworthy and responsible and has worked hard to improve his academics during his high school career. Edgar also makes a positive impact on his community through his volunteer work with Friday Night Live, a drug and alcohol prevention program located in the Indio unemployment office.

Isabella Partida-Lopez

Isabella hopes to leverage her strong communications skills into a Marketing major in college. She is a diligent student with a strong academic record and has won awards for her consistently high GPA. She is active outside the classroom and has participated in internships in the real estate and media/communications fields, where she proved herself to be responsible and professional. Isabella is also a determined athlete, who has played on her varsity tennis team from her freshman year and has approached competition with a calm and focused demeanor. She credits her culture, her family and her love of learning with shaping her determination to succeed.

Desert Mirage High School

Sinai Beltran

Sinai’s dream is to serve her community as a child psychologist. She has excelled in her schoolwork, has won multiple academic awards, and is set to graduate as the valedictorian of her class. Beyond academics, she is an active member of her local community, primarily working to help children – as a mentor in the Carnalito program, she has not only tutored children in mathematics but also provided advice and emotional support. At school, she is the president of the Movimento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan, a cultural empowerment group that encourages Latino youth to be active in their community. Isabella is also a committed tennis player and part of her school’s varsity team, where she plays in the doubles category.

Angel Diarte-Salomon

Angel has excelled in his academic pursuits, including taking multiple AP courses, and has made the Honor Roll every year from 9^th to 12^th grade. He is also an accomplished athlete, who plays both basketball and tennis. As the boys’ varsity tennis captain, he would lead by example and motivate his teammates, and he was named the team’s Most Valuable Player in the 2024-2025 school year. On top of his impressive achievements in academics and sports, Angel is an innovator: he is currently developing the framework for an automatic tree trimmer and is learning how to program a machine learning model to predict the value of crude oil based on past and present data.

-ends-

Press Contacts:

BNP PARIBAS

Jelena Nedelka

External Communications

+1 (332) 280 1394

Jelena.Nedelka@us.bnpparibas.com

BNP PARIBAS OPEN

Joe Weinberg

MVT PR

jweinberg@mvtpr.com

About BNP Paribas and tennis

BNP Paribas shares with tennis fans the love of this sport through a historic commitment that began in 1973 and applies to all levels of tennis worldwide: from tennis clubs to tournaments where the greatest players and players compete.

The diversity of BNP Paribas’ commitments demonstrates the Group’s passion for tennis, a true love story that has been growing steadily for more than 50 years. Here is a summary of its current anchors in all its dimensions.

Professional tennis: main sponsor of Roland-Garros since 1973, sponsor of three ATP Masters 1000 tournaments (BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome), of the Grand Prix Aurvergne Rhone Alpes in Lyon and of the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open in Bruxelles (ATP250), of the Strasbourg Internationals (WTA500) and of numerous Challenger tournaments in the secondary professional circuit.
Tennis en Fauteuil: title partner of the BNP Paribas World Team Cup, partner of the French Riviera Open and the Swiss Open Geneva;
University tennis: partner of the French University Sports Federation and the BNP Paribas Master’U since 1993;
Amateur tennis: sponsor of the BNP Paribas Family trophy and National Tennis Cup trophy and partner of more than 1000 amateur tournaments supported by the bank worldwide;
Corporate sports: The BNP Paribas internal tournament (We Are Tennis Cup) is one of the world’s leading corporate sports events (3,500 participants each year).

BNP Paribas, a loyal supporter of tomorrow’s tennis for more than 50 years, supports future generations in the belief that tennis is an even more influential sport when it is focused on youth.

Supporting ambitious new generations:
- BNP Paribas supports more than 150 young tennis and handi-tennis players in their career development, as part of its “Team BNP Paribas Young Talents” program in France (under the mentorship of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and in association with the French Tennis Federation), the United States (with John and Patrick McEnroe), Belgium (with Justine Henin), Canada (with Félix Auger-Aliassime) and Italy, Poland, and Japan.
- BNP Paribas has also been a partner in the selection of Roland-Garros ball kids for 25 years. Since 2000, more than 6,000 young people have been able to realize their dream by participating in Roland-Garros as ball kids.

