Fondex: Best Technology Corporate Leadership Southern Europe 2019

Brokers are defined by their trading platform, and Cyprus-based Fondex boasts a powerhouse in cTrader. Fast execution and transparent reporting have won the brokerage a loyal following around the globe. Fondex provides reams of reports detailing information on trading execution times and life cycles, and those reports prove that it’s one of the most cost-effective trading platforms in the world. The pioneering platform offers clients the opportunity to trade over 1,000 instruments across forex, shares, indices, cryptocurrencies, energies, metals, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Clients can trade manually, use copy-tested strategies, or deploy bots to trade on their behalf. Manual trading is recommended for traders who already have a good grip on the basics, while novice traders are encouraged to copy strategies for the desired performance, risk profile, and drawdown. Copied strategies can also be combined to limit risk even further. Trading bots can execute automated operations according to carefully scripted algorithms that act on hard data rather than human emotion. Regardless of the trading method preferred, Fondex encourages informed decisions. Fondex offers some of the lowest commission rates and tightest spreads of the market, enabling customers to reduce costs and maximise account performance. The company registered on the CFI.co radar as Fondex CEO Alex Katsaros touted its benefits via seminars and conferences around the world. The judges are delighted to declare Fondex winner of the 2019 award for Best Technology Corporate Leadership (Southern Europe).


Fondo Pensione Nazionale: Best Pension Fund Governance Italy 2019

Fondo Pensione Nazionale safeguards the pensions of 31,000 families across Italy, and the team takes to heart its responsibility to deliver healthy yields. The fund has undergone a long period of transformation to hone risk management and foster financial assurance with sustainability concerns continuing to shape its priorities. The fund understands the power of workforce diversity and reports equal representation of men and women team members. Fondo Pensione Nazionale earmarks substantial investments for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) advancement, manages $2b in assets and aims for ESG mastery. Green social sustainability bonds have caught the attention of the firm as an ideal vehicle for the symbiotic success of people, planet, and profits. The fund operates on the fundamental principles of individual capitalisation and defined contributions. Members may pull early advances from their pension plans for urgent health expenses, first-home purchases, or family emergencies. Upon request at retirement, members are paid pension benefits in the form of capital, financial income, or actuarial income. Fondo Pensione Nazionale represents an integral pillar of the Italian pension system, and the CFI.co judging panel is pleased to recognise the fund with the 2019 award for Best Pension Fund Governance (Italy).


Insurance Corporation of Afghanistan (ICA): Best Insurance Company Afghanistan 2019

At a time when Afghanistan was an active war zone — and most in need of safeguards against the unthinkable — Local businessmen educated in the UK established the country’s first private insurance company. Insurance Corporation of Afghanistan (ICA) was founded in 2007 and has been instrumental in the growth of the nation’s insurance market despite all the political and economic challenges. The current company’s impressive portfolio of insurance protection plans features the usual coverage for health and personal accidents as well as some innovative solutions for niche needs, including business interruption, banking, transport and cargo, construction, medical malpractice, and general liabilities. New Government initiatives requiring compulsory fire insurance for commercial properties is expected to give a boost in new premium income for the Company which shall reflect improvement of construction standards as required by ICA underwriting experts in turn benefiting the country as a whole. ICA develops insurance solutions that are tailored to the Afghan market needs that is always supported by top ‘’A’’ rated reinsurance markets. One of its flagship products is it’s unique group personal accidents & terrorism insurance that is catered for market needs , while its refined new development — healthcare plus — is finding favour across a broad market base as ICA introduced Assist America emergency Medical EVAC services, the 1st of its kind in the local market offering additional peace of mind to both humanitarian as well as to major organisations. The company has received praise for its leadership role in the Afghan insurance market through deploying unique services combined with the unmatched ability to settle insurance claims on time, and that sentiment was backed by an investment of $5m from the private equity fund InFrontier in 2018 who aims to expand ICA across central Asia. ICA credits this vote of confidence to its dynamic and dedicated team of professionals who seek out the highest levels of customer satisfaction in addition to achieving sound profitable growth. Hence, The CFI.co judging panel believes that ICA has set a high bar for itself — and the competition — to follow. Never content to rest on its laurels, the company continues to fuel product development to best serve the nation’s needs. The judges unanimously declare Insurance Corporation of Afghanistan as 2019 winner of the Best Insurance Company (Afghanistan) award.


Commonwealth Bank of Australia: Best Personal Banking Services Australia 2019

Personal banking has always been of paramount importance to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CommBank). The bank provides a comprehensive range of services and products that ensure the highest level of personal care and attention. Its savings accounts cover the various expectations of account holders in terms of flexibility, accessibility, competitive interest rates and rewards. The website explains clearly the benefits of each in terms of transactions and savings options, helping customers make the right choice. Its digital offering is impressive; the CommBank award-winning app is extremely user-friendly and allows individuals to select the features shown on the screen, set saving goals, and track spending. The app sends an alert if customers pay a utility bill twice and issues a warning as the grace period on a subscription service draws to a close. The bank also has an account for the under 14s and a corresponding Youth App which encourages younger savers to learn how to manage their money in a fun and easy way. The bank offers solutions for teenagers, students and young professionals and is open and receptive to people who have relocated to Australia. CommBank’s credit card awards programme is the country’s largest and can be redeemed with over 150 online bonus partners that include top retailers, hotels and travel agents. Considering the high level of customer care and first-rate loan and insurance solutions provided, the CFI.co judging panel names Commonwealth Bank of Australia as recipient of the 2019 award for Best Personal Banking Services Australia.


Al Hilal Life: Best Life Insurance Provider Middle East 2019

Throughout Bahrain and Kuwait, there are few companies that stand as tall as Al Hilal Life as a provider of innovative insurance solutions. Over just a few short years, the company has graduated from promising start-up to serious market contender. Al Hilal Life offers a full suite of insurance solutions to corporate clients, including employee group plans for life and health insurance. Al Hilal Life recommends a Key Man insurance plan to identify those most critical to the business and quantify the cost to replace them. For banks and financial institutions providing personal loans, credit cards, and mortgage plans, Al Hilal Life offers a Credit Life plan that covers outstanding balances in the event of a borrower’s death / disability. Retail clients come to Al Hilal Takaful (a wholly owned subsidiary of Al Hila Life) for a range of Sharia’a compliant financial solutions, including products such as Family Takaful Savings and Pure Protection Plans. As a subsidiary of Ahli United Bank, Bahrain’s leading bank, Al Hilal Life has deeply entrenched roots in the country and a rapidly expanding presence in Kuwait. Over the past three years, the company has hit every growth target set, reporting an increase in client numbers (from 7,300 to 31,000+) and in corporate premiums (from $746,000 to over $7m). With year-on-year profit growth reaching nearly 40 percent, the CFI.co judging panel believes that Al Hilal Life will be providing security and hope to families and businesses for years to come. The judges name Al Hilal Life as repeat winner of the Best Life Insurance Provider (Middle East 2019).


