UBS: Best Green Bank Switzerland 2014

Picture a world in which large power plants spewing noxious fumes into the atmosphere have been made redundant and replaced by solar panels, wind turbines, and other small-scale and environmentally sound ways of providing plentiful non-polluting energy. That is how Swiss financial services company UBS sees the none-too distant future taking shape.

In a brief sent to investors in August 2014, the world’s largest private bank states unequivocally that centralised power generators are on their way out. According to UBS analysts, these facilities are just “too big and inflexible” which will shortly make them “irrelevant.” As if on cue, German utility company E•ON in December revealed plans to split its business into two successor companies – one generating power from fossil fuels and the other from renewables. This will enable E•ON to divest its interests in carbon-based energy generation and concentrate its resources on sustainable technology.

The uncanny prescience displayed by UBS researchers underscores the bank’s dedication to not just clean energy, but environmentally sound business endeavours in general. UBS considers the shift away from fossil fuel but one of a series of major developments that will open up a world of opportunity to those willing to recognise the signs and step in on the ground floor.

Being green entails much more than just ditching incandescent light bulbs or only buying free-range eggs; it requires seeing the truly big picture, spotting trends, and identifying early-on viable new technologies. Though the CFI.co Judging Panel has no doubt that UBS will have replaced the light bulbs, the judges attach far greater importance to the fact that the Swiss bank employs its vast resources – not least its research brawn – to help empower green technology, thus facilitating the shift away from resource depletion towards full sustainability. The panel has therefore no reservation in handing UBS the Best Green Bank Switzerland 2014 Award.


UBP Wins the CFI.co Private Banking Award, UAE

[caption id="attachment_1310" align="aligncenter" width="390"] David Rice, Head of UBP Middle East Ltd, Dubai[/caption]

Now that many of the global universal banks are returning to their core business and divesting of private banking interests, traditional private banks are growing both organically and through acquisition. Private banks in the UAE received many strong nominations this year and after careful consideration the CFI.co Judging Panel has decided to declare UBP ‘Best Private Bank UAE 2013’.

UBP’s entrepreneurial culture and family ownership have allowed the Bank to align themselves very closely to client needs. With very high capital adequacy ratios and a conviction led approach to investment, the Bank is able to add real value to their client balance sheets while ensuring peace of mind. With very clear lines of communication the bank is able to respond quickly to opportunities while keeping an ever watchful eye on long term protection of capital. The panel feels that the Bank’s careful integration of Lloyds Bank into UBP in the UAE stands out as an example of how the divestment of private banking assets by some global banks will benefit clients and hopefully help those same clients contribute to sustainable economic growth.


Three Times a Winner: SBM is Named Best Bank Mauritius, 2014

SBM Bank (Mauritius) Ltd has been named the country’s Best Bank for three consecutive years of the CFI.co Banking Awards programme. The Judging Panel expressed a special commendation of SBM on this exceptional achievement. Despite economic challenges in operating countries, SBM’s recent financial performance has been very satisfying.

The Panel points out that,’ consecutive year winners typically move from strength to strength – even when times are tough – and that has certainly been the case with SBM. The third year win gives an indication of the fundamental strength of this outstanding bank that was established some forty years ago. SBM now has over 1200 employees and operates throughout Mauritius with branch offices in India and Madagascar. Our 2014 winner has a twenty percent share of the domestic market and a capitalisation of $1 billion. This is a solid, dependable bank with exemplary operating efficiency and great services and products. Well done SBM.’


Pison Housing Company: Best Housing Finance Advisor Nigeria 2014

Emerging markets are exciting places to conduct business. However, the pitfalls are often almost as large as the rewards. This is where the expertise delivered by Pison Housing Company steps in: minimising risk for the real estate investor without limiting the upside in the process. Since its founding in 2005, Pison has endeavoured to gather and process copious amounts of data on the Nigerian housing market so that real estate investors may reach well-informed decisions.

With a housing deficit estimated at 17 million units and strong demand from buyers and renters alike, Nigeria’s real estate market is becoming buoyant and attracting plenty attention from investors. Pison Housing Company helps individuals and corporations design financing structures, instruments, and strategies that assure excellent yields while aggressively reducing risk. The company also maintains a close relationship with the investor community to ensure short lines of communication and increase the company’s already impressive deal-making power.

The CFI.co Judging Panel was struck by the amount of effort consistently put in by Pison Housing Company to map, segment, analyse, and classify the Nigerian residential and commercial real estate markets. The judges noted that Pison has blazed a trail that is now used to manage a $950 million of real estate and housing finance portfolio.

The company’s research is also readily being used by the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation. The CFI.co Judging Panel congratulates Pison Housing Company on receiving the award Best Housing Finance Advisor Nigeria 2014.


Morgan Stanley: Best Institutional Broker UAE

[caption id="attachment_1108" align="aligncenter" width="587"] Sammy Kayello, Chairman and CEO of Morgan Stanley (MENA) receives an award from CFI.co[/caption]

When the going gets tough, the likes of Morgan Stanley get, well, going. In a market besieged by a lack of liquidity as multiple IPOs sucked money out of the primary market, the UAE now seems poised for a post-Q1 2015 return to much-improved liquidity as dividends are distributed and the investors’ scare of cheap oil wears off.

Till then, investors may find succour – and consistently solid returns – with Morgan Stanley, the conduit of choice for those seeking to unlock the riches offered by buoyant markets in the US and elsewhere.

With untold billions idling on the side lines, the UAE remains an exciting place for a brokerage to be. Present in the Emirates since the 1970s, and with a regional office since 2006, Morgan Stanley offers local investors unparalleled access and exposure to global markets. By its omnipresence, Morgan Stanley manages to direct institutional investors to the greenest pastures – wherever they happen to sprout.

Morgan Stanley has again received from CFI.co readers and visitors a significant number of nominations for the Best Institutional Broker UAE Award. The Judging Panel agrees that the company has amply demonstrated its class by deftly sidestepping hazardous markets and leading its clients to safe – and lucrative – havens. The CFI.co judges are therefore not the least hesitant to declare Morgan Stanley winner – for a second consecutive year – of its Best Institutional Broker UAE Award.


HMC Capital Group: Best Capital Markets Boutique, Latin America, 2014

HMC, with offices in Brazil, Peru and Colombia - as well as home country Chile – is very well placed to service client needs throughout Latin America.

And, according to the CFI.co Judging Panel, ‘HMC does so with skill and aplomb. Their quest for asset efficiency is well rewarded through the efforts of a talented and highly experienced team of financial services professionals. We are very happy to announce the win of this sub region award in the name of HMC Capital Group.’


FxPro Financial Services is the 2014 Winner of the CFI.co Award for ‘Best FX Execution, Global’

[caption id="attachment_1399" align="aligncenter" width="455"] Simon Smith, Director of UK Operations[/caption]

The panel comments that ‘FxPro offers slick, speedy and secure professional access to markets.

Their FX Agency model is exemplary and customer support is outstanding. The firm has a trustworthy and transparent approach, has worked hard to eliminate conflicts of interest, is regulated in two jurisdictions and would be a confident choice for relative newcomers to the markets as well as the more seasoned traders.

There is a highly impressive choice of trading platforms at FxPro, market information provided is strong and reliable and the firm makes very good use of technology for the express benefit of users.

We have no hesitation in confirming an award in this key category to FxPro and offer our congratulations on the interesting and important innovations FXPro is bringing to forex trading’.

For further information, please visit http://www.fxpro.co.uk/


Mercury Capital Advisors Group Best Fund Raising Team Global 2014

Mercury Capital Advisors Group have perfected flat management within the company, creating a team where everyone takes responsibility for their actions and strives to exceed expectations. The CFI.co Judging Panel felt that through an emphasis on teamwork, Mercury Capital Advisors Group have been able to leverage the nearly three centuries of combined experience to deliver an impressive track record.

The company has effectively used both internal and external feedback to foster and develop skills, entrepreneurial spirit, and maintain strong relationships and understanding with all stakeholders.

Mercury Capital Advisors Group has created an extended family that makes for a winning approach when it comes to the globalised world of fundraising, ensuring that clients enjoy excellent access to institutional investors across the world.

With an unwavering belief in teamwork, Mercury Capital Advisors Group has amply demonstrated that the power of the group – and the highly effective use of its collective knowledge and experience – makes for a winning approach. It gives the CFI.co Judges particular pleasure to recognise Mercury Capital Advisors Group as the Best Fund Raising Team Global 2014.


Ak Investment: Best Institutional Broker Turkey

[caption id="attachment_2636" align="aligncenter" width="567"] Mert Erdoğmuş, CEO, receiving an award.[/caption]

A boutique brokerage house packing an impressively big punch, Ak Investment helps institutional investors gain exposure to the buoyant Turkish economy. While the Borsa Istanbul may have retreated a bit of late, the economy’s fundamentals remain exceptionally strong with plenty of upside potential for the country’s corporates.

Ak Investment – part of Akbank, Turkey’s largest banking conglomerate – maintains a notably strong research department that has gained a well-deserved reputation for picking out tomorrow’s winners and shielding clients from market pitfalls. The firm’s analysts produce a wealth of information on both macroeconomic trends and specific equities, allowing investors a bird’s eye view of all relevant events and considerations affecting the country’s corporates.

Ak Investment has also amassed a wealth of experience in preparing IPOs, assisting with mergers and acquisitions, and getting state-owned companies primed for privatisation. The firm’s expertise is regularly called upon by leading Turkish businesses that seek to leverage the power and resilience of the country’s capital market.