Supporting a more inclusive, accessible and solidarity-based tennis: BNP Paribas is a creator and accelerator of social projects related to tennis alongside more than 20 national tennis federations and dozens of charities:
- The “#FAAPointsForChange” program in partnership with Canadian player Félix Auger-Aliassime was launched in 2020. For every point won on the ATP tour, Félix gives $5 and BNP Paribas adds $15. The money raised is used to finance scholarships for talented students from rural areas in Togo.
- The ‘Points for Change’ program, launched on the occasion of the 50-year partnership with Roland-Garros in 2023, aims to transform the points scored by players on court into solidarity initiatives for the inclusion of young generations through sport. Each point scored on each single match of the professional tournaments partnered by BNP Paribas is valued and converted into funding. This mechanism helped to strengthen the following commitments:
  - The historic partnership since 2001 with Yannick Noah’s “Fête le Mur” charity to promote access to tennis among young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
  - “Girls On the Run – Riverside chapter”, a charity based in the Coachella valley. “Girls On The Run” promotes sports for youth by integrating exercise and a research program to improve girls’ living conditions across the United States.
  - And many more around the world, in Poland, Italy, the UK, etc.

About BNP Paribas

New York, NY / Indian Wells, CA, March 4, 2026 – BNP Paribas, Europe’s leading financial institution and one of the foremost global sponsors of tennis, announces the start of the 2026 BNP Paribas Open and confirms its enduring commitment to the sport through numerous initiatives. BNP Paribas has supported tennis for over 50 years and aims to promote tennis at every level, including championing accessibility and inclusivity, as well as community programs and professional tournaments.

BNP Paribas believes that tennis has the power to inspire and drive positive change in communities, and is committed to making the sport more accessible. During the 2026 tournament, the bank will implement various local programs that promote community engagement and support important causes, including youth development and education:

BNP Paribas Open Scholarship Program: Celebrating its 11th anniversary, BNP Paribas is thrilled to expand its scholarship program, increasing the number of recipients from four to ten students from four local Coachella Valley high schools. The recipients will each be awarded $20,000 college grants during a ceremony hosted at La Quinta High School on March 12. They will also be congratulated during an on-court presentation at the BNP Paribas Open on March 14.
Points for Change: Launched during the 2023 French Open, the “Points for Change” campaign transforms every point scored during all BNP Paribas-sponsored professional tournaments, including the BNP Paribas Open, into donations which benefit local groups by promoting education and inclusion through sport. For the third consecutive year, BNP Paribas Open’s “Points For Change” initiative will donate to the non-profit Girls on the Run Riverside Chapter, serving Riverside and San Bernadino Counties. The final point total at the 2025 BNP Paribas Open was 26,361, resulting in $26,361 for Girls on the Run.
#FAAPointsForChange: Since 2020, BNP Paribas has supported Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime (ATP World No. 7) in his commitment to building a better future for youth in the West African nation of Togo. Félix has pledged to donate $5 for each point he wins during the tournament and BNP Paribas will match with $15 per point. In 2025, the program evolved into college scholarships for excellence granted to 30 talented students from rural areas in Togo enabling them to succeed in higher education.
Team BNP Paribas Young Talents, featuring Team Mac 1: Joining forces with the John McEnroe Tennis Academy to help the next generation of top-level tennis players reach their goals and dreams, this global program provides coaching and financial support to over 150 talented young athletes around the world on the path to professional careers. Players are granted the opportunity to train under the direct supervision of tennis professionals and legends. The program began in 2018 with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in France and in 2019 with John and Patrick McEnroe in the United States, which provides financial support and trains children 11-17 years old who have the potential to become tomorrow’s champions. The Young Talents Group currently consists of 10 players.

International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF): BNP Paribas is entering its second year of collaboration with the ITHF at the bank’s display in the Sponsor Village of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. This year’s interactive experience, Letters to Greatness, will be open to the public starting March 1. Fans are invited to record or write their messages of congratulations to the ITHF’s Class of 2026 inductees, Roger Federer and Mary Carillo. On March 5 at 5 p.m., press is invited to attend as ITHF President Patrick McEnroe joins several Hall of Famers in the tent. Press interested in attending should contact ithf@160over90.com to RSVP. BNP Paribas has been a long-term partner with the ITHF supporting the “Legends Ball” in NYC, the induction celebrations, as well as participating as a member of the group’s board. The ITHF is a non-profit organization in Newport, Rhode Island, that preserves the history of tennis and celebrates its champions to inspire excellence across generations globally.