Barclays Bank of Botswana Limited: Best Inclusive Finance Bank Botswana 2019

The Barclays name is synonymous with financial integrity, and in Botswana the bank exhibits a customer-centric focus that has proven profitable and inclusive. Management at Barclays Bank of Botswana believes that a superior digital platform will pave the way to exceptional — and more inclusive — customer service. Of Barclays’ 33 Botswana branches, eight are remote rural locations that provide the only financial services for miles. Investments in the bank’s digital platform, including 115 smart ATMs with touch screens and increased functionalities, have helped convince many customers to migrate to the digital future of banking. Clients can enjoy the convenience of Internet banking for 24/7 account access and download the mobile app. The app allows customers to buy mobile airtime, pay bills, transfer money locally and internationally, or send money using only a mobile number. Barclays Bank of Botswana offers financial products designed to help clients make the most of their resources, starting with bundled current and savings accounts and tiering up to Premier and Prestige accounts for the more affluent. It also offers lines of credit and insurance solutions. Business clients come to Barclays Botswana for its bold and bespoke corporate services. It is the country’s dominant bank in corporate investment and takes the time to fully understand the operations and objectives of each client. For its efforts to increase financial literacy and empowerment, the CFI.co judging panel declares Barclays Bank of Botswana Limited as the 2019 winner of the Best Inclusive Finance Bank (Botswana) award.


Varun Beverages Ltd: Best FMCG Corporate Governance India 2019

As a licensed affiliate of PepsiCo, Varun Beverages is the second largest franchisee in the world outside of the United States. Varun Beverages produces and distributes carbonated and non-carbonated beverages to be sold under the PepsiCo trademark in 6 countries in South Asia and Africa (India (except Andhra Pradesh, J&K and Ladakh), Nepal, Sri Lanka, Morocco, Zambia and Zimbabwe). Varun operates 32 manufacturing plants across India as well as two in Nepal and four more in Sri Lanka, Morocco, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Varun’s operations are managed with independence and professionalism to deliver a product portfolio that includes some of PepsiCo’s most iconic brands. For companies in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry, good governance and compliance are integral aspects of daily business. Varun Beverages ensures that lines of communication remain open and everyone works according to the same objectives with monthly “checklist” and quarterly board meetings. Varun’s executive board advocates for accountability, responsibility, and transparency throughout its operations. Half of the 10-member board are independent directors, and this helps balance the management structure. Compliance is key at Varun Beverages, and it publishes periodic reports demonstrating a long track record of good corporate citizenship. Varun’s thought leadership stays ahead of time and the company has effectively addressed environmental concerns by partnering with government registered bodies across India to manage post-consumption packaging waste and optimise recycling processes. The CFI.co judges are pleased to present Varun Beverages with the 2019 Best FMCG Corporate Governance (India) award.


Max Burger: Best Sustainable Restaurant Chain Europe 2019

Max Burger was founded over 50 years ago in the far northern Swedish province of Lapland, and has made outstanding progress in that half century, today boasting 120 restaurants and over 5 000 employees worldwide with a turnover of 220 million euros. That makes it the most profitable restaurant chain in Sweden, outperforming other well- known international hamburger chains . The company has achieved that while at the same time remaining a family business and maintaining the high standards it set at its inception. Sustainability has always been a huge part of the company’s ethos and it has continued to up the ante environmentally without ever compromising on taste and always using the best local ingredients. For several years Max has engaged experts to conduct an inventory of the company and the food’s total climate impact, from farm to plate, and has planted more than 700,000 trees in Africa to offset its carbon footprint. This transparency has empowered its customers to better understand the climate impact of the food they eat. Since June 2018, it has offset 110% of its emissions, a figure audited by EY, which make everything on its menu climate positive. 2019 has seen the company set the bar even higher: in May the company launched Delifresh Plant Beef, a self-developed burger that looks and tastes like meat, but is made from plant-based protein; a big step forward in Max’s work to reduce its climate impact – without backing down on taste and quality. It is both this commitment to flavour and first-class service, equally evident in its approach to franchises, that really makes eating at Max Burger a special experience and has convinced the CFI.co judging panel that Max Burger is the worthy winners of the Best Sustainable Restaurant Chain – Europe for the second year in a row.


CRC Credit Bureau Ltd: Best Credit Bureau Nigeria 2020

Nigeria’s CRC Credit Bureau was established by 10 regional financial institutions and Dun & Bradstreet, a world player with over 170 years of credit bureau experience. CRC is the largest credit reporting agency in Nigeria, responsible for over 95 percent of the nation’s recorded credit data from commercial banks, non-bank institutions, utility companies, and retailers. This impressive market share is the result of a well-designed organisational structure, fine-tuned processes, and highly principled governance. CRC creates a database of risk profiles deploying diligent research and data mining. Credit providers and borrowers alike rely on CRC Credit Bureau to facilitate informed lending and borrowing decisions with fast, hard facts. Creditors can access the CRC database to check a prospective borrower’s creditworthiness or tailor new credit products using its tech-driven development tools. Catch-22 that it is, accessing a credit line requires a good credit history, whether private person or corporate entity, and CRC foresees fintech partnerships filling the gap in financial inclusion. In partnership with the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO), a worldwide leader of credit analytics, CRC has developed a methodology to standardise credit scoring across the Nigerian market. Its latest partnership with Nova enables Nigerians who emigrate to the US to take their good credit history with them. The CFI.co judging panel agrees that sustainable retail lending is fuelled by digitalisation and data-driven decisions and confirms CRC Credit Bureau as the obvious choice for the 2020 Best Credit Bureau (Nigeria) award.


Concord International Investments Group: Best Asset Manager Egypt 2019

Over the past three years, Egypt has implemented the reforms and austerity measures required to hasten its economic recovery and establish the country as a preferred destination for foreign direct investment. The country has benefited from an Extended Fund Facility arrangement from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which allocated $12b to support Egypt’s macroeconomic stabilisation and strengthen GDP growth. The final disbursement of the loan was released in July and the IMF arrangement ends in November, but the stage has already been set for success. Officials are confident the policies put in place will continue creating an attractive space for foreign investors. As the first foreign fund manager to be fully licensed in Egypt, the Concord International Investments Group extends a warm invitation to investors hoping to realise attractive returns. The SEC-registered firm is based in New York City with offices in Cairo and Tokyo, effectively managing Egyptian, Turkish, and US equity and fixed-income securities directly or through the portfolios and funds of its affiliates. The CFI.co judging panel is well-versed in the merits of Concord’s asset management prowess as the firm has been recognised in previous award programmes. With national GDP growth topping 5 percent, unemployment hitting a 20-year record low, and Egyptian bonds outperforming other emerging markets with the highest returns of the year (over 25 percent), Concord is perfectly positioned to capitalise on that momentum. The judging panel is happy to reaffirm its initial — and repeat — decision: Concord International Investments Group takes the 2019 award for Best Asset Manager (Egypt).


First Pension Custodian: Best Pension Fund Services Team Nigeria 2019

First Pension Custodian Nigeria (FPCN) was founded in 2005 as one of the original guardians of the country’s retirement funds. FPCN is a wholly owned subsidiary of First Bank of Nigeria (FBN), one of the country’s top three financial institutions. Since its launch, FPC has claimed half of the market, including industrial clients, banks and pension fund administrators – and increased custodial assets to more than $7.6m. The company defines success not only in terms of profits, but also customer satisfaction and sustainability. The FPC team exemplifies the company’s core values of professionalism, entrepreneurship, and customer centricity. Clients are viewed more as partners, and the team collaborates with each one to deliver measurable progress towards investment goals. Providing superior service is one of the team’s driving motivations, and the company seeks regular feedback to fuel a process of continuous improvement. Running a sustainable business requires innovative solutions that create long-term value, and FPCN capitalises on the resources available as part of the FBN Holdings Group. Association with the group benefits FPCN in terms of IT advances and access to a broad base of prospective clients. The Nigerian pension industry presents challenges, from coverage to compliance, but FPCN is well-equipped to prevail. The company is guided by a strong Board of Directors and Senior Management team who articulate and implement the company’s growth strategy. Recent changes in regulations, including interventions like the Micro-Pension Scheme, have opened the market to small and medium-sized enterprises — and led to a boost in business. The CFI.co judging panel recognises First Pension Custodian Nigeria as the worthy winner of the 2019 Best Pension Fund Services Team (Nigeria) award.