Dedicated to offering its clients the best service delivery experience on the market, backed up by the most up-to-date technological platform, Ak Investment recently succeeded in moving its powerful servers inside the stock exchange where they now reside alongside the Borsa’s own IT hardware. The move greatly reduced the latency of the connection, significantly speeding up the execution of orders while ensuring equity transactions are carried out at the best prices money can buy.

Thanks to its investment in technology, Ak Investment is now especially well-positioned to make the most out of the partnership between the Borsa Istanbul and Nasdaq OMX by which the Turkish exchange gained access to the world’s most advanced suite of trading technologies, resources, and advisory services.

The CFI.co judging panel applauds Ak Investment for its keen sense of opportunity and its spot-on corporate vision. Few, if any, of the firm’s competitors have displayed a comparable dedication to the financial well-being of clients. More than just that, Ak Investment has invested in both people and technology to maintain – and indeed expand – its lead in the market. The judges consider Ak Investment an exemplary brokerage that showcases what may be achieved through expertise and devotion to success. The judging panel wishes to congratulate Ak Investment on its win of the 2015 Best Institutional Broker Turkey Award.


Schlumberger Nigeria: Best Sustainability Award 2014

In over forty countries, oilfield services company Schlumberger is actively engaged in promoting science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education through its SEED (Schlumberger Excellence in Education Development) programme. The company is fully committed to share its corporate culture which prioritises science and learning.

SEED is the embodiment of this passion. The programme counts on the volunteer work of hundreds of educators to reach students and engage them in global challenges such as climate change, energy, and water which may be addressed by science.

In Nigeria, SEED has collaborated with over 34 schools and the Nigerian Academy of Science to promote science education. Participating schools work on research projects aimed at igniting a passion for science in students.

The CFI.co Judging Panel considers SEED an exemplary initiative and applauds Schlumberger for its sustained commitment to STEM education. As production processes become ever more complex, demand for engineers and scientists are expected to increase by leaps and bounds over the next few decades. A technology company par excellence, Schlumberger seems to not just recognise this need, but address it in a hands-on manner as well. The CFI.co Judges unanimously decided to hand Schlumberger Nigeria for the second consecutive year its Best Sustainability Award.


Excellence in Governance: Alexander Forbes Takes Best Corporate Governance Award South Africa 2014

A leading provider of financial and risk services worldwide, South Africa-based Alexander Forbes attaches supreme importance to good corporate governance. The company fully subscribes to the guidelines contained in the 2009 King III Report on corporate governance.

The CFI.co Judging Panel notes that Alexander Forbes expends considerable effort ensuring that its code of corporate governance is strictly adhered to in all the company’s operations. The Alexander Forbes management system comprises both a code of ethics and sets of policies that prioritise compliance.

This solid framework facilitated the company’s relisting on the main board of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange from where it retired in 2007 after being taken over by a private equity consortium. As of July 2014, Alexander Forbes – Africa’s largest retirement fund administrator – is once again listed on the JSE.

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange is known worldwide as a pioneer in promoting excellence in corporate governance. The CFI.co judges are of the opinion that Alexander Forbes will prove an excellent addition to the JSE as a company with an exemplary track record on corporate governance.


Oman UAE Exchange: Best Foreign Currency Services Oman 2015

Connecting Oman to the world’s currencies, Oman UAE Exchange is the only Exchange Company in Oman to have SWIFT connectivity that offers individuals and corporates a fast and secure way of transferring funds to the Bank accounts across the globe. As an added service to facilitate transfers, Oman UAE Exchange also maintains its own network of over 75 correspondent banks – operating globally as well.

Securely plugged into the financial world, Oman UAE Exchange also offers its customers the convenience of instantaneous money transfers via the 3 largest Money Transfer companies in the world – Western Union Money Transfer, MoneyGram and Xpress Money to over 1 million locations around the globe.

Domestically, Oman UAE Exchange maintains a network of over 50 outlets throughout the Sultanate of Oman that ensures close proximity with the clients. Operating as a people-to-people (P2P) enterprise, Oman UAE Exchange has developed a wide range of products, all carefully tailored to match the needs of its customers. The firm – a self-described supermarket of financial services “without the trolleys” – is dedicated to consistently providing superior quality in both the delivery and ease-of-use products.

Continuously topping up on the latest technology allows Oman UAE Exchange to stay way ahead of its competition. However, the company is mindful of not losing its human touch which allows it to offer bespoke solutions to customers.

The CFI.co judging panel took note of Oman UAE Exchange’s tag line: Service is our Currency. The judges feel that the company indeed lives up to its slogan and thus fully merits the Best Foreign Currency Services Oman 2015 Award.


SEDCO: Best Shariah-Compliant Real Estate Fund Management Team Saudi Arabia 2014

One of the premier private wealth management companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, SEDCO Holding can trace its origins to the remarkable life of Sheikh Salem Bin Mahfouz who founded the Saudi Economic and Development Company in 1976 while at the helm of the kingdom’s first domestic bank – the National Commercial Bank – he had helped form in 1953.

The remarkable life story of Sheikh Salem Bin Mahfouz best serves to illustrate SEDCO’s unrelenting dedication to excellence and diligence. By sheer force of will, perseverance, and – for lack of a better expression – street smarts, Sheikh Salem Bin Mahfouz overcame the dire poverty and scant educational opportunities of his childhood to become one the kingdom’s premier bankers.

Arriving penniless in Mecca with his brothers in 1912, the young Salem soon developed a knack for business. Moving to Jeddah and securing access to one of that city’s two only telephones, Salem became a moneychanger to the royal court securing Maria Theresa thalers to buy army supplies. In 1951, Salem co-founded a foreign exchange business which, at the suggestion of then-Finance Minister Sheikh Abdullah Sulayman, was turned into the country’s first commercial bank. The rest – as they say – is history.

And that history is precisely why SEDCO – entrusted to four of Sheikh Salem Bin Mahfouz’ sons upon his passing away in 1994 and transformed into a holding two years later– is a most remarkable company: it is not only deeply rooted in history; it derives its strength and agility from it. SEDCO has grown into a large and diversified conglomerate with operations spanning the continents and with interests across a vast range of asset classes.

Pursuing stability rather than risk, SEDCO has concluded a number of large-scale real estate projects such as the Jeddah Al Mahmal Centre, the Metro West master-planned community in Orlando, and the landmark JP Morgan Chase building in Houston – Texas’ tallest skyscraper.

SEDCO Development remains firmly focused on the development, management, and operation of real estate projects. Investments are structured in full compliance with Shariah Law and deliver yields of 7% to clients. Funds are invested alongside clients, rather than on behalf of them.

SEDCO Capital had successfully executed real estate transactions in excess of $1 billion. The company successfully divested from 21 developments in France, Malaysia, Singapore, UK, and Mexico. SEDCO Capital now has acquired 19 investments in strategic markets such as USA, UK, and Saudi Arabia.

Due to the company’s firm commitment to innovation grounded in history and custom, the CFI.co judging panel considers SEDCO an exemplary real estate fund manager: fads and fashions are shunned, while true innovation – the one that adds value to all stakeholders and respects their preferences – is given ample room to mature. Beyond any shadow of doubt, SEDCO fully merits the CFI.co 2014 Best Shariah-Compliant Real Estate Fund Management Team Saudi Arabia Award.


Emirates NBD Asset Management: Best MENA Fixed-Income Fund Manager 2015

A holistic approach with short lines of communication and a strict separation between risk management and day-to-day operations has propelled Emirates NBD Asset Management to very apex of the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) fixed-income market.

Appealing to clients looking to diversify their investment portfolio by reducing volatility, the Emirates NBD Asset Management fixed-income desk proactively scans the region for bonds that best fit the carefully crafted portfolio and contribute to the funds’ alpha – returns over those generated by benchmark indices.

Emirates NBD is the leading bank in the United Arab Emirates. Its shares are listed on the Dubai Financial Market. The bank was formed in 2007 with the merger of Emirates Bank International (EBI) and the National Bank of Dubai. The resulting Emirates NBD is the region’s largest financial services provider as measured by assets (AED 363bn).

The Emirates NBD Asset Management fixed-income desk aims to stay atop the market by actively managing its portfolio through the continuous analysis of credit spreads, frequent trade switches, and a host other stratagems that allow it to promptly react to asset price movements and keep its edge over the competition. This high-energy approach enables Emirates NBD Asset Management to consistently attain the desired yield-to-maturity (YTM).

The CFI.co judges are impressed by the agility displayed by the Emirates NBD Asset Management fixed-income desk and its approach to fund management. The judges took particular note of the desk’s openness to external research: the word from the “street” is often incorporated into the findings of the in-house analytical team to produce a true picture of market conditions and trends.

The judges are exceedingly pleased to offer Emirates NBD Asset Management the recognition it is due and offer the bank their Best MENA Fixed-Income Fund Manager 2015 Award.


Concord International Investments Group: Best Asset Manager Egypt 2015

For Egyptian securities there is but one place of note to go: the asset managers of the Concord International Investments Group who, in 1994, got in on the ground floor and have since reached the market’s apex. The first foreign fund manager to be fully-licensed in Egypt, the Concord Group feels right at home in Cairo.

The Concord International Investments Group is headquartered in New York and registered at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm’s peerless expertise in navigating Egypt’s capital markets has gained wide recognition. The Concord Group is regularly engaged by both public and private sector banks in Egypt as well as multinational institutions and high-net worth individuals seeking advice on asset management and corporate finance.

The Concord Group was the first firm to establish both closed-ended and open-ended country funds, and is also the only UCITS (Undertaking for Collective Investments in Transferable Securities) fund invested in Egyptian securities. The group also manages four direct investment funds and has successfully exited several of its investments. The company also concluded a number of advisory assignments for corporations focused on tourism, real estate, and development.