Ticket Donation: BNP Paribas will again allocate a significant number of BNP Paribas Open tickets to local schools and nonprofit organizations to give young fans the opportunity to experience the thrill of live, professional tennis, a first for many.
Activations at BNP Paribas Midtown NYC Headquarters and NJ Office: There are several initiatives, including a contest in which employees won the opportunity to attend the tournament as special correspondents; a new partnership with L’Ami Pierre (149 W 51^st Street at 6½ Avenue) showcasing Tennis Channel coverage and serving a signature coffee drink and themed pastries; and BNP Paribas Open branded merchandise in exchange for charitable donations for City Parks.

José Placido, CEO of BNP Paribas USA and CIB Americas said: “As a longstanding global sponsor of tennis, BNP Paribas is proud of our role in helping turn the Coachella Valley into the epicenter of the tennis universe where the best players in the world compete. Tennis is part of our DNA and a reflection of our values – through our local and global philanthropic commitments we’re able to support meaningful growth and ambition in tennis at all levels. I am grateful to all our employees and partners, who come together each year to ensure the success of this major tournament, and I look forward to enjoying two weeks of top-level tennis.”

-ends-

Press Contacts:

BNP PARIBAS

Jelena Nedelka

External Communications

+1 (332) 280 1394

Jelena.Nedelka@us.bnpparibas.com

BNP PARIBAS OPEN

Joe Weinberg

MVT PR

jweinberg@mvtpr.com

Professional tennis: main sponsor of Roland-Garros since 1973, sponsor of three ATP Masters 1000 tournaments (BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome), of the Grand Prix Aurvergne Rhone Alpes in Lyon and of the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open in Bruxelles (ATP250), of the Strasbourg Internationals (WTA500) and of numerous Challenger tournaments in the secondary professional circuit.
Tennis en Fauteuil: title partner of the BNP Paribas World Team Cup, partner of the French Riviera Open and the Swiss Open Geneva;
University tennis: partner of the French University Sports Federation and the BNP Paribas Master’U since 1993;
Amateur tennis: sponsor of the BNP Paribas Family trophy and National Tennis Cup trophy and partner of more than 1000 amateur tournaments supported by the bank worldwide;
Corporate sports: The BNP Paribas internal tournament (We Are Tennis Cup) is one of the world’s leading corporate sports events (3,500 participants each year).

About BNP Paribas and tennis

BNP Paribas, a loyal supporter of tomorrow’s tennis for more than 50 years, supports future generations in the belief that tennis is an even more influential sport when it is focused on youth.

Supporting ambitious new generations:
- BNP Paribas supports more than 150 young tennis and handi-tennis players in their career development, as part of its “Team BNP Paribas Young Talents” program in France (under the mentorship of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and in association with the French Tennis Federation), the United States (with John and Patrick McEnroe), Belgium (with Justine Henin), Canada (with Félix Auger-Aliassime) and Italy, Poland, and Japan.
- BNP Paribas has also been a partner in the selection of Roland-Garros ball kids for 25 years. Since 2000, more than 6,000 young people have been able to realize their dream by participating in Roland-Garros as ball kids.

Supporting a more inclusive, accessible and solidarity-based tennis: BNP Paribas is a creator and accelerator of social projects related to tennis alongside more than 20 national tennis federations and dozens of charities:
- The “#FAAPointsForChange” program in partnership with Canadian player Félix Auger-Aliassime was launched in 2020. For every point won on the ATP tour, Félix gives $5 and BNP Paribas adds $15. The money raised is used to finance scholarships for talented students from rural areas in Togo.
- The ‘Points for Change’ program, launched on the occasion of the 50-year partnership with Roland-Garros in 2023, aims to transform the points scored by players on court into solidarity initiatives for the inclusion of young generations through sport. Each point scored on each single match of the professional tournaments partnered by BNP Paribas is valued and converted into funding. This mechanism helped to strengthen the following commitments:
  - The historic partnership since 2001 with Yannick Noah’s “Fête le Mur” charity to promote access to tennis among young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
  - “Girls On the Run – Riverside chapter”, a charity based in the Coachella valley. “Girls On The Run” promotes sports for youth by integrating exercise and a research program to improve girls’ living conditions across the United States.
  - And many more around the world, in Poland, Italy, the UK, etc.