Rokel Commercial Bank (RCB): Best Bank Governance Sierra Leone 2019

Rokel Commercial Bank (RCB) traces its roots back over a century, when it was a Barclays subsidiary in Sierra Leone. The bank has been locally owned and operated since 1999, with the government as majority shareholder, 65 percent following a recent recapitalisation — and the remaining shares are held by private institutions, organisations, and individuals. There are seven RCB branches in Sierra Leone’s capital city and nearly as many provincial branches, where more than 370 RCB team members strive to uphold the bank’s core values of customer centricity, integrity, initiative, dedication, teamwork, and continuous improvement. RCB welcomed a new Managing Director and CEO in 2017, Dr. Walton Ekundayo Gilpin, who wasted no time in aligning bank policy with a strategic vision to move the institution forward. The board is made up of 36 senior management team members and four sub-committees (finance, audit, credit, and human resources and administration). The bank follows a strict code of corporate governance and schedules regular meetings to ensure its implementation throughout the network. It reviews and updates policies every three years and conducts internal and external audits annually. RCB ranks among the top three Sierra Leone banks in terms of total assets and plans to leverage its comprehensive suite of digital and mobile banking services to capture more of the country’s massive unbanked population. The CFI.co judging panel presents Rokel Commercial Bank with the 2019 award for Best Bank Governance (Sierra Leone).


Atlas Mara Bank Zambia: Best Commercial Bank Zambia 2019

Born from the merger of two operational banks, Atlas Mara boasts 65 branches (representing one of the largest networks in the country), 23 agencies, and 176 ATMs. Atlas Mara Bank Zambia’s commitment to business clients is profound, offering world class solutions and all the necessary banking tools. It responds to client needs by developing disruptive products to fit modern lifestyles. The bank’s mobile wallet, Tenga, offers value-added services, including merchant payments, transfers to mobiles or pre-paid cards, and micro-loans and micro-savings. Atlas Mara Zambia has crammed as many features as possible into the mobile wallet and has made it available in seven Zambian languages. The bank’s wide network extends to harder-to-reach rural areas and facilitates its mission to increase financial inclusion. Atlas Mara Zambia forges partnerships with private enterprises, non-profits, and public entities to enact programmes of impact. The bank partnered with World Panels to donate solar panels to power charging points for people outside the electrical grid. It works closely with central government to deliver various mandates and is collaborating with third-party companies to develop a system to help SMEs build credit history. The bank welcomes the participation of its new majority shareholder, Equity Group Holdings, which has a customer base in excess of 9.2 million and a Moody’s international rating of AA. The CFI.co judging panel presents Atlas Mara Bank Zambia with the 2019 award for Best Commercial Bank (Zambia).


Banco Hipotecario: Best SME Bank Central America 2019

Banco Hipotecario was founded in El Salvador in 1935, when agricultural business was the primary contributor to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The National Coffee Association was the main shareholder with 70 percent, the Livestock Association at 20 percent, and private shareholders accounted for the balance. Today the bank’s scope has widened to include all sectors that have the potential to boost national production and employment. Banco Hipotecario bases its business model on the conviction that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will bring about the economic future that the country deserves. The bank has developed a dozen SME-focused products and services, starting with working capital and debt consolidation solutions as well as sector-specific credit line offers. It offers credit lines for businesses or individuals undertaking energy efficiency, clean production, and renewable energy projects. Banco Hipotecario launched an entrepreneurship programme that provides new and prospective business owners with financial and tech training. The programme also features a digital platform for accessing special credit promotions as well as networking with potential business partners. The bank is dedicated to increasing financial inclusion and has made great strides to encourage female Salvadorians to pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions. The CFI.co judging panel declares Banco Hipotecario as winner of the 2019 Best SME Bank (Central America) award.


FAMA Investimentos: Best ESG Integrated Investment Strategy Latin America 2019

Co-founders Fabio Alperowitch and Mauricio Levi started FAMA Investimentos in 1993 with loads of idealism and pragmatism along with minimal capital raised from family and friends — just $10,000. Since its inception, the Brazilian company has weathered national and global economic crises with steadfast resolve and vision. FAMA Investimentos assesses the investment landscape to stay on top of evolving threats and risks. It has outperformed market indices, both in times of highs and lows. The founders credit their success to an investment strategy that prioritises community, employee, and environmental well-being as much as financial gain. Long before it became common business vernacular, FAMA was well-versed in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) values. The firm shuns industries and companies that don’t measure up to its sustainability standards. FAMA’s long-term approach allows it to proactively engage with each business in its portfolio, offering advice on management, transparency, or ESG issues. By focusing on the qualitative aspects, FAMA can forgive companies suffering a period of poor performance — but it won’t tolerate bad ethics. FAMA’s low-turnover portfolio features about 15 businesses and boasts an annualised return of 21 percent throughout its 25 years of history. Alperowitch and Levi serve as the fund managers, responsible for around $505m in assets under management, and are supported by a team of dedicated equity analysts, compliance officers, traders, and administrative staff. The CFI.co judging panel confirm FAMA Investimentos for the 2019 award Best ESG Integrated Investment Strategy (Latin America).


Banco FINCA: Best Social Impact Bank Ecuador 2019

An integral part of FINCA’s global impact finance network, Banco FINCA Ecuador helps low-income, under-banked families with microfinancing solutions that create jobs and encourage asset accumulation. FINCA sees microfinance and fintech as effective tools in the fight for inclusion. Since its launch in 1993, Banco FINCA Ecuador has championed responsible finance practices. The bank became a fully-fledged licensed bank in 2008, and its services range from savings accounts and investment solutions to group and individual microcredit. Banco FINCA Ecuador benefits from a team of dedicated professionals who canvas the country — including hard-to-reach areas — to ensure that everyone is offered financial access. The bank also reports progress for entrepreneurial empowerment, with women representing 60 percent of clients and 70 percent of approved credit going to customers in rural areas. Banco FINCA Ecuador has caught the attention of the CFI.co judging panel in previous awards programmes, and the judges note its sustainable progress. After a rigorous review of business processes and policies, the bank achieved SMART Certification and demonstrated its commitment to Client Protection Principles. In 2018, Banco FINCA Ecuador sponsored nearly 1,000 hands-on workshops to target financial literacy for age groups ranging from five to 65-plus years. It reached even more people through its digital financial literacy campaigns. Banco FINCA Ecuador deploys proactive outreach and thorough research to dovetail product development along with customer demand. For its ongoing efforts to improve livelihoods through responsible finance, the judges present Banco FINCA with the 2019 award for Best Social Impact Bank (Ecuador).


Groupe CIOA: Best Business Value Creation Partner Global 2019

Since its inception in 1994, Groupe CIOA has taken the view that strength comes from unity. The collaborative model that CIOA has championed demonstrates outstanding value creation through strategic joint ventures with partners near and far. The group network spans 140 countries and some 500,000 member companies, 200 experts, and 2,300 co-developers. CIOA first came to the attention of the CFI.co judging panel in 2018 for its role as a facilitator of international business and provider of multidisciplinary solutions for global enterprises, organisations, and government agencies. Never content to rest on its laurels, CIOA continues to give cause for celebration and the company aims to facilitate business initiatives through a digital ecosystem. Since CIOA’s award last year, it has established several new joint ventures. In Cameroun, CIOA has partnered with NEO INDUSTRY to develop a “BATI-FABLAB” factory to manufacture economic modular steel-frame residences, addressing a shortage of approximately one million homes. CIOA has established similar BATI-FABLAB factories in Mayotte and Mauritius. The group also partners with institutional clients, including eight cities in Cameroun where it has created a bridge to connect businesses operators with regional players. Collaboration is the key focus of the CIOA model — and has resulted in the judges’ decision to declare Groupe CIOA as 2019 winner of the Best Business Value Creation Partner (Global) award.