The Concord Group is justifiably proud of its exceptionally strong in-house research team which is comprised of experienced professionals dedicated exclusively to the Egyptian market and committed to excellence. An interesting twist is that the research team in Egypt must wholly convince their colleagues in New York of the soundness of their findings before any investment decisions are made. This procedure was conceived to weed out any localised sentimentality.

The firm sticks to a simple, yet elegant, investment formula that has proven its worth over many years: picks are based on solid fundamentals, liquidity, and earnings growth.

Founded in 1988, the Concord Group is entrusted with the funds of individuals, families, foundations, and institutions. As such, the firm’s primary objective is to hold long and to prosper in tandem with companies in which it has acquired a stake. The Concord Group manages a number of investment portfolios, mutual funds, and private equity investments with a combined value of over $1.1bn of which $0.6bn is invested in Egyptian securities.

The CFI.co judging panel is most impressed by the vast expertise displayed by the Concord International Investments Group in successfully managing large positions in a market both promising and notoriously difficult to gauge. By establishing a decision-making process that is both distinctive and highly fail-resistant, if not fail-proof, the Concord Group has carved out an expanding niche in a most desirable market. That takes foresight and knowledge. The judges wish to reward these rare traits with the 2015 CFI.co Best Asset Manager Egypt Award.


At AIM 2015: Sahara Group’s Tonye Cole Receives CFI.co Recognition for Outstanding Contribution to Youth Education in Africa

Following presentation of the Annual Investment Meeting  (AIM)  2015 Awards for FDI-agencies at a Gala Dinner at the Armani Hotel in Dubai on Monday 30th March, the AIM organising committee in conjunction with CFI.co was pleased to provided further recognition of excellence.

One of  three trophies handed over on stage went to Sahara Foundation and was accepted by its founder, chairman Tonye Cole. This prize -  in the category of Transformation & Empowerment - was made to mark the organisation’s Outstanding Contribution to Youth Education in Africa.

Education is key to creating the labour skills for FDI and the management skills necessary for developing society at large. SF works tirelessly in their educational programmes in Africa, which include economic empowerment activities, creativity competitions to stimulate innovation, feeding programmes in schools, scholarships and financial support (including for classroom upgrades).

AIM 2015, which was held from 30 March - 1 April at the Dubai international Convention and Exhibition Center, focused on ‘Sustainable Development through FDI Induced Innovation and Technology Transfer’. This was an important gathering of some of  the world's leading FDI academics, experts and practitioners - including Knowledge Partner CFI.co - under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

For further information, please see the Sahara Foundation.


Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz: Best SME Bank Bolivia 2015

The largest bank in Bolivia, Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz keeps a few steps ahead of the competition by continuously investing in the upgrading of both its technology and its already comprehensive palette of products and services. Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz, the nation’s flagship privately-owned bank, is mindful of its hard-won reputation for excellence and the need to keep the precise balance between innovation and time-honoured standards of good banking.

The bank’s savings accounts have offered a safe haven in even the most trying of times and thus gained a standing with the public unequalled by any other Bolivian bank. Over time, Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz has managed to nestle itself into the very bedrock of the country’s financial services industry. Its rock-solid and consistent performance has paid off: Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz has steadily expanded its market share, registering growth levels of ten to fifteen percent annually.

The bank maintains a broad array of products tailored to meet the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz partners with SMEs to help sustain their growth and facilitate expansion into new markets. To that end, the bank offers a full suite of services to businesses that aim to break into foreign markets. The bank of course also provides a number of financing vehicles to underpin and enable the organic growth of SMEs – removing the glass ceiling that often checks the breakout of smaller businesses.

With a young team of professionals in place, Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz is not only exceptionally well poised to help its clients fulfil their personal or corporate ambitions, but also to maximise its exposure to Bolivia’s quiet economic revolution. Whilst the world was looking elsewhere, the land-locked Andean nation has prospered. Last year, Bolivia’s GDP jumped by 6.9% and is well on track for a repeat performance. The nation’s finances are healthy thanks to a significant trade surplus and continued low inflation.

The CFI.co judging panel finds that Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz has struck the right note: the bank has embraced high-end technology while remaining firmly rooted in tradition. The judges also noted that Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz emphasises, at virtually every opportunity, the need for corporate transparency and for adherence to the highest ethical standards. The judging panel wholeheartedly recommends Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz be handed the 2015 Best SME Bank Bolivia Award.


AnandRathi: Best Wealth Manager India 2015

Successful investment strategies start at the end: once the investor has defined a clear objective, a path may be traced and followed. It sounds simple, and it is. Given a proper understanding of the nature of money, thus facilitating a holistic approach, goals may be attained in a straightforward manner.

This unpretentious, yet sophisticated, philosophy has underwritten the remarkable growth of the AnandRathi investment bank. The company, founded in 1994, now comprises a network of over 350 branch offices in India. The bank is also present in Dubai, Hong Kong, and New York. The company employs around 2,500 professionals who serve an ever-expanding universe of clients: corporations, institutions, high-net-worth individuals, and family offices.

Interestingly, AnandRathi does not procure new business with vague promises, hollow-sounding slogans, or rousing multimedia presentations. Instead, the bank prefers understatement and understanding: rather than impress, AnandRathi aims to create an appreciation for its financial management style.

To this day, the company’s founders are dedicated to disseminating an understanding of investment strategies, convinced that clients will follow. The exponential growth AnandRathi experienced has proved the founders right. The investment bank is one of a select few that manage a client retention rate of over 99%.

Another essential component of the AnandRathi formula for enduring success is the company’s unwavering dedication to excellence in client relations. AnandRathi keeps 75 relationship managers on its staff who collectively ensure that investors are kept abreast of all relevant developments and transparency is maintained at all times.

The CFI.co judging panel considers the AnandRathi style both unique and refreshing. The bank’s famously low-key approach belies an investment prowess and agility that are not just above-average, but positively stellar. The judges are therefore exceedingly happy to confer their 2015 Best Wealth Manager India Award on AnandRathi.


Maran Group: Best Industrial Park Construction Partner Mexico 2015

Boasting over 38 years of business experience, the Maran Group of Mexicali is the preferred partner of corporations looking for a plant, warehouse, or office site in Baja California – Mexico’s export-geared manufacturing hub that is home to over 900 companies employing close to 300,000 people.

Due to its privileged location on the US border, Baja California offers excellent transport links to all major North American markets for the wares assembled on the state’s large industrial parks.
The Maran Group makes sure that manufacturing and logistics processes run smoothly by offering businesses purpose-designed facilities, conceived from the ground up to enhance productivity and ensure uninterrupted operations.

The company not only designs, builds, and maintains industrial facilities, it also knows the area inside out and offers its vast reservoir of local expertise to clients and operators. The Maran Group keeps a stock of buildings on hand to allow for immediate occupancy and boasts a portfolio of select building plots and land ready for development.

The Maran Group is headquartered at its flagship Maran Industrial Park in Mexicali – a sprawling manufacturing centre with buildings covering over 220,000m2, housing the manufacturing plants of big-name companies such as Mitsubishi, General Dynamics, Honeywell, and SKB. The state-of-the-art, earthquake-resistant, and climate-controlled facilities each day welcome over 7,500 workers.

The CFI.co judging panel was impressed with the longevity of Maran Group’s business relationships. The company maintains a solid roster of faithful clients who have entrusted the care of their industrial housing needs to Maran Group for 15 years or longer.

The judges recognise that the client loyalty is not easily earned and requires considerable effort to keep. Maran Group has a stellar track record, not just in serving their clients’ needs, but in anticipating them. The company is a particularly worthy winner of the 2015 Best Industrial Park Construction Partner Mexico.


Corporate Properties: Best Industrial Park Turnkey Services & Solutions Provider Mexico 2015

What seems like a no-brainer, is often rather the exception: quality construction, tailor-made to enable a solid return on both initial investment and corporate social responsibility. Build to last, and do so in areas in need of – and receptive to – regeneration, with a view to creating a win-win-win for all stakeholders: owners, occupants, and the surrounding community.

Headquartered in Monterrey, Mexico, Corporate Properties (CPA) has been designing, developing, and operating industrial buildings for nearly 20 years. To date, the company has acquired or developed well over three million square metres of warehouses, distribution centres, and light manufacturing facilities across Mexico. Corporate Properties has provided more than two hundred companies with fitting commercial real estate solutions.

Corporate Properties is funded by a US institutional investor with a long-term view. The capital committed has enabled the company’s accelerated growth. CPA has been one of the most active developers of industrial real estate in the country. Its industrial parks are often located in socially depressed areas and contribute to a marked decrease in both poverty and crime levels. Great care is taken to minimise the estates’ environmental impact through the use of solar power, the recycling of rainwater and wastewater, and the preservation of green areas where feasible. Accessibility is optimised for bicycles and other eco-friendly modes of transportation.

The CFI.co judging panel also noted that Corporate Properties has obtained full recognition by the US Green Building Council for developing LEED-certified buildings (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Adherence to well-defined LEED principles lowers operating costs and reduces environmental impact while improving the health of occupants.

Corporate Properties obtained the coveted LEED Gold certification for a 60,000 square metres distribution centre developed for a global client in 2008. The judges consider this to constitute a testament to the company’s exemplary efforts at offering state-of-the-art facilities to its clients and their workers. This is but one of a number of reasons that encouraged the judges to extend the 2015 Best Industrial Park Turnkey Services & Solutions Provider Mexico to Corporate Properties.