About BNP Paribas

BNP Paribas Open Scholarship Program: Celebrating its 11th anniversary, BNP Paribas is thrilled to expand its scholarship program, increasing the number of recipients from four to ten students from four local Coachella Valley high schools. The recipients will each be awarded $20,000 college grants during a ceremony hosted at La Quinta High School onMarch 12. They will also be congratulated during an on-court presentation at the BNP Paribas Open on March 14.
Points for Change: Launched during the 2023 French Open, the “Points for Change” campaign transforms every point scored during all BNP Paribas-sponsored professional tournaments, including the BNP Paribas Open, into donations which benefit local groups by promoting education and inclusion through sport. For the third consecutive year, BNP Paribas Open’s “Points For Change” initiative will donate to the non-profit Girls on the Run Riverside Chapter, serving Riverside and San Bernadino Counties. The final point total at the 2025 BNP Paribas Open was 26,361, resulting in $26,361 for Girls on the Run.

#FAAPointsForChange: Since 2020, BNP Paribas has supported Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime (ATP World No. 7) in his commitment to building a better future for youth in the West African nation of Togo. Félix has pledged to donate $5 for each point he wins during the tournament and BNP Paribas will match with $15 per point. In 2025, the program evolved into college scholarships for excellence granted to 30 talented students from rural areas in Togo enabling them to succeed in higher education.
Team BNP Paribas Young Talents, featuring Team Mac 1: Joining forces with the John McEnroe Tennis Academy to help the next generation of top-level tennis players reach their goals and dreams, this global program provides coaching and financial support to over 150 talented young athletes around the world on the path to professional careers. Players are granted the opportunity to train under the direct supervision of tennis professionals and legends. The program began in 2018 with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in France and in 2019 with John and Patrick McEnroe in the United States, which provides financial support and trains children 11-17 years old who have the potential to become tomorrow’s champions. The Young Talents Group currently consists of 10 players.
International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF): BNP Paribas is entering its second year of collaboration with the ITHF at the bank’s display in the Sponsor Village of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. This year’s interactive experience, Letters to Greatness, will be open to the public starting March 1. Fans are invited to record or write their messages of congratulations to the ITHF’s Class of 2026 inductees, Roger Federer and Mary Carillo. On March 5 at 5 p.m., press is invited to attend as ITHF President Patrick McEnroe joins several Hall of Famers in the tent. Press interested in attending should contact ithf@160over90.com to RSVP. BNP Paribas has been a long-term partner with the ITHF supporting the “Legends Ball” in NYC, the induction celebrations, as well as participating as a member of the group’s board. The ITHF is a non-profit organization in Newport, Rhode Island, that preserves the history of tennis and celebrates its champions to inspire excellence across generations globally.
Ticket Donation: BNP Paribas will again allocate a significant number of BNP Paribas Open tickets to local schools and nonprofit organizations to give young fans the opportunity to experience the thrill of live, professional tennis, a first for many.
Activations at BNP Paribas Midtown NYC Headquarters and NJ Office: There are several initiatives, including a contest in which employees won the opportunity to attend the tournament as special correspondents; a new partnership with L’Ami Pierre (149 W 51^st Street at 6½ Avenue) showcasing Tennis Channel coverage and serving a signature coffee drink and themed pastries; and BNP Paribas Open branded merchandise in exchange for charitable donations for City Parks.

José Placido, CEO of BNP Paribas USA and CIB Americas said: “As a longstanding global sponsor of tennis, BNP Paribas is proud of our role in helping turn the Coachella Valley into the epicenter of the tennis universe where the best players in the world compete. Tennis is part of our DNA and a reflection of our values – through our local and global philanthropic commitments we’re able to support meaningful growth and ambition in tennis at all levels. I am grateful to all our employees and partners, who come together each year to ensure the success of this major tournament, and I look forward to enjoying two weeks of top-level tennis.”