Aston Martin Lagonda: Best ESG Manufacturing Strategy United Kingdom 2019

Power and prestige, intrigue and affluence — these are the symbols evoked by Aston Martin Lagonda, the iconic British luxury car brand. The company has evolved beyond Bond, the fictional spy who once immortalised the brand, to implement a Second Century strategy that prioritises sustainable business practices across operations and throughout the supply chain. Comprehensive environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments fuel the company’s sustainable growth plans. The Second Century plan calls for seven new models over the next seven years, with the release of the highly anticipated DBX in November 2019. Orders are stacking up for the brand’s first luxury SUV model, which will be produced at new manufacturing facilities in Wales. Aston Martin Lagonda repurposed the St Athan Royal Air Force hangars into a state-of-the-art facility that will create up to 750 highly skilled jobs. The new facility, like Aston Martin Lagonda’s three other British production plants, measures up to modern environmental expectations. The company publishes a Responsible Procurement Guide detailing its social, environmental, and ethical responsibilities, and all its suppliers are expected to follow the Aston Martin Lagonda way. The brand is gearing up to launch the first in its hybrid line, the Rapide E, which was unveiled at the Monaco ePrix in May 2019. The company hopes to leverage hybrid technology in a shift towards zero-emissions. The CFI.co judging panel notes the progress made since the company’s past placement in the awards programme and is pleased to declare Aston Martin Lagonda a repeat winner of the Best ESG Manufacturing Strategy (UK) award, this time for 2019.


Eccelsa Aviation: Best Private Aviation Terminal Operator Europe 2019

When people have passion for their work, near-perfection is a likely outcome. Located on the Italian island of Sardegna, Eccelsa Aviation has operated a private and business aviation terminal at Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport since 2003. The dedicated terminal is manned by staff that roll out the red carpet for guests. Eccelsa Aviation put procedures in place to ensure priority aviation services with strict safeguards for safety and security. The customer is king, and staff walks the extra mile to deliver on aviation excellence. The Eccelsa terminal covers 5,000 square metres and features private parking with complimentary valet service, 12,000 visitor capacity business centre, and passenger and crew lounge areas complete with free Wi-Fi, satellite TV, and an outdoor summer patio for last-minute sunbathing. Eccelsa Aviation offers shopping and dining experiences that celebrate the Italian heritage. The elegant ambience is cinched by the inspired architecture of the terminal, which is reminiscent of the private aviator clubs of the past and combines local building materials and vegetation to create harmony with the environment. Environmental responsibility is a driving force of the company’s progress, and recent achievements include a ban on single-use plastics, improved energy efficiencies, and a reduction in carbon emissions. For a formula of success that prioritises people and planet, the CFI.co judging panel is delighted to offer Eccelsa Aviation the 2109 award for Best Private Aviation Terminal Operator in Europe.


NCB Insurance Company Limited (NCBIC): Best Insurance Advisory Jamaica 2019

NCB Insurance Company Limited (NCBIC) helps ease the stress of unforeseen and unexpected eventualities with insurance and investment plans for individuals and groups. As a member of the NCB Financial Group — the largest and most profitable financial group in Jamaica with a strong and growing presence across the Caribbean — NCBIC benefits from the bank’s distribution channels and customer base. NCBIC has found that social responsibility and profitability are not mutually exclusive and has developed a suite of financial products that are win-win for clients and company. NCBIC forges long-term relationships with clients, to safeguard them against risks and lay the foundations for a financially sound future. Individual clients gain peace of mind with NCBIC’s OMNI combination investment-insurance plan, OMNI Educator savings plan, and SMART Retirement plan. The ProCARE plan provides critical illness protection, while ProVision covers accidental death or dismemberment. NCBIC offers group plans for employee pensions, life insurance, and annuities. It also offers group and individual Creditor Life insurance, which unburdens a deceased’s loved ones from the repayment of outstanding debts. The company envisions a near future where everyone is properly insured and invested, and is pioneering the use of alternative channels to boost financial inclusion. Through strategic stewardship of customer capital and forward-thinking management, NCBIC has become the second largest pension fund manager on the island. The company has proven itself a steadfast financial partner, leading the CFI.co judging panel to declare NCB Insurance Company Limited (NCBIC) as the 2019 winner of the Best Insurance Advisory (Jamaica) award.


Maghreb Oxygène SA: Best Medical Gas Supplier MENA 2019

For over 40 years, Maghreb Oxygène SA has provided the people of Morocco with life-saving medical gases, such as gaseous or liquid medical oxygen, nitrous oxide, and synthetic air. The company produces, packages, and distributes them in accordance with the specifications of the European Pharmacopoeia and is certified to ISO standards — a rare distinction earned in the Moroccan market. Maghreb Oxygène has three production facilities in Morocco and ensures quality control is a constant throughout its network. As clear as the products it develops, Maghreb Oxygène distinguishes itself on the Casablanca Bourse as one of the few listings to demonstrate its commitment to transparency with timely and comprehensive reports on process, progress, and performance. In August 2018, Maghreb Oxygène announced a renewed visual identity, with a crisp, clean logo that expresses its core values of commitment and professionalism and a customer-centric slogan — “Your success, our commitment”. Maghreb’s client list includes hospitals and clinics as well as industrials. The company has noted a boom in business with recent legislation requiring compulsory health insurance. It will build on that momentum with two new value-added products, as it was recently awarded ISO-certification for the manufacture and distribution of carbon dioxide and dry ice. The CFI.co judging panel believes the choice is clear: Maghreb Oxygène SA wins the 2019 Best Medical Gas Supplier (MENA) award.


UMR Corem: Best Mutual Pension Provider France 2019

Union Mutualiste Retraite (UMR) is a French Mutualist, a mutual grouping union, and a non-profit insurance organisation that promotes ethical savings. UMR unites French mutualists behind a collective agreement to offer members the Corem supplementary pension plan, which aims to protect buying power by granting a supplementary pension in addition to the legal one. UMR Corem has been in operation since 2002, providing members with flexible contribution terms to help brighten the golden years and then disbursing annuity payments throughout retirement. Members make contributions that bring tax-saving benefits today and peace of mind tomorrow. The organisation prepares annual reports which estimate annuity schedules according to contribution amounts, member age, and market performance. As a union of non-profit mutuals, UMR reinvests member contributions in a spirit of solidarity and responsibility. It manages over $10bn in assets with a strong ethical focus. UMR has continued to improve its coverage ratio of the SCR (solvency capital requirement) despite lagging stock markets at the end of 2018. Recent legislation has pushed UMR to restart Corem subscriptions, with the aim to onboard 8,000 new members each year. The legislation has also enabled UMR to offer early exit opportunities for Corem plan members and develop new retirement savings products. The CFI.co judging panel declares UMR Corem as the 2019 winner of the award for Best Mutual Pension Provider (France).