King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) wins CFI.co Award: Best Infrastructure Development for Economic Growth in The Middle East

[caption id="attachment_2159" align="aligncenter" width="680"] Rowan Kelly on behalf of Fahd Al Rasheed[/caption]

This prize comes in recognition of KAEC’s bold investment strategy, the outstanding accomplishments of the organisation to date and the sterling development work now taking place.

CFI.co believes that the necessary steps have been taken by KAEC to create the appropriate infrastructure by building this important new destination in the Middle East on solid, world-class foundations. This will truly be a new Saudi city for the world and a new world city for Saudi Arabia. The master developer of KAEC is Emaar Properties, a real estate development company headquartered in the UAE with a presence in 36 markets throughout the world.

Rowan Kelly from KAEC received the award from CFI.co on behalf of Fahd Al Rasheed (CEO), whose outstanding leadership is bringing to life this amazingly ambitious smart city project that will certainly set new standards in sustainability, economic well-being and quality lifestyle.


InverCaixa Gestión: Best Fixed-Income Fund Management Team Spain 2015

With close to €40bn under management, InverCaixa Gestión has now overtaken its nearest rival for the top spot on Spain’s ranking of largest domestic mutual fund managers. A wholly-owned subsidiary of CaixaBank Group, InverCaixa Gestión saw its AuM (assets under management) grow significantly over the last two years.

Investors added €12bn to the growth of total net assets during this period. Though overall market trends helped, performance excellence and savvy decisions on the part of the management team underwrote the outstanding growth of InverCaixa’s AuM.

Last year, InverCaixa Gestión registered a particularly strong growth of its fixed-income funds which ballooned by 89%. InverCaixa’s active fixed-income team boasts a unique insight that helps it identify long-term trends and capture short-term opportunities. The team also has the expertise to directly and efficiently apply these insights and opportunities to the funds under management.

The integration of financial groups has also contributed to the growth of net assets but to a lesser extent. The integration of Barclays Wealth Management with €2,4bn AuM is scheduled for the first half of 2015.

The Spanish mutual fund market is not only exceptionally buoyant; it is highly competitive as well with volumes growing at over 25% annually. Being part of a financial services group that includes the Spanish leader by market share, allows InverCaixa Gestión privileged access to a universe of over 13 million clients. The company is powered by the expertise of close to 140 professionals. Investment strategies and decisions are reached via a top-down mechanism with specialised committees providing continuous data input and monitoring.

The CFI.co judging panel is particularly impressed by the vast range of investment vehicles InverCaixa Gestión puts at the disposal of its clients. Products are carefully tailored to different levels of risk-tolerance and income expectation. Successfully pursuing transparency in its management of assets while maintaining streamlined operational procedures has allowed InverCaixa Gestión to reach the very top. The judges are unanimous in their decision to present the company with the 2015 Best Fixed-Income Fund Management Team Spain Award.


Seabury: Best Aviation M&A Advisory Team Global 2015

Fuel price volatility, global booms or busts, and other major events regularly force the airline industry to adapt its business model in order to stay aloft. Helping airlines face the many challenges, and the sequential changes they impose, is Seabury – an integrated banking and consulting firm set up to provide a full range of services to airlines seeking to navigate turbulent skies.

Founded in 1995 and headquartered in New York City, Seabury offers comprehensive advice and solutions, carefully tailored to each client’s unique needs by a staff of over 175 professionals – mostly former airlines execs, bankers, and other experts – who know the industry inside out and are not above dispensing tough love when needed. Seabury’s expertise is called upon for corporate restructuring and recovery operations, management consulting, process optimisation, and a host of other jobs that offer support to aviation companies.

Rather than proposing short-haul fixes, Seabury’s approach is designed to enable airlines to survive, and prosper, over the long-term. The firm finds ways to improve efficiencies by looking at all aspects of an airline, including its network design, fleet composition, catering, and any ancillary businesses. Thus in 2007, the firm was called in by South African Airlines (SAA) to revamp its operations and return the long-ailing company to profitability.

Whereas SAA had previously tried its luck with other consultants, the short-term patchwork solutions offered did not succeed to implement the lasting turnaround needed. When Seabury was brought in, the firm quickly took hold of SAA’s reins and instituted draconian measures to conserve cash and increase efficiency. As a result of the intervention, SAA did not run out of money and, now properly streamlined, managed to find its way back to profitability. The speed and precision with which the turnaround was executed received wide acclaim.

The CFI.co judging panel noted that Seabury is more than just a trouble shooter: the firm also helps airlines secure the best possible deals with manufacturers as it did when United was ready to replace its ageing fleet of Boeing 767s and 747s. Hedging the operation, Seabury skilfully managed to coax both Boeing and Airbus on board, thus ensuring United Airlines received the best possible deal.

The judges attach great importance to Seabury’s relentless pursuit of operational excellence by leveraging the expertise of a highly experienced team of aviation professionals. Considering their all-inclusive approach, the judges wonder why this particular wheel was not invented earlier. Indeed, the firm’s success and global reach seem to have even surpassed the expectations of its founding partner John Luth who first conceived of an integrated aviation advisory firm with both investment banking and consulting capability. The judges are therefore exceptionally pleased to confer on Seabury the Best Aviation M&A Team Global 2015.


Ceezali: Best Infractructure EPC Partner Nigeria 2015

The CFI.co judges have discovered an engineering marvel. Uncovering entrepreneurial excellence seldom fails to elicit a smile from the judges. Such it is with Ceezali, a civil engineering company with a ground-breaking attitude in Abuja – Nigeria’s still shiny new capital.

Not only is Ceezali actively helping address the country’s infrastructure deficit, it does so with considerable panache: the highest standards of quality are strictly adhered to as a matter of course – unfailingly following global best practices – while prudent corporate management allows the company to flourish in a highly competitive environment.

Considering that quality is ultimately the key to enduring success, Ceezali is rightfully proud of its impeccable track record which includes a number of highly-visible publicprivate partnerships (PPPs). After a three year bidding process, the company was selected to provide an integrated engineering infrastructure to Abuja’s up-and-coming Mabushi District. Ceezali also built carriageways, high-rises, stadiums, and a vast number of other projects.

A corporate member of the British Safety Council, Ceezali has been in business for over two decades. From its very beginning, the company has taken the lead in corporate social responsibility – even before the concept became fashionable. The interests of all stakeholders are carefully taken into account while the environmental impact of projects to be undertaken is meticulously evaluated.

The CFI.co judges took note of Ceezali’s pioneering efforts in furthering PPP contracting arrangements as an alternative for procurement and a promising way of bridging Nigeria’s infrastructure gap. As a company that wholeheartedly embraces competition and can outperform most on both price and quality, Ceezali is a winner indeed. The CFI.co judges are therefore delighted to present Ceezali the 2015 Best Infrastructure EPC Partner Nigeria
Award.


Growthgate Capital Corporation: Best MENA Mid-Market Private Equity House GCC 2015

Now for something completely different: ambitious mid-market companies run by their founders, dedicated to provide excellence in services. Interestingly enough, this segment is historically underserved, if not wholly ignored, by equity managers. Not so at Growthgate Capital Corporation where these businesses form the very backbone of a direct investment strategy that consistently produces stellar results.

The approach masterminded by Growthgate Capital is a model of both simplicity and elegance. The firm’s buy-and-build strategy aims to empower mid-market companies to smash the glass ceiling and attain their true potential as regional leaders.

Growthgate Capital not only provides selected companies with the funds necessary for their breakout, the firm also helps with expertise that ensures optimum operational efficiencies are reached and maintained. Companies are expected to embrace strict standards of corporate governance as well as show financial discipline and prudence.

On average, the buy-and-build strategy requires five to seven years to fully mature at which point accrued benefits are harvested. Growthgate Capital is careful to allocate funds to best-in-class companies and entrepreneurs. Its diligence also seeks to maximise synergies between the chosen recipient-business and the firm’s own core competencies and available in-house expertise. This approach ensures optimum returns to investors.

Apart from enabling the accelerated organic growth of its companies – typically businesses valued at between $50m to $200m in which a 25-50% stake is taken – Growthgate Capital also looks for opportunities to expand their corporate footprint, and cash flow, via bolt-on acquisitions.

The CFI.co judging panel is thoroughly impressed by the straightforward and pragmatic approach Growthgate Capital has developed by leveraging its regional knowledge and experience. There is no doubt in the judges’ mind that Growthgate Capital Corporation fully merits the 2015 Best MENA Mid-Market Private Equity House GCC.


Banco Interacciones: Best Government Banker & Best Investment Bank Mexico 2015

The largest niche bank in Mexico, Banco Interacciones offers a broad range of financial services tailored to meet the requirements and needs of public entities and governments at local, state, and federal level. The bank also specialises in setting up and serving public-private partnerships. Additionally, Banco Interacciones assists private businesses that provide products and services to public bodies.

The only bank in Mexico focused solely on providing financial solutions to the country’s public administration – and all those dealing with it – Banco Interacciones has accumulated a vast reservoir of knowledge and experience that enables the institution to offer clients results-oriented services carefully conceived to maximise efficiency via a one-stop shop approach either directly and/or through its consultancy services subsidiary company [EF&I].

Exceptionally competitive and adhering to the highest standards of quality in the delivery of its services, Banco Interacciones plays a major role in the provision of financing for small to medium scale infrastructure projects. Leveraging its experience with the public sector, the bank is peerless in the design of comprehensive solutions that meet – and often exceed – legal requirements, allowing clients an edge that often proves decisive when it comes to being awarded public contracts.

Banco Interacciones has been in business for over twenty years and has established a solid reputation that now extends well beyond Mexico. The bank is now recognised globally as the go-to place for all who have dealings with Mexico’s public administration. As the country’s development accelerates, public procurement processes become increasingly more sophisticated, requiring the expert knowledge only a specialist bank such as Banco Interacciones can readily provide. The bank also maintains a number of investment funds that are set up and managed to comply fully with the specific requirement of public entities deposit and investment decisions.