-ends-

Press Contacts:

BNP PARIBAS

Jelena Nedelka

External Communications

+1 (332) 280 1394

Jelena.Nedelka@us.bnpparibas.com

BNP PARIBAS OPEN

Joe Weinberg

MVT PR

jweinberg@mvtpr.com

About BNP Paribas and tennis

Professional tennis: main sponsor of Roland-Garros since 1973, sponsor of three ATP Masters 1000 tournaments (BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome), of the Grand Prix Aurvergne Rhone Alpes in Lyon and of the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open in Bruxelles (ATP250), of the Strasbourg Internationals (WTA500) and of numerous Challenger tournaments in the secondary professional circuit.
Tennis en Fauteuil: title partner of the BNP Paribas World Team Cup, partner of the French Riviera Open and the Swiss Open Geneva;
University tennis: partner of the French University Sports Federation and the BNP Paribas Master’U since 1993;
Amateur tennis: sponsor of the BNP Paribas Family trophy and National Tennis Cup trophy and partner of more than 1000 amateur tournaments supported by the bank worldwide;
Corporate sports: The BNP Paribas internal tournament (We Are Tennis Cup) is one of the world’s leading corporate sports events (3,500 participants each year).

BNP Paribas, a loyal supporter of tomorrow’s tennis for more than 50 years, supports future generations in the belief that tennis is an even more influential sport when it is focused on youth.

Supporting ambitious new generations:
- BNP Paribas supports more than 150 young tennis and handi-tennis players in their career development, as part of its “Team BNP Paribas Young Talents” program in France (under the mentorship of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and in association with the French Tennis Federation), the United States (with John and Patrick McEnroe), Belgium (with Justine Henin), Canada (with Félix Auger-Aliassime) and Italy, Poland, and Japan.
- BNP Paribas has also been a partner in the selection of Roland-Garros ball kids for 25 years. Since 2000, more than 6,000 young people have been able to realize their dream by participating in Roland-Garros as ball kids.

Supporting a more inclusive, accessible and solidarity-based tennis: BNP Paribas is a creator and accelerator of social projects related to tennis alongside more than 20 national tennis federations and dozens of charities:
- The “#FAAPointsForChange” program in partnership with Canadian player Félix Auger-Aliassime was launched in 2020. For every point won on the ATP tour, Félix gives $5 and BNP Paribas adds $15. The money raised is used to finance scholarships for talented students from rural areas in Togo.
- The ‘Points for Change’ program, launched on the occasion of the 50-year partnership with Roland-Garros in 2023, aims to transform the points scored by players on court into solidarity initiatives for the inclusion of young generations through sport. Each point scored on each single match of the professional tournaments partnered by BNP Paribas is valued and converted into funding. This mechanism helped to strengthen the following commitments:

The historic partnership since 2001 with Yannick Noah’s “Fête le Mur” charity to promote access to tennis among young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“Girls On the Run – Riverside chapter”, a charity based in the Coachella valley. “Girls On The Run” promotes sports for youth by integrating exercise and a research program to improve girls’ living conditions across the United States.
And many more around the world, in Poland, Italy, the UK, etc.

About BNP Paribas

London, New York, Hong Kong – January 30, 2026 – BNP Paribas, a leader in banking and financial services and its Prime Services business, published today its annual 2026 Hedge Fund Outlook.

BNP Paribas’ Capital Introduction Group surveyed 246 allocators in December 2025 and January 2026 who invest or advise on $1.1 trillion in hedge fund assets. This represents over one fifth of industry assets under management (AUM). The objective of the report is to better understand sentiment with respect to performance and asset allocation to hedge funds.

Marlin Naidoo, Global Head of Capital Introduction at BNP Paribas, said: “Hedge fund sentiment is hitting new peaks. Amidst high equity valuations and a shifting private equity landscape, hedge funds are proving their value as a vital source of stable, diversifying returns”

Ashley Wilson, Global Head of Prime Services at BNP Paribas, added: “After back-to-back years of equity market strength and consistent alpha delivery, Asia-Pacific and China hedge fund managers have re-entered the global allocator spotlight in 2026.”

Key findings – BNP Paribas Hedge Fund Outlook

Hedge Funds Deliver on Allocator Targets: Cash +400-600bps

Hedge funds returned on average 641 bps over cash in 2025 (10.53%), and 466 bps annualised over cash in the last 5 years (7.96%).
Alpha generation continues year on year, with hedge funds delivering +2.13 % of alpha versus MSCI World in 2025 and +3.02% (5-year annualised).