University of Antwerp: Most lnnovative Research lnstitution Europe 2019

The University of Antwerp fuels cutting-edge research with innovative educational offerings and collaborative partnerships. Over 20,000 students contribute to scientific research through its 4 multidisciplinary valorization domains. Research domains range from sustainable chemistry & materials, metropolitanism & smart city, mobility & logistics, vaccination / infectious diseases & environmental health. The university disseminates 3,650 scientific publications per year to highlight researchers' work and promote the free exchange of knowledge . lt casts a wide net for corporate and academic partners to create an ecosystem of collaborative research opportunities that extends well beyond Flemish borders. The Beacon is an innovation community, bringing together tech companies, research, skills, innovation actors and citizens to collaborate on smart solutions for keeping this world liveable and sustainable. The is a focus on smart cities, smart mobility, smart port & logistics, smart industry and smart buildings. In one flagship project, the university unites students with a network of hospitals to study tropical diseases - starting with a strong focus on microbiology - and bring vaccinations quicker to market. In December, it launched a joint project to establish the Antwerp Biobank, a facility which processes and stores human bodily samples for scientific research. lt anticipates cutting the ribben this spring on the innovation hub, Blue App, which aims to scale the university's research projects in sustainable chemistry. The university inspires young people to focus on passion projects with the power to positively impact quality of life. In September, three of the university's research students were awarded prestigieus starting grants from the European Research Council - a testament to the high calibre of scientific research for which the university is known. For these reasons and more, the CFl.co judging panel presents the University of Antwerp with the 2019 award for Most lnnovative Research lnstitution (Europe).


Pepperstone: Best Online Forex Broker Global 2019

Burned by lagging executions, high prices, and lacklustre support, a team of seasoned traders banded together to present a new offering in the world of online trading — Pepperstone. Over the past decade, it has registered remarkable growth globally. As the growth principally comes from word-of-mouth referrals, the broker can divert marketing funds to in-depth market analysis and award-winning customer support. Clear communication is a requisite for smart trading and good service, so Pepperstone speaks in a language that clients understand. On Pepperstone’s webpage, customers can live-chat with a team member in one of eight languages: English, Italian, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Russian and Mandarin. For high-volume traders, Pepperstone offers a premium support service that features cash rebates and exclusive benefits to professional traders. A dedicated team of analysts covers global markets to create handy economic calendars, report on high-impact news, and produce insightful economic outlooks. Regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, Pepperstone averages $12.55bn worth of trades each day and is trusted by more than 57,000 traders worldwide. Pepperstone traders have access to a wide range of markets and instruments (forex, index and share CFDs, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and currency index CFDs). Forex (FX) traders appreciate Pepperstone’s low spreads and lightning-fast executions as well as the deep liquidity afforded from multiple-sourced pricing. Pepperstone supplies FX traders with the tools and support to access — and successfully navigate — a market with a global trading volume of about $1.5tr a day. The CFI.co judging panel is delighted to present Pepperstone with the 2019 award for Best Online Forex Broker (Global).

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Gemfields Group Ltd: Most Responsible Natural Resources Leadership Global 2019

The Gemfields Group actively promotes transparent practices to radically transform the coloured gemstone industry, avowing that its primary objective is to positively impact communities while supporting African resource nationalism. The group recognises that today’s consumers are more informed and concerned about sustainable business practices and has taken steps to pre-emptively address sector-specific challenges. Gemfields is a pioneer of transparency and a proud corporate citizen who contributes significant revenue to local tax coffers. The group approaches mining operations from the perspective that the resources of the land belong to the indigenous people. As a custodian of precious African resources — rubies and emeralds  — the group diligently fulfils its fiduciary duty to citizens with clear accounting of revenue streams. It challenges the mining industry to go beyond compliance by setting new benchmarks for sustainable business practices. It uses the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a framework to guide operations and aims to give back — to the communities and the environment — as much as it has taken. Before the start of any operation, Gemfields conducts comprehensive environmental impact assessments and builds a seed bank of indigenous biospecimens to contribute to the rehabilitation of mining lands. It provides university scholarships to local engineering and mining students, builds schools and health clinics, and improves utilities and transport infrastructure. It helped establish farming associations in Zambia and Mozambique that provide local communities with long-term livelihood projects. The CFI.co judging panel recognises the role the Gemfields Group plays in national economies and local communities with the 2019 Most Responsible Natural Resources Leadership (Global) award.


Linklease: Most Innovative SME Equipment Leasing Solutions UAE 2019

Despite being the backbone of regional and national economies, the full potential of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) is often blocked by hurdles to equipment financing. Founded in 2014, Emirati company Linklease champions asset leasing as an alternative to costly ownership finance. In Dubai, SMEs represent 95 percent of all the Emirate's registered establishments, and a new financial leasing law underscores the government's commitment to supporting the sector. Linklease pioneers leasing solutions to a wide range of industries across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia; now it's looking to expand its presence across the Middle East and Africa. A team of specialists with over 25 years of experience in the asset-based finance industry has custom-crafted conventional and Shariah-compliant leasing solutions for clients in the construction, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, and printing sectors, amongst other. The Linklease team excels at client anda sset assessment as well as asset managementand asset recovery. In addition to providing new and used equipment leasing, Linklease offers sale and lease-back agreements as well as equipment management services. The company has implemented a robust tech framework that gives an omnipotent view of assets, able to monitor location and movement with the latest GPS tracking and RFID tagging technology - or even immobilise assets if ever necessary. Recognising a worthy partner of businesses big or small, the CFl.co judging panel presents Linklease with the 2019 award for Most Innovative SME Equipment Leasing Solutions (UAE).


SID Bank: Best Regional Development Bank Southeast Europe 2019

[caption id="attachment_7233" align="aligncenter" width="1500"] Management Board: President Sibil Svilan and Member Goran Katušin. Photo: Barbara Zajc[/caption]

As a fully government-owned investment and development financial institution, SID Bank takes a long-term approach to boosting the economic potential and competitiveness of Slovenia. The bank promotes sustainable development, providing long-term financial services to supplement financial markets and create new jobs. SID Bank was founded in 1992 to provide financing and insurance products for Slovene exporters and has grown to become a key facilitator — and financer — of international business cooperation. The bank’s organisational structure allowed it to react positively during the financial crisis, while maintaining a steady course of compliance and sustainability. SID Bank covered international markets, issued bonds, and provided finance during a time when other banks and insurers were struggling to honour their commitments. The bank supports long-term projects that align with sustainable development principles for finance, people, and the environment. Dynamic and well-capitalised, SID Bank has expanded its international presence with a portfolio of customer-centric, value-added services. Flexibility is an essential part of long-term financial engineering, and SID Bank reacts to changing climates through an analytical lens of corporate governance. The bank champions the export ambitions of Slovenia’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and will support their transformation into the multinationals of the future. SID Bank manages European cohesion funds allocated to Slovenia through a fund that advances research and innovation, energy efficiency and urban development. The CFI.co judging panel presents SID Bank with the 2019 award for Best Regional Development Bank (Southeast Europe).


Phoenician Funds: Best Seed Capital Fund Manager Middle East 2019

Over the past five years, Phoenician Funds has built a portfolio comprising 20 promising seed and early-stage companies across the Middle East and Africa (MENA). Team members who are anchored in regional expertise form close relationships with the key managers in its portfolio companies as well as the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation. Phoenician Funds scours sectors ripe for disruption, searching for early-stage companies with a visionary founding team and an innovative and scalable product that addresses prevalent needs. It sits down with founders to fine-tune growth strategies that will drive the business forward. It helps start-ups set targets for scalability and recruit top talent. It forges tight bonds with founders, offering them strategic guidance and assisting in value creation across the investment lifecycle. The Phoenician Funds ecosystem connects an expansive geographic region — including Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates — through linkage to its proprietary networks. The fund manager aims to bring international companies into the region and promote cross-border collaborations. Phoenician Funds is launching a new international investment fund through its existing platform for foreign companies who are looking to set up shop in the MENA region and who meet the fund’s investment criteria. The CFI.co judging panel declares Phoenician Funds the 2019 winner of the Best Seed Capital Fund Manager (Middle East) award.