The CFI.co judges note that Banco Interacciones has put systems in place that allow for the constant monitoring of its performance. Feedback loops enable the bank to promptly respond to changing circumstances and thus maintain its already formidable lead. Banco Interacciones has attained exceptionally high growth rates by, amongst others, adhering to well-established best governance practices. The consistency of Banco Interacciones’ performance is again recognised by the CFI.co judging panel with a double award title – Best Government Banker Mexico 2015 and Best Investment Bank Mexico 2015. Banco Interacciones is a repeat winner and the judging panel is delighted in acknowledging the bank’s excellence for a third time.


Turyap: Best Property Auctions Europe 2015

Brick and mortar investments rule in Turkey. The nation’s investors prefer real estate to any other form of investment. Historically, Turkish savers have considered the property market as the safest of havens. The country is currently living a veritable real estate boom with home sales up almost 20% on last year’s, to reach over 109,000 units in May while the volume of mortgages underwritten ballooned by close to 35%. The Turkish Composite House Price Index, which measures the rate of change in the value of single-family homes, jumped 16.5% over the past twelve months.

One of the biggest players on the dynamic Turkish real estate market is Turyap, a company founded in 1985 with a view to organising real estate auctions and opening the process to all investors. The business has leveraged powerful franchising techniques to establish a national presence and currently maintains a network of 369 agencies in 45 cities. Turyap employs in excess of 1,500 staff.

The company is active in all segments of the real estate market and has a Special Projects Office to provide bespoke marketing services for larger-scale one-off projects such as shopping malls, hotels, holiday resorts, and historical buildings. Turyap has assembled a team of highly experienced professionals to conduct in-depth market studies and design customised marketing campaigns that ensure optimal results.

Turyap also introduced a cross-sector barter model to the real estate market under the slogan Give Your Old House, and Get a New One. House bartering is not limited to residential property, but also extends to farms, commercial premises, building plots, and vacation homes. Turyap maintains a staff of knowledgeable assessors who produce detailed appraisals of properties entering the barter system using up-to-date pricing information procured from public land and title registries and the Turkish Statistical Institute. Fair pricing is deemed key to any successful barter transaction.

Turyap regularly publishes the Emlak Pazari real estate magazine which is sold at newsstands nationwide with a print run of 13,000 copies. The company’s foray into publishing was a first for Turkish realtors. Each issue of the magazine carries well over 2,000 listings of properties offered for sale.

The CFI.co judges noted that Turyap adheres to an all-in policy: the firm offers sellers and buyers a full suite of real estate services up to and including home insurance policies. By covering all aspects of the real estate business, Turyap ensures that excellence in the delivery of services is maintained throughout its value chain. By steadfastly adhering to this policy, the company has not only earned the trust of the market, but managed to set the gold standard. The CFI.co judging panel wishes to recognise Turyap’s formidable achievements by offering the firm the 2015 Best Property Auctions Europe Award.


Quippo Oil and Gas Infrastructure: Best Onshore Oil & Gas Drilling Team India 2015

With the second largest proven oil reserves in the Asia-Pacific Region and a new legal framework for exploration now firmly in place, India is gearing up to further reduce its dependency on imported hydrocarbons. Providing state-of-the art hardware for this push, Quippo Oil and Gas Infrastructure Limited (QOGIL) has become one of the fastest growing suppliers of drilling rigs and associated services.

The company offers its clients comprehensive one-stop solutions for onshore drilling. Its highly efficient rigs are skid-mounted for enhanced mobility and come equipped with brand-new top drives. In order to optimise operations, QOGIL’s highly-trained and experienced professionals assist clients from the well planning stage onwards to ensure the smooth delivery of a full suite of services.

Responding to increased demand, QOGIL is currently in the process of doubling its fleet of drilling rigs and has solidified strategic partnerships with key players to expand the scope of its operations. The company maintains over 300 qualified engineers, roughnecks, derrickhands, and other personnel on its payroll who collectively strive to maintain QOGIL’s best-in-class performance.

Team members are subjected to continuous and rigorous training programmes in order to keep skill levels up to date. The CFI.co judges considered it a pleasure to evaluate QOGIL’s operations, and the complex processes that drive them, finding a company dedicated to achieving excellence across the board and investing in the human resources necessary to maintain peak performance. The judging panel is therefore happy to bestow its Best Onshore Oil & Gas Drilling Team India 2015 Award on Quippo Oil and Gas Infrastructure Limited.


Banco Nacional Ultramarino: Best Retail Bank Macau 2014

Present in Macau since 1902, the Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU) remains a cornerstone of the former territory’s – now a Chinese Special Administrative Region (SAR) – financial sector and a driver of its development. To this day, the BNU is one of only two banks authorised by the Macau Monetary Authority (Autoridade Monetária de Macau) to issue Macanese patacas – a sign of the bank’s systemic importance.

In July 2001, the Macau branch of the Banco Nacional Ultramarino – a Portuguese bank with a strong presence throughout the Lusophone world – was incorporated locally as a separate entity while the remainder of the BNU structure was merged into the Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD), Portugal’s largest financial group. As part of the CGD network spanning four continents, Macau’s Banco Nacional Ultramarino – now the sole bearer of a venerable name – maintained its global reach.

BNU’s peerless knowledge of the Macau SAR, and over a century’s worth of accumulated international experience, allow the bank to offer a vast range of financial products and services that seamlessly match – and are likely to exceed – the expectations of even the most demanding customers – both private and corporate. Moreover, the Banco Nacional Ultramarino enjoys a distinct competitive advantage as a well-trodden bridge between the Chinese mainland and the wider world as accessed through the CGD network.

The CFI.co judges noted that the bank’s stated aim of providing the highest levels of customer satisfaction and service quality is met in an apparently effortless manner. Over 220,000 Macau customers seem to agree. The judges, however, recognise that maintaining such outstanding quality in an exceptionally competitive environment always requires hard work and dedication.

BNU’s relentless pursuit of transparency, integrity, and excellence has earned it an exceptionally solid reputation. The judges remarked that while cognisant of its long history, the bank is consistently found at the leading edge of technological developments and, indeed, pioneered many innovations such as mobile and Internet banking. The bank was also the first to introduce a credit card payable in patacas.

The CFI.co judges are particularly pleased to offer Banco Nacional Ultramarino the 2014 Best Retail Bank Macau Award in recognition of this bank’s long-standing and unwavering commitment to its customers, stakeholders, and the community.


Absa Bank: Best SME Bank South Africa 2015

Providing a wide range of carefully designed financial solutions to start-ups and established businesses alike, South Africa’s Absa Bank – a wholly-owned subsidiary of Barclays Africa Group – aims to empower entrepreneurs with more than just credit. The bank maintains a comprehensive business development platform that facilitates market access for small, medium, and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs).

Amongst other features, the platform offers a procurement portal with up-to-date information on leads and tenders issued by both government entities and corporations. SMMEs may also register and list their products and services. Thus, the portal brings together suppliers and buyers in an attempt to broaden the market and expand opportunities for smaller businesses that would otherwise face major hurdles in gaining access to existing supply chains.

Absa Bank also maintains a nationwide network of nine enterprise development centres that are exclusively devoted to offering SMMEs a full care package, including expert support in navigating rules and regulations, managing cash flow, laying out business plans, connecting with peers, and a host of other services and facilities. The centres regularly organise workshops, seminars, and other events aimed at skill development, business management, and financial literacy.

One of the Big Four banks in South Africa, Absa Bank successfully leverages its considerable size to offer SMMEs access to a wide range of financial instruments and funds to bolster their working capital or underwrite expansion. The Bank’s Enterprise Development Fund complements the government-sponsored Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) initiative that encourages corporate and state entities to support SMMEs. Absa Bank also maintains alternative funds for women empowerment and SMME development.

The CFI.co judging panel commends Absa Bank for its exceptionally comprehensive approach to serving the needs of smaller businesses. Recognising that flexible and bespoke solutions are required for SMEs to survive and thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic market, the bank has erected a multidimensional platform that suits the needs all businesses – regardless their field, size, or stage of development. The judges entertain no doubts whatsoever that Absa Bank’s stellar performance in serving the business community fully deserves the 2015 Best SME Bank South Africa Award.


Alios Finance Group: Best SME Financial Solutions Provider Africa 2014

In order to prosper, create jobs, and thus drive Africa’s renaissance, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the continent need ready access to bespoke credit solutions. Though this need is recognised almost universally, few financial services companies actually specialise in underwriting Africa’s promising SMEs.

Alios Finance Group is one of only a handful of credit providers that help SMEs attain their full potential with a diverse array of products ranging from finance leases to investment loans via operating lease and hire-purchase arrangements. The company also offers loans directly to consumers.

The group can trace its origins to 1956 and is currently active in ten countries, spanning the continent. Alios Finance Group enjoys a solid reputation and attracts both financial and operational support from the Dutch development bank FMO (Financieringsmaatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden), the Pan-African Investment Fund AfricInvest, the Finland development fund Finnfund, and a host of other discerning investors and top-rated banks.

In 2013, Alios Finance Group disbursed over EUR154 million in financing to businesses (84%) and consumers (16%). The CFI.co judges noted that the company actively pursues an expansion of its geographic footprint, opening offices in Kenya and Tanzania, and expanding its presence in Zambia. Alios Finance Group is now the largest provider of credit solutions to SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa with a portfolio exceeding EUR250m.