Correlation is Rising – Yet Diversification Remains

Correlation versus the MSCI World has crept upward over the years, to 0.92 1-year correlation versus 0.80 for 3-year and 0.76 for 5-year.
Beta to the MSCI World has also increased, 0.24 over the past 12 months, versus 0.15 over the past 5 years.
Low volatility persists, in 2025 hedge fund volatility was ~4 times lower at 2.43 % vs. MSCI World’s 9.25 % while 5-year volatility was ~5 times lower at 2.76% vs. 14.39 %.
Tactical trading strategies, such as quant equity, quant multi strategy and discretionary macro deliver returns while keeping correlation, beta and volatility low.

Hedge Fund Allocations Trend Higher

2025 saw net inflows of $25 bn from responding allocators (55 % of respondents added on a net basis).
The outlook for 2026 remains positive: 64 % plan to increase exposure on a net basis, translating to an estimated $24 bn of additional net inflows from this group of allocators.
Private banks lead the charge amongst allocators, with 90% of this group adding $8bn of net inflows in 2025 and 94% expect to add a further $7.6bn of net inflows in 2026.

Europe & Asia Are Allocation Hotspots

30 % of allocators added exposure to Europe in 2025 whilst 34 % plan to do so in 2026 making it the most widely allocated to region in both years. Key strategies are equity long/short, event driven and credit.
24 % added to Asia Pacific in 2025, rising to 30 % in 2026, with a focus on equity long/short and multi strategy.
The China turnaround continues with 9 % of allocators investing in China focused hedge funds in 2025 and a further 14 % planning to in 2026 (up from a 42 % net reduction in 2023).

Macros Moment

21% of allocators expect discretionary macro to deliver the highest returns among hedge fund strategies this year (up 10.81% in 2025).
One in four allocators plan to increase their allocation to the strategy in 2026.
Allocators note a shortage of single CIO, vintage-style macro managers with track records across market cycles.

Quant in Demand though Alternative Risk Premia Remains Under-Utilized

Quant Equity delivered a 11.31 % 5-year annualised return (11.20 % in 2025). Over a third of allocators added to it in 2025, and another 30% plan to add in 2026.
Quant Multi Strategy returned 12.76% on a 5-year annualised basis in line with MSCI World. (11.49 % in 2025). 24 % of allocators plan to increase exposure in 2026.
Despite Alternative Risk Premia achieving a 9.13% 5-year annualised return (12.11 % in 2025), only 3 % of allocators expect to add to it next year.

Optimising the Portfolio: SMAs, Portable Alpha & Active Extension

SMAs continued to see growth in 2025 with treasury efficiency being the most cited reason allocators use them. Capital allocated via SMAs increased by 61 % ($42 bn in 2025 vs. $26 bn in 2023). 9 % of hedge fund managers already allocate to peers through external SMAs, whilst a further 18 % plan to launch such structures in 2026 and beyond.
A third of investors intend to grow their Portable Alpha allocation in 2026. 73% of exposure sits inside the long only equity bucket.
Active Extension products (130/30, 150/50) are now held by 34 % of allocators (up from 20 % two years ago). A further 19 % will increase allocation whilst 18 % are considering allocation for the first time.
Two thirds of managers not yet offering portable alpha or active extension products, say they would launch a new offering to capture this demand.

-ends-

Meghan Robson, Head of US Credit Strategy at BNP Paribas, joined Bloomberg TV’s Real Yield to discuss the current outlook for credit markets with anchor Scarlet Fu.

Watch the segment here.

Meghan Robson, Head of US Credit Strategy at BNP Paribas, expects inflation to accelerate a bit in 2026 due to pressure on goods inflation. She sees one more rate cut next year but inflation will prevent the Federal Reserve from extending its cutting cycle. She speaks to Bloomberg’s Carol Massar, Tim Stenovec, and Michael McKee on ‘Bloomberg Businessweek Daily.’

Watch the clip here.

Guneet Dhingra, Head of US Rates Strategy at BNP Paribas, discusses the dissenting votes against Wednesday’s rate cut decision and how AI is becoming a major macro force on Bloomberg Radio.

Watch the interview here.