Fidelis Finance: Best Economic, Environment and Social Impact SME Finance West Africa 2019

With the right plan and a good partner, companies can achieve purpose as well as profits. That partner in West Africa is Fidelis Finance. The firm’s goal is to strengthen the economic growth of the region by supporting the main economic actors of any nation — SMEs. From its offices in Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire, Fidelis creates adaptive financial products that are tailored to meet their needs. As of today, the mobile sales teams canvass the cities of Ouagadougou, Bobo Dioulasso, and Abidjan expanding the brand’s presence and welcoming new clientele from new countries; Mali, Togo and Benin. Fidelis supports companies to overcome financing constraints with innovative and inclusive credit solutions. The Fidelis product suite includes leasing, credit, and rent-to-own solutions, as well as invoicing, factoring, deposits, and payment guarantees.

Fidelis Finance is a corporate citizen. It has placed at the heart of its concerns, the quest for the wellbeing of its workers and its community through: 1) a good profits redistribution (very competitive working conditions, and donation of medical materials to hospitals), 2) the financing of projects with high social, environmental and societal value added (leasing of 45 garbage collection equipment for the benefit of the town halls in Ouagadougou and Abidjan, and 300 ambulances for the benefit of Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Health to facilitate the evacuation of patients to urban medical centers).

The portfolio’s growth is up 45 percent since 2017, when the firm first registered on the CFI.co radar, and the steady increase in loan volume and net profits augur well for the future. For the third consecutive year, the CFI.co judging panel has found good reason to celebrate the firm’s progress and presents Fidelis Finance BF with the 2019 award for Best Social Impact SME Finance (West Africa).


Sri Lanka Banks' Association: Best Sustainable Banking Leadership South Asia 2019

The Sri Lankan Banks' Association (SLBA) fills a critical role in national development by balancing business decisions against the possible impact on the country’s human, social, and environmental capital. The association launched the Sustainable Banking Initiative (SLBA-SBI) in 2015 to unite the financial sector on a platform that provides industry workers with educational opportunities and actively promotes responsible banking practices. Banks use the platform to come to a consensus on sustainable standards, define responsibilities, and coordinate efforts to implement best practices. A committee of participating SLBA banks authored a set of 11 Sustainable Banking Principles that have been adopted by 18 signatory banks. The principles promote green economies, collaborative partnerships, financial inclusion, and environmental and social governance, to highlight just a few. In 2017, SLBA added a knowledge-sharing element to the platform, including SBI guidelines, an implementation toolkit, case studies, and courses. It developed a six-module e-learning course that helps bank employees throughout the network deepen their understanding of sustainable banking principles — and then transform that knowledge into action. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has published a sustainability roadmap that illustrates some of the tools available when developing a sustainable finance framework, but participation is voluntary rather than regulatory at present. SLBA hopes to influence public finance policy and inspire industry participation to achieve sustainable economic growth for a greener and more inclusive future. The CFI.co judging panel presents the Sri Lanka Banks' Association with the 2019 Best Sustainable Banking Leadership (South Asia) award.


Aéroport Dakar Blaise Diagne: Best Regional Aviation Hub West Africa 2019

Aéroport Dakar Blaise Diagne opened in December 2017, with the hope of becoming the principal air hub in West Africa. Five times larger than its predecessor, it has a capacity to handle three million passengers and the ambition to build two more terminals and another runway – to increase the capacity to five million travellers per annum by 2022 and ten million by 2035. Such was the success of its first year of operations, it exceeded projections twofold to attain a growth rate of 8.5 percent. This means that the debt incurred by the Government to finance this colossal infrastructure undertaking will have been repaid in its entirety before its maturity – which is impressive by any standards. The major part of this success story is attributable to the airport´s ability to attract airlines, from major international players such as Air France, Delta, and Iberia to new carriers from neighbouring countries, such as RwandAir, Camair-Co and Air Peace. The airport boasts many innovations and has grand aspirations for the future: it plans to construct a sustainable Aero City with a solar centre powering all on-site installations. It envisages becoming a green lung offsetting its carbon footprint. Above all, the company aims to make the passenger experience a pleasant one, where the time spent at the airport is enjoyable and not stressful. Given all these factors, the CFI.co judging panel has no hesitation in naming Aéroport Dakar Blaise Diagne as the Best Regional Aviation Hub in West Africa 2019.


EFG Asset Management: Best Fixed Income Fund Manager United Kingdom 2019

If the adage is true — that knowledge is power, and time is money — then an adept asset manager is the not-so-secret weapon of savvy investors. The EFG Asset Management research team monitors major and emerging markets to publish independent, data-backed reports, including a yearly outlook and quarterly investment insights in nine languages. These insights give EFG asset managers and EFG clients, which include professional advisers and institutional investors from around the world, a competitive edge when charting investment strategies. EFG launched the Future Leaders Panel in 2018 to task industry and academic experts with drafting a proprietary framework to identify visionary corporate leadership. The organisation deploys a team of 150 professionals from its London headquarters and offices in Switzerland, China, Singapore and the USA, resulting in a truly global perspective and presence. EFG counts its people as its best asset, and the open-architecture investment approach encourages them to exercise autonomy tempered with discipline. EFG Asset Management serves as the investment arm of parent company EFG International, a global private banking group. The firm offers a comprehensive suite of customised wealth management solutions, including fixed income portfolios, traditional equity and multi-asset strategies. Around 80 EFG investment experts are currently managing more than $20b worth of assets, but the firm aims to double those numbers over the next five years. In recognition of the firm’s achievements and vision, the CFI.co judging panel presents EFG Asset Management, a repeat winner in the awards programme, with the 2019 Best Fixed Income Fund Manager (United Kingdom) award.


Elekta: Most Innovative Life Sciences Leadership Europe 2019

Swedish company Elekta has pioneered the field of precision radiation medicine — and pledges to be around until cancer isn’t. The company was founded nearly five decades ago, and the research that led to its launch had been brewing since the 1940s. Elekta’s legacy stems from its founder, Lars Leksell, the professor who invented the Leksell Gamma Knife® radiosurgery system — but the company’s history is just part of the picture.

Elekta thrives with a tradition of customer-focused, patient-orientated innovation, providing specialised and non-invasive solutions for treating cancer care and brain disorders. Instead of blasting a tumour and surrounding tissue, Elekta gives clinicians the ability to target just the tumour with precision-guided beams from a radiation therapy device. Artificial Intelligence plays a crucial role in making this possible. Elekta develops technology that can learn and adapt through experience, as doctors do. The company also offers software systems for clinics that boost cost-efficiency and enhance the quality of care.

Thanks to strategic acquisitions and a leading portfolio of innovative solutions, Elekta’s market share continues to increase. The company is headquartered in Sweden, operates 40 facilities around the world, and has a presence in 120 countries. It employs nearly 4,000 people, united in the ambition to provide patients with the most effective personalised treatment available.

The CFI.co judging panel commends the company’s tireless pursuit of its mission — to improve, prolong, and save the lives of patients — and declares Elekta the winner of the 2019 award for Most Innovative Life Sciences Leadership (Europe).