The judges commented that while the African market for asset finance is still in its infancy, it is a segment likely to grow exponentially over the next decade. Not only that; empowering the growth of Africa’s SMEs is a sure-fire way of tapping into some of the world’s potentially most lucrative pioneer markets. The judges feel entirely justified, and indeed privileged, to grant Alios Finance Group the Best SME Financial Solutions Provider Africa 2014.


Simba Group: Best Customer Satisfaction Nigeria 2015

Integrity, fairness, and meticulous attention to detail have served the Simba Group of companies well during its 27 years as a driver of growth in Nigeria. A conglomerate present in the country’s most dynamic economic sectors, Simba Group is comprised of seven companies that share a simple, yet effective, corporate vision: providing the customer with unparalleled satisfaction.

By placing the customer at the heart of its many operations, Simba Group has managed to attain that rarest of corporate accomplishments: to equate the brand name to a generalised awareness and sense of superior quality. The companies of the Simba Group work closely with their suppliers to ensure the consistent delivery of both products and services that meet – and exceed – the customers’ expectations.

Simba Group has businesses operating in a number of sectors critical to Nigeria’s sustained development: alternative energy, backup power supply systems, small-scale off-grid power generation, software technology solutions, networking and data transmission, ICT infrastructure development, and motor vehicles sales and servicing.

The company operates a network of eight branches, ensuring the availability of its products and services throughout Nigeria, including the remotest corners of the country.

The CFI.co judges are impressed by the degree to which Simba Group has been able to permeate its exceptionally high standard of services throughout the expanding organisation. The group’s rapid growth has not resulted in a dilution of its commitment to customer satisfaction: if anything, that growth has encouraged management to not just maintain, but enhance its corporate policy centred on providing – unfailingly – affordable excellence. The judging panel extends its warm congratulations to Simba Group on its win of the 2015 Best Customer Satisfaction Award.


Centum: Best Private Equity Team East Africa 2015

With its corporate coffers bolstered by $61m raised on a five-year bond, Kenyan investment company Centum is ready to up the ante. The firm will use the funds to expand its stake in the financial services, energy, and real estate sectors of Kenya’s buoyant economy. The bond issue was oversubscribed by 38%, signalling strong investor confidence in both the company and the economic prospects of the country.

Centum is focused on offering investors exceptional returns by targeting and building strong businesses throughout Africa. The firm aims to beat the overall market and consistently generate stellar returns. Centum is not content with the merely above-average: the company strives for returns in excess of 35% annually. It is active in a number of key sectors undergoing accelerated growth and driving the continent’s development: agriculture, education, healthcare, energy, financial services, FMCGs (fast-moving consumer goods), real estate, and communication technology.

Listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, and cross listed on the Uganda Securities Exchange, Centum currently has well over $1.8bn in assets under management (AuM), including third party funds entrusted to the firm. By 2019, the investment company expects to reach $7.3bn in AuM. Centum is particularly keen to pursue a tightly focused, and meticulously implemented, set of investment policies that enables the firm to create value through expertise and research.

Cowboy and other frontier attitudes are eschewed. Centum follows a sensible investment strategy, centred on clear parameters and growth strategies that successfully leverage the economic ascendancy of the wider region and seek to maximise exposure to pent-up consumer demand as it is released.

Centum’s particular strength resides in finding opportunities otherwise inaccessible to local and foreign investors. The firm maintains three distinct lines of business: private equity, quoted private equity, and real estate and infrastructure. While private equity sits at the core of Centum’s operations, the quoted private equity line is where some of the most exciting action takes place. This line looks for listed, but illiquid, entities that are mostly ignored by market researchers, but boast considerable upward potential and allow Centum to take a significant equity stake.

The CFI.co judges are excited by the way Centum conducts its business. Africa in general and East Africa in particular, offers a great many exceptional investment opportunities. However, to outsiders, the number of possibilities may at times seem a bit overwhelming. Here, Centum comes to the rescue. By applying its knowledge of – and expertise in – local markets, the company manages to pick the rough gemstones and shape them into exquisite jewels. The CFI.co judges hereby wish to confirm Centum as the winner of the 2015 Best Private Equity Team East Africa Award.


Golden Assets: Best Financial Advisory Team Portugal 2015

Catering premier advisory services to investors across the entire risk spectrum, Golden Assets remains true to its name since 2000 when the firm was formed to bridge the gap between Portugal’s uniquely complex investment profile and the global investor community with specialist knowledge and a keen eye for opportunity.

Over the last two or so decades, the company has weathered a number of severe storms that rocked and battered the Portuguese economy. However, the adverse market conditions of times past shaped Golden Assets into a local investment powerhouse of global renown. The firm not only survived; it prospered as well and with it, Golden Asset’s clients, allowing Golden Assets to assume a leadership position in the Portuguese market.

Customer-centric in its approach and fiercely independent, Golden Assets remains free from the pressures normally associated with investment firms that are part of a larger financial conglomerate. Absent conflicts of interests, Golden Assets is able to dedicate the full attention of its team of professionals to serve the best interests of individuals, companies, and institutional clients. Leveraging their collective knowledge of the global markets, Golden Assets’ analysts and portfolio managers consistently succeed in delivering results well north of established benchmarks, outperforming the overall market as a matter of course.

The CFI.co judging panel notes that Golden Assets is an idea-driven firm that values long term relations and promotes a global and integrated financial advising service in which the experts enjoy every chance to step outside the box and engage in innovative thinking in order to produce stellar results. The judges commend Golden Assets on its sustainable approach in financial advisement services and congratulate the firm on its prescience – grounded in superior research and intelligence – of market changes. The firm is unswervingly dedicated to help shape a better future for its clients. The judging panel feels entirely comfortable in extending the 2015 Best Financial Advisory Team Portugal to Golden Assets.


FinecoBank: Best European Financial Advisory Team 2015

The first to launch an online trading platform for retail investors in 1999, Italy’s FinecoBank is accustomed to taking the lead. Now with over a million accountholders, Fineco Bank is amongst the largest multichannel direct banks in Italy.

In 2007, FinecoBank became part of the UniCredit Group, a Milan-based financial services company with a global network covering over fifty markets. However, FinecoBank continues to operate independently and maintains its unique brand which stands for quality and sophistication through simplicity and elegance.

Offering its clients a full array of banking services, FinecoBank has consistently outpaced its competitors in customer satisfaction. The bank’s no-nonsense approach to financial services has hit a chord with the public and is considered a winning strategy that ensures the sustained growth of the company.

True to its roots, FinecoBank shows particular strength in enabling and empowering its clients to manage their investments either actively or passively. The bank’s paperless approach allows for added agility while ensuring full transparency. A dedicated team of over seventy highly experienced professional asset managers, and a veritable army of advisors and analysts, constantly monitors markets, follows trends, and identifies opportunities to provide investors with a stream of premium quality, easily accessible data that allows accurate decisions to be made at precisely the right time.

Over 15,000 accountholders have entrusted in excess of €48bn to FinecoBank for management by its team of investment experts. The bank also serves as a gateway to the Italian market for foreign investors. All FinecoBank clients are assigned an independent financial advisor who is charged with putting together a bespoke mix of investment products tailored to individual risk tolerance and financial goals.

The CFI.co judging panel finds the direct, customer-centric, and streamlined approach pioneered by FinecoBank extremely refreshing. The results show and prove that the formula works: it attracts new customers in droves and adjusts seamlessly to individual needs and requirements. The CFI.co judges are therefore pleased to offer FinecoBank the 2015 Best European Financial Advisory Team Award.


JSW Energy Limited: Best ESG Power Producer India 2015

JSW Energy Limited aims high: the company’s stated mission is to provide power to every citizen of India and expand its operational footprint to well outside the subcontinent. One of the first companies to seize the moment when India’s power sector was opened to private investment in the 1990s, JSW Energy Limited generates 3.2GW of power and has another 8.6GW under construction and development.

JSW Energy Limited is an integrated power company that exercises full control over the entire value chain. The firm has integrated backwards, acquiring a 49% stake in the Barmer Lignite Mining Company which operates two adjacent blocks in Rajasthan State. JSW Energy Limited is also the senior majority partner in South African Coal Mining Holdings, listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

Employing state-of-the-art technology at its power generating facilities in India, JSW Energy Limited has embarked on a joint-venture with the Toshiba Corporation of Japan for the development and manufacturing of high-efficiency supercritical steam turbines for use in thermal power plants. These ultramodern turbines consume significantly less coal and thus help India reduce its carbon footprint.

JSW Energy Limited is also involved in India’s buoyant power trading market and operates its own transmission and distribution grid. Additionally, the company pioneers the building of new lines to unlock the energy coming online shortly as new projects near completion.

At the forefront of efforts to further corporate social responsibility (CSR) and promote the implementation of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) standards, JSW Energy Limited consistently strives to maximise corporate transparency. The company ensures that its operations have a positive impact on its surroundings and remains accessible to all stakeholders.

The CFI.co judging panel displayed much interest in the ways JSW Energy Limited’s shaped its corporate ESG policy and concluded that the fully integrated power company constitutes a prime example of responsible stewardship. The company has elevated both CSR and ESG – and their attendant processes – to the highest level of its corporate structure. The CFI.co judges applaud this rigorous approach and are convinced that the approach will fast-track JSW Energy Limited’s corporate expansion drive. The judges are pleased to extend the 2015 BEST ESG Power Producer India Award to JSW Energy Limited.


Tawuniya: Best Corporate Insurance Solutions Provider KSA 2015

A pioneer of the insurance industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tawuniya was established in 1986 with the express intention of shaping and developing a domestic market for both private and corporate insurance products and services. Breaking new ground, the company has invested heavily in the training of insurance professionals and in creating public awareness of the convenience of enjoying solid protection against risk as an essential component of sound financial planning.