InvestBulgaria Agency: Best Investment Promotion Team CEE 2019

Bulgaria boasts a rapidly growing economy with a favourable corporate tax climate and a skilled, IT-literate workforce. Government institution InvestBulgaria Agency is rolling out the red carpet to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Mr. Emil Karanikolov - Minister of Economy as proactive participants. InvestBulgaria Agency promotes the country as a bridge between Asia, the Middle East and Europe, and offers cost-free assistance to investors in “class-A” project developments. The agency provides potential investors with a network of contacts and a repository of information. It also offers project management support at the pre-investment stage, providing information on FDI incentives and EU funds, site and facility locations, industrial and free zones. Investors also benefit from legal advice, macro-economic data, and company and industry profiles. InvestBulgaria Agency support continues throughout the life of an investment. It assists investors with visa and incentive applications, connects them with key business partners and organises site visits. Its website features a catalogue of development projects; in focus are tourism, urban planning, production, real estate, commerce and innovation. The CFI.co judging panel is impressed, and presents InvestBulgaria Agency with the 2019 award for the Best Investment Promotion Team (Central and Eastern Europe).


Guinness Nigeria PLC: Best Consumer Goods Corporate Citizen Africa 2020

Guinness Nigeria became the iconic drinks brand’s first overseas operation 70 years ago. Nigeria now reigns as the world's second-largest market for Guinness (after the UK; Ireland comes in third). The first dark stout was brewed just three years after Nigeria gained its independence. The company aims to elevate the national business standard through exemplary corporate citizenship. It has a record of transparency, accountability, and community engagement, employing 1,000 full-time employees and 3,000 contract workers. The country advances in tandem with the company, and about 30,000 local farmers are part of the supply chain. Guinness Nigeria holds its partners to exacting standards, helping to raise the production sector’s international reputation. It has 68,000 shareholders and aligns business with three SDG pillars: positive change, thriving communities, and the reduction of environmental impacts. It has improved local water access, healthcare and sanitation systems, and funds university scholarships. Its environmental standards focus on “reduce, re-use, recover and recycle” and water use is carefully monitored. Responsible alcohol consumption is encouraged via anti-drink-drive campaigns and the donation of breathalyser kits to law enforcement. The CFI.co judging panel raises a glass to the company’s community contributions and declares Guinness Nigeria PLC the 2020 winner of the award for Best Consumer Goods Corporate Citizen (Africa).


Panthera Solutions: Most Innovative Boutique Asset Allocation Consultancy Europe 2019

Panthera Solutions is a Monaco-based enterprise advancing the global field of Applied Behavioural Finance. It operates as a think-tank, laboratory and solutions provider to optimise the investment-decision architecture. Through the Panthera Academy, the company offers a suite of training, coaching and consulting services to enhance investment skills through a four-step process. Intervention and application frameworks are diagnosed, adapted, implemented and practised. Panthera calls the trademarked process Intuitive Behavioural Design, and it customises interventions to the specific needs of individual clients. The company has released a cloud-based behaviour-tech SaaS (software as a service) solution called Panthera Tree. This is designed to maximise investors’ adaptive and technical skills and minimise any reliance on luck. Despite the proliferation of buzzwords such as “agile leadership” and AI, many asset managers fail to apply modern, evidence-based learning to their operations. Panthera Solutions is an innovator which brings knowledge-based solutions to the table. Panthera dissects the investment process and, supported by detailed preliminary research and investigation, consistently achieves its overarching objective of helping finance professionals to make better decisions. Panthera unites a small but seasoned team of senior consultants, business developers and academic advisors to elevate professional investment management to the level of artform. The CFI.co judging panel felt that Panthera Solutions has met the challenge of translating applied behavioural finance into a user-friendly programme. The company initiatives improve evidence-based investment decisions and promote transparency and good governance. Many clients have reached the same conclusion, with more than €100bn in assets under Panthera’s consultancy. The CFI.co judges are pleased to present the firm with the 2019 award for Most Innovative Boutique Asset Allocation Consultancy (Europe).


The International Butler Academy: Best Private Butler Training Global 2020

The butler embodies the highest standards of service excellence: trustworthy and loyal, discreet and competent. Wealthy households and great estates worldwide seek professionally trained butlers — but good help can be hard to find in a market where demand has outstripped supply. The International Butler Academy (TIBA) was founded two decades ago by industry veteran Robert Wennekes to train new recruits in this fascinating and compelling profession. Wennekes continues to serve as a TIBA faculty and board member, and as chairman of the Butler Guild Association, but the academy is now under ambitious new leadership, with Gordon Munro as CEO. TIBA students spend two months in the residential training programme at the palatial Huize Damiaan in the Netherlands, founded as a monastery in 1892 and renovated in 2014 as the country’s largest private mansion. The luxurious setting gives students a glimpse of what their future could hold and provides an opportunity to put abstract instruction into practice. TIBA has begun an expansion plan that will allow guests to book a “Royal Experience” in one of three exclusive suites, each featuring round-the-clock service by a dedicated four-student team. TIBA hopes to unite academy alumni and industry professionals in the Butler Guild’s online community, which serves as a font of information and bastion of solidarity. The CFI.co judging panel is pleased to see the academy expand on a legacy of exceptional service, and declares TIBA the repeat winner of the global award for Best Private Butler Training — this time for 2020.


BlueSnap: Best Payment Gateway Global 2019

The world becomes more of a global market each day, with businesses reaching larger audiences and customers enjoying an unprecedented selection of products and services.  But as businesses extend beyond borders, payment processing becomes trickier. Massachusetts-based online payment solutions provider BlueSnap is one of the fastest-growing companies in this space. The PE-backed firm has designed a robust digital payments platform for eCommerce, B2B, B2C and SaaS companies. The All-in-One Platform supports online and mobile sales, marketplaces, subscriptions, invoice payments and manual orders through a virtual terminal. With a single integration to the Platform, businesses are connected to a global bank network and can offer their customers 100 currencies and 110 global payment types including popular eWallets and bank transfers. BlueSnap’s Intelligent Payment Routing tool recognizes the card’s issuing country and directs it to a local acquiring bank for processing wherever possible, based on the card brand rules. As a result, businesses benefit from higher authorization rates and by processing payments locally can reduce costly cross-border fees.  The Platform has fraud prevention and chargeback management built-in to protect sales. With integrations to more than 100 business platforms such as shopping carts, ERP and CRM systems, connections are easy and businesses can process payments immediately. The company has strong solution partnerships, a near-perfect client retention rate, and business that’s doubling every year. BlueSnap has reached this summit by heeding clients’ “pain points” and tech shortage woes- and delivering innovative solutions. It stays at the forefront of compliance and coding, with top-notch teams operating in the US, Israel and the UK. The global B2B payments market is estimated to total $127tn, and BlueSnap helps businesses claim their share of the market with secure, frictionless payment processing and detailed analytics. The CFI.co judging panel is convinced, and confers on BlueSnap the 2019 award for Best Payment Gateway (Global).