In order to ensure that its products are complaint with Islamic Law, the company maintains a Sharia Committee of distinguished scholars and legal experts to review services and transactions, and help determine the legal cadres of both insurance and investment policies. Additionally, Tawuniya works with an external legal review office to provide its compliance with Sharia Law with an added layer of assurance.

Diligence far above and beyond the usually accepted level has been a hallmark of Tawuniya since its foundation. The company fosters an internal culture based on two pillars: the “soft side” aims to ensure a proactive environment is maintained that not only allows for excellence in customer relations, but also facilitates teamwork, personal development, and empowerment. The complementary “hard side” of Tawuniya’s corporate identity ensures strict adherence to the highest standards of corporate government, transparency, accountability, and service, amongst others.

The CFI.co judging panel wishes to commend Tawuniya on the quality of both the company’s products and services. Not only does Tawuniya boast a vast range of insurance products – each carefully tailored to a specific market or requirement – the company also consistently ensures their optimal quality. The integrity of both intent and delivery is peerless. The judges are therefore pleased indeed to bestow the 2015 Best Corporate Insurance Solutions Provider KSA Award on Tawuniya.


Earthport: Best Cross-Border Money Transfer Solutions Global 2015

You’d think that in this age of computers and lightning-fast Internet money can easily and instantly be transferred to anywhere. You’d be wrong – in fact, dead wrong. Money moves slowly, and agonisingly so, across numerous banking hubs as it finds a path – or not – to the intended recipient.

The framework to move money around the global village – at last count about $21tn annually – was conceived and implemented in the early 1970s: an era when telegrams were a means of conveying short messages, offices came equipped with noisy telex machines, and telephones were bulky devices with a rotary disk and tethered to a wall outlet by an always-too-short cable.

The way in which money is moved around the world is long overdue for a serious overhaul. While almost everybody seems to agree, nobody has actually done something about this sorry state of affairs. That is, nobody but Hank. Mr Uberoi has set his mind – and the tidy sum he accumulated as a venture capitalist – to devising a more up-to-date way for shifting cash.

Calling it the single largest opportunity he ever came across, Mr Uberoi got down to business and acquired Earthport – a small London-based payment processing company that he transformed into a ground-breaking business for moving large volumes of money by leveraging the power of cloud computing to speed-up transfers.

Initially dismissed as a pie-in-the-sky outfit, Earthport now counts some of the world’s greatest companies and entities amongst its clients such as the World Bank, Western Union, Bank of America, and many other of the world’s most respected brands.

Earthport works with banks to streamline money transfers, rather than against them. The firm is currently expanding its operations exponentially in order to achieve the economies of scale that drive down costs even further. Overtures have been made in India to sign that country’s banks on to its hub-and-spoke system. Other large markets are being broached as well.

The CFI.co judging panel is excited about the Earthport model. The company is not afraid to pioneer new concepts and lacks no ambition either. Earthport is a textbook example of a lean and mean business that squarely aims to disrupt established practice in order to bring in the new. The formula works and offers both payers and payees – and crucially the banks in between – an efficient, safe, and fast alternative to move cash around with a minimum of fuss, effort, and cost. The judges are happy indeed to confer the 2015 Best Cross-Border Money Transfer Solutions Global Award on Earthport.


StratLink: Best Economic Research Team Kenya 2015

While Africa is definitely the place to be; where, what, and how remain often unanswered questions. Africa is above all vast and diverse. Opportunities may be plenty, but so are risks. To compound the conundrum, data remain scarce and, when available, incomplete. Still, the continent looks enticing to investors keen to break into pioneer markets.

Whereas the developing world (excluding China) averages stable GDP growth of around 3%, Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa) is expected to see economic activity expand by 5% in 2015. This trend will not only hold, but pick up pace as well in the years ahead. The World Bank anticipates sustained high growth for the region with limited downside potential.

Top notch research and vast reservoirs of detailed local knowledge are indispensable ingredients of any Africa-oriented investment portfolio. Both are provided by StratLink, a Kenya-based financial advisory company that sits between the region’s fast-growing middle market companies and investment bank, private equity firms, and family offices. As such, StratLink disseminates its knowledge and expertise to capital providers and businesses aiming for the next level in either size or operational excellence – or both.

StratLink conducts independent analysis on countries, sectors, markets, and individual companies. Thus the firm maps the macroeconomic environment, regulatory frameworks, political risk, and sectorial development. The findings are set against global trends, thereby offering investors an in-depth, up-to-date, and carefully balanced overview of opportunities and risks. StratLink’s unique approach ensures that investors and corporate decision makers at all times possess the reliable data needed to power and boost growth – be that of investment portfolios or business.

Besides its corporate headquarters in Nairobi, StratLink maintains offices in New York, Kuala Lumpur, and Kampala. StratLink professionals produce a monthly Africa Market Update besides regular Regional Roundups and a frequently updates online blog to keep investors abreast of the latest developments and trends.

Convinced that Africa is the next China, StratLink has positioned itself at the very epicentre of the momentous economic shift, already now in the making. By providing world class research and highly professional capital and corporate advisory services, StratLink operates at the cutting edge of one of the world’s most dynamic markets. The CFI.co judging panel can feel the excitement. The judges wish to congratulate StratLink on winning the 2015 Best Economic Research Team Kenya Award.


UBP: Best Private Bank UAE 2015

Performance and preservation of capital: Union Bancaire Privée (UBP), founded in 1969 and with over CHF98.7bn ($101bn) in assets under management, is one of the premier private banks in Switzerland guided by time-honoured principles and well-established practices. The UBP Dubai branch excels in serving private individuals, family offices, and institutional investors with the bank’s hallmark professionalism.

The Dubai office, duly regulated by the country’s Financial Services Authority, serves clients from the Middle East, Africa, and the Indian subcontinent. The branch employs 25 highly experienced relationship managers and investment advisors who help clients navigate the full range of UBP products and services, acting as a conduit for bespoke solutions carefully tailored to fit individual risk and reward profiles.

With a mission to create lasting value for its clients through excellence, discretion, and stability, UBP Dubai offers the exact same level of service to its clients as available at the bank’s Swiss offices. Present in over twenty jurisdictions around the world, UBP employs more than 1,350 professionals carefully selected for their experience and knowledge. UBP puts every effort in offering clients a peerless banking experience that transcends mere wealth management to forge long-lasting relationships based on trust and a shared vision.

Each of the bank’s investment advisors serves but a limited number of clients with their expertise. UBP ensures that its professionals offer not only world class financial advice but also stay in tune with local culture in order to devise comprehensive solutions that take into account the full scope of investor considerations.

The CFI.co judging panel commends UBP on its exquisitely crafted approach to private banking. By ensuring proximity with clients, the bank ensures that its services are readily available and delivered in a personalised way. The judges have no doubts in naming UBP Best Private Bank UAE 2015.


AJIL Financial Services Company: Most Innovative Financial Solutions Team Saudi Arabia 2014

Innovation in financial services need not imply a relaxing of quality standards. While an architect of highly original and bespoke financing solutions for the acquisition of capital assets, the AJIL Financial Services Company has resolutely stuck to prudent policies that underwrite a well-established reputation for reliability and sectorial leadership.

The AJIL management team, a collective of exceptionally seasoned professionals, boasts a level of expertise and experience that – in barely fifteen years – propelled the company to the very apex of the market. With a presence in fifteen cities and over 2,500 clients, AJIL provides financial solutions across a diverse range of sectors from construction and transportation to trade and manufacturing. AJIL is a Saudi closed joint stock company. Amongst its shareholder are well-known corporations such as Riyad Bank, Mitsubishi Corporation, and Zahid Group Holding.

More than just a financial services company, AJIL aims to establish long-term partnerships that enable clients to realise projects, obtain consistent growth, and achieve corporate objectives. The CFI.co judges were pleased to see that AJIL emphasises simplicity and transparency in its interactions with clients. Without sacrificing due diligence, paperwork is kept to a minimum while operational procedures are straight and clear.

The judges also applaud AJIL’s rather unique approach to customer relations. The company’s agents make a concerted and hands-on effort to gain a thorough understanding of their clients’ businesses and their specific requirements. This way, AJIL professionals are oftentimes able to help identify needs and possibilities that stretch beyond the scope of the initial consult.

As a premier provider of lease finance products, AJIL Financial Services Company has now reached a height that allows it to oversee, and indeed lead, the market. Consequently, the CFI.co judges feel no hesitation in presenting the company with the Most Innovative Financial Solutions Team Saudi Arabia 2014 Award.


Greeff Properties: Best Residential Agency Cape Town 2015

A top destination and excellent value. As far as real estate is concerned, Cape Town is a no-brainer. One of the world’s most emblematic spots – sitting astride one of the three legendary southern capes – vivacious Cape Town has long been a favourite playground of the happy few. However, their ranks are swelling thanks to the slow slide of South Africa’s rand which has realigned property values and reignited investor interest.

With both domestic and international demand on the rise, business is discretely booming at Greeff Properties – an exclusive affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate. Though a niche market realty, Greeff Properties is a force to reckon with in Cape Town’s highly sought-after Southern Suburbs and Peninsula, City Bowl, and the Atlantic Seaboard districts.

Open for business since 2001, Greeff Properties grew from a kitchen table outfit to a premier realtor employing over 75 of Cape Town’s top agents and support staff. The company’s founder, Mike Greeff, brings a life’s worth of realty experience to the table. Dedicated to customer care and meticulous in the execution of its vast array of services, Greeff Properties has its market cornered.

In 2011, the excellence of the company’s approach was recognised when it managed to secure affiliation with Christie’s International Real Estate after successfully completing the most rigorous vetting procedure known to the industry. Greeff Properties is one of only three realtors in South Africa invited by Christie’s to become partners.

As an affiliate of the world’s premier luxury real estate company, Greeff Properties enjoys unparalleled access to the international market, thereby offering sellers an added layer of service unavailable elsewhere. The world-renowned Christie’s Magazine regularly features the company’s exclusive listings. The publication is distributed quarterly to over 70,000 people with an average net-worth in excess of $9 million.

The CFI.co judging panel likewise recognises that Greeff Properties is a one-of-a-kind realtor that inspires trust, loyalty, and respect not just in its home market but far beyond as well. The company’s Bespoke Marketing Programme, tailored to fit the unique needs of the high-end market, operates on a truly global scale with the discretion – and efficiency – required to satisfy sellers and buyers alike.

With a level of service unprecedented – or, if you will, sans pareil – in Cape Town and its environs, Greeff Properties breaks new ground and fully merits the CFI.co 2015 Best Residential Agency Cape Town Award.


Credicorp Capital: Best Securities Brokerage MILA

[caption id="attachment_2328" align="aligncenter" width="385"] Christian Laub, CEO[/caption]

It takes both expertise and passion to become one of Latin America’s most trusted financial services companies. Operating in the highly competitive and exceptionally dynamic economies of the Andean countries – Chile, Peru, and Colombia – Credicorp Capital is a full-service investment bank with a customer-centric equity trading division. The firm is noted for its ability to execute large-volume transactions in illiquid markets promptly and efficiently, using state-of-the-art technology and boasting a highly experienced team of professionals.

Credicorp Capital’s operational footprint extends across the Integrated Latin America Market (Mercado Integrado Latinoamericano – MILA), an initiative that since late 2010 unifies the stock markets of Chile, Colombia, and Peru. More recently, Mexico joined the programme as part of the Pacific Alliance trade block which the four countries established in 2012.

With Mexico’s accession, MILA now boasts a market capitalisation of well over $1.25tn with 798 listed companies. It trumps the Brazilian BM&F Bovespa to become the largest exchange in Latin America, albeit by a slim margin. Thoroughly at home on this fast-paced and fast-growing market, Credicorp Capital is well poised to offer both investors and issuers world class services and top notch research.

The firm regularly tips high-growth stocks based on the exhaustive research conducted by its experienced professionals. Mindful of its human capital, Credicorp Capital has over the years assembled a best-in-class team that is now the envy of the industry. The firm is moderately bullish on the regional economic outlook and recently concluded that the MILA stock market still has plenty room for growth.

Credicorp Capital offers its client a full suite of brokerage services. The firm aims to build long-term relationships with its corporate and institutional clients, considering the consistent building of value requires an integrated approach based on mutual trust and an unwavering dedication to quality in all aspects of the brokerage business.

The CFI.co judging panel is particularly pleased with the passion displayed by Credicorp Capital in its relentless pursuit of operational excellence. The company has a firm grip on risk analysis and containment, adheres to strict standards of corporate governance, and advances as a tightly knit team to reach new heights. The judges have no hesitation in naming Credicorp Capital the winner of the 2015 Best Securities Brokerage MILA Award.


Banco Millennium Angola: Best Commercial Bank Angola 2015

There are few place in the world more exciting to be than Angola: the country’s economy is booming and its society upwardly mobile. Moreover, Angolan businesses are going global, snapping up opportunities as they spread their wings and break into new markets.

A rapidly expanding economy needs agile banks to provide the required liquidity that keeps the gears of business running smoothly. Focused on serving small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Banco Millennium Angola has become one of the drivers of Angola’s home-grown economic boom. In a relatively short time span, the bank has managed to claim a four percent market share.

Founded in 2006 just before the onset of the global downturn, Banco Millennium Angola perhaps symbolises the resilience of the country’s economy and its financial sector. Serving the retail and corporate market through dedicated channels, the bank is exceptionally well poised to maximise its exposure, not just to the country’s dynamic business climate but also to the previously unbanked demographic as it leaves poverty behind to join the ranks of the burgeoning middle class.

Banco Millennium Angola is, however, not a newcomer to the country and can trace its roots back to the 1994 and the opening of Banco Português do Atlântico. Today, the bank is part of the Grupo Millennium, a financial services company with a presence in Portugal, Mozambique, Poland, Greece, Romania, and Switzerland. At home, Banco Millennium Angola strives to contribute to the diversification of the economy by actively supporting local businesses and start-ups with a full suite of products and services designed to facilitate corporate growth and innovation.

Continuing its own expansion drive, late last year Banco Millennium Angola opened five additional Prestige Centres to further improve its proximity to discerning retail clients and entrepreneurs looking for personalised services. The bank also operates eight centres dedicated to serving corporate customers and maintains a network of over a hundred branch offices throughout the country.

The CFI.co judging panel is pleased to see that Millennium Bank Angola is perfectly attuned to its home market – one of the most vibrant globally – and expanding at a clip even exceeding that of the national economy. The judges also noted that the bank deftly manages its accelerated growth, adhering to the highest standards of governance while offering its clients best-in-class services delivered with both speed and professionalism. The judging panel hereby extends the Best Commercial Bank Angola 2015 Award to Banco Millennium Angola.


IH Group: Best Corporate Finance Team Zimbabwe 2015

It is all about independence of thought. Now, there is a novel idea: ditch any preconceived notions and prejudices, in order to concentrate on reality. This is a most profitable proposition: an as-is approach encourages an evaluation of the market, and its trends, derived from fact rather than fiction.

As a portal for companies looking to access finance, Inter-Horizon Advisory – part of the IH Group – offers a range of corporate consultancy services to companies looking to increase their organic growth or expand via mergers or acquisitions. IH Advisory provides ready access to capital and boasts unequalled expertise not only in the execution of transactions, but also in market research and detecting trade opportunities.

Operating out of offices in both Harare and Johannesburg, the IH Group’s advisory services are available to companies throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. The firm attaches great importance to providing clients with information and ideas not available elsewhere. Thanks to its professional in-house research team, IH Group consistently manages to produce high-quality market data that offers unique insights, spots trends early-on, and finds opportunities that a less diligent approach would most likely fail to detect.

Fiercely independent, highly knowledgeable, and unfailingly adhering to strict principles of uncompromising honesty and integrity, IH Advisory works directly with corporate clients, government institutions, and businesspeople to create value and wealth. As such, it has gained a solid reputation for delivering excellence. Offering comprehensive one-stop solutions, the firm is dedicated to serve their clients’ needs from the inception of an idea to its execution and beyond.

Staffed by experienced professionals – many of whom boast considerable international exposure – the IH Group was founded by two business leaders with a solid track record in market research and consultancy services in both Zimbabwe and overseas. The CFI.co judges are always pleased to find originality rooted in facts and sensibility to drivers of a more pragmatic nature. Rather than bells and whistles, the judges are looking for new angles and approaches to issues commonly shared by many deals and trades. They have found ample evidence of this at IH Group.

In recognition of the firm’s stalwart dedication to offering an independent appraisal of any given task or challenge, the judges wish to extend their 2015 Best Corporate Finance Team Zimbabwe Award to IH Group. In 2013, IH Securities – a securities trading company and part of IH Group – claimed the CFO.co Best Investment Research Team Zimbabwe Award.


UTT Asset Management and Investor Services Ltd: Best Fund Management Team Tanzania 2015

Catering to investors of both ample and more modest means, the UTT Asset Management and Investor Services Limited (UTT AMIS) maintains five carefully balanced investment funds that hold stakes in the country’s privatised enterprises. Unit Trust of Tanzania (UTT) was set up in 2003 to promote collective investment schemes and encourage a savings culture. The trust holds shares in most of the listed formerly state-owned companies that were privatised during the government’s comprehensive restructuring of the public administration in the 1990s.

Last year, UTT AMIS received permission to open its accounts to investors from across the East African Community (EAC) subsequent to publication of the new Capital Markets and Securities (Foreign Investors) Regulations of 2014. The company’s investment vehicles are now readily available to savers from Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi. UTT-AMIS maintains portfolios with distinct risk/reward profiles suitable to all classes of investors. The funds invest in high-quality Tanzanian equities, high-yield treasury bonds and bills, and corporate bonds, amongst others.

The flagship Umoja Fund currently contains assets worth in excess of $105m. Four smaller funds hold an additional $15m in assets under management. To date, more than 121,000 investors have subscribed to UTT AMIS funds. The company also welcomes investments from Tanzanians living abroad.

Unit Trust of Tanzania is the successor to the Privatisation Trust which was set up to acquire shares in newly privatised businesses and ensure the widest possible distribution of ownership amongst the citizens of the country. As a warehouse of shares and market expertise, UTT has benefited from Tanzania’s balanced approach to economic development and from a 2013 restructuring that saw the growing organisation split into three business units, namely: UTT Asset Management and Investor Services, UTT Microfinance, and UTT Projects and Infrastructure Development. The reorganisation enables UTTAMIS to fully leverage its in-depth knowledge of East Africa’s second largest market.

The CFI.co judging panel considers UTTAMIS an exemplary driver of inclusive economic growth. The company actively encourages Tanzanians, and other EAC investors, to partake in the country’s development irrespective of their financial standing. In fact, UTT-AMIS adheres to a set of policies that aim to broaden the ownership of shares by simplifying the investment process and removing hurdles without sacrificing the quality of the underlying assets. The judges are pleased to confer the 2015 CFI.co Best Fund Management Team Tanzania Award on UTTAMIS for the excellence of its research and the resulting products, and the depth of its societal reach.