Corporación Multi Inversiones (CMI): Best Sustainability Community Impact Latin America 2019

As Corporación Multi Inversiones (CMI) celebrates its centennial anniversary, the multi-Latina company reflects upon its family-owned legacy. Founded by Juan Bautista Gutiérrez in 1920 with the opening of a small convenience store, CMI has evolved into a highly diversified conglomerate spanning three generations. Business is split between CMI Food — which includes flour mills, sausage manufacturing, and restaurants — and CMI Capital, which specialises in renewable energy, real estate, and financial services. More than 40,000 CMI professionals follow a corporate ethos of “REIR”. While the Spanish word reminds employees to laugh and enjoy work, the acronym calls for Responsibility, Excellence, Integrity, and Respect. CMI is established in 14 countries on three continents and takes a proactive approach to corporate social responsibility (CSR). The company believes that sustainable investments are impossible in failing communities, and so protects and uplifts the most vulnerable. For 30 years, the Juan Bautista Gutiérrez Foundation has served as the CSR arm of the group, providing funding for health and education projects. CMI puts its principles into action, as is evidenced by recent accomplishments. In 2019, the corporation invested $83m in retail and residential projects in Guatemala, transforming neglected rural areas into thriving social centres. Over the past two years, CMI investments and partnerships have resulted in two renewable energy complexes: the Renace hydroelectric facility in Guatemala and Bosphorus solar power plant in El Salvador. The CFI.co judging panel declares CMI as the worthy winner of the 2019 Best Sustainability Community Impact (Latin America) award.


Arca Fondi SGR: Best Pension Fund Scheme Italy 2020

Italian fund manager Arca Fondi SGR was one of the first in the country to offer open pension funds. With diversification and digitalisation strategies to protect clients’ assets from market volatility, it aims to deliver on their long-term objectives. Arca Fondi SGR registered a strong financial performance in 2019, and timely tech and communication investments have enabled it to weather the current crisis as well. Arca has prudently diversified across a spectrum of funds, including equity, balanced multi-asset, bond, retirement and sustainability. It added to a long list of firsts this April with the launch of the Arca Multi Strategy Prudente fund, which offers new clients a “welcome bonus” equal to 1.5 percent of the subscription amount. The minimum buy-in is €10,000, and the subscription period expires at the end of June. The flexible fund features a five-year investment horizon across a mix of government and corporate bonds, with an equity exposure potential up to half the asset ratio. The CFI.co judging panel has tracked Arca’s progress over the years and feels that while financial performance is crucial, Arca goes one step further by fully leveraging its experience with both corporates and individual clients to ensure an unbeatable level of services and deep understanding of the needs of the Italian investment community. In recognition of Arca Previdenza, the largest open-ended Italian pension fund, the judges are delighted to present Arca Fondi SGR with the 2020 award for Best Pension Fund Scheme (Italy).


Fineon Exchange: Most Innovative Trade Finance Platform Global 2020

For any exporter struggling to find organic growth in emerging markets, Fineon Exchange Marketplace has the solution. Fineon is an AI-powered trade finance platform where exporters, financers and insurers are connected to seize opportunities. Fineon has created an ecosystem that has benefits for all stakeholders, serving as a one-stop shop for the trade finance industry. Embedded artificial intelligence capabilities deliver transparency of provider offers and exporter profiles. The company estimates 40 percent of trade finance rejections are caused by risk data that are inadequate for proper assessment. It deploys rating algorithms to allow exporters to build and broadcast their credit standings. The platform’s AI advisor guides exporters towards case-specific solutions to drive business and optimise working capital. Fineon Exchange forges partnerships with local chambers of commerce, international governments and leading industry figures — such as the global credit insurance broker Aon, which serves as Fineon’s exclusive insurance gateway. This partnership brings together the key industry players in one symbiotic group for shared success. Fineon presents exporters with selected provider offers based on precisely matched criteria rather than sending out a deluge of results which may — or may not — be relevant. Matchmaking is Fineon’s core business skill, which it achieves by holding true to its corporate values of integrity, dedication, creativity, and intellectual vigour. The CFI.co judging panel recognises Fineon Exchange as an industry pioneer, and presents the company with the 2020 global award for the Most Innovative Trade Finance Platform.


Toronto Finance International: Best Financial Services Hub Investment Promotion PPP Global 2020

Toronto Finance International (TFI) serves as a connector and coordinator, linking cross-levels of industry, academia and government to grow and promote the city’s financial services sector. As a public-private partnership (PPP), TFI takes a constructive, collaborative approach to business, working with domestic and international partners to bring key stakeholders together to achieve successful outcomes. TFI was founded in 2001 to boost Toronto’s competitiveness as a leading global financial services hub. Toronto represents the second-largest financial centre and third-largest tech cluster in North America, making the city an ideal breeding ground for FinTech innovation. In 2019, TFI released a report showing that FinTech investment in the region had grown by 10 times over five years, to the tune of $221m over 25 deals. The Toronto region boasts one of the highest global FinTech investment growth rates, with a compound annual rate of 118 percent since 2010. TFI connects business leaders, academics and government officials to throw the weight of the collective consensus behind initiatives that target areas including talent acquisition and sustainable finance. It mobilises members and encourages stakeholders to work collectively to drive the growth and competitiveness of the industry. TFI lends its voice to global discussions and drives debate on the world stage — always with an eye to fostering industry innovation and positioning Toronto as a leading global financial centre. The CFI.co judging panel declares Toronto Finance International as the 2020 winner of the Best Financial Services Hub Investment Promotion PPP (Global) award.


Neighbourly Limited: Best Community Socio-Economic Impact Platform UK 2020

Good corporate citizenship is about building trust between business and community, providing services that support economic and social development and balancing profit with purpose. Neighbourly Limited partners with businesses to connect corporate goodwill with grassroots causes. The company invites businesses to be more neighbourly - particularly to those most vulnerable in the community - through a corporate giving platform that effectively matches donors with causes. Business partners connect to the platform and support causes by donating time, money or surplus products. They can rally employees to volunteer, fund local initiatives or send surplus to food banks and homeless shelters. As a certified B Corp, 'Neighbourly believes that business should deliver positive impacts as well as profits. Neighbourly facilitates community investment and stakeholder capitalism, enabling businesses to respond with agility to evolving community needs. To combat the emergency hardships caused by the current pandemic, it launched the Neighbourly Community Fund in March, immediately raising almost £500,000 and started disbursing it to local good causes within 72 hours. The fund has now raised over £1.2m.  Corporate partners who have contributed to the fund include M&S, Lidl, Aldi, Danone, Nutricia, Southern Co-op, giffgaff, Heineken and Coca-Cola, and Neighbourly have channelled it - in the form of unrestricted £400 micro-grants - to trustworthy organisations providing essential services to those most at risk. The fund will continue to seek new donors via the web platform and to distribute emergency micro-grants throughout communities in the UK and Ireland throughout this crisis. Neighbourly operates on a hyper-local level in the UK and over the next 10 years anticipates evolving into a global community investment platform for business. The CFI.co judging panel recognises Neighbourly Limited as a facilitator and advocate of strong corporate social responsibility with the 2020 award for Best Community Socio-Economic Impact Platform (UK).


INOKS Capital: Best Sustainable Impact Hedge Fund Manager Switzerland 2020

From its Geneva headquarters, INOKS Capital focuses on growth capital investment (short to long term) in emerging markets as an opportunity to generate value and make a difference. ESG and Impact are embedded in the investment approach and applied equally to all the funds managed. INOKS has implemented ethical and sustainable finance strategies to foster commodity value chains’ efficiency and sustainability. It has been a PRI (Principles for Responsible Investment) signatory since 2010, and in 2006 launched its first short-term Commodity Structured Trade Finance fund to support the SME sector adopting so called ethical bias: no negative externality (i.e. future ESG) and positive externalities (i.e. future Impact). INOKS launched a dedicated investment vehicle in 2015 to target the agricultural value chain in Caucasus & Central Asia for SIFEM. The following year, it tasked an internal committee with charting its long-standing sustainability objectives with market standards and bringing impact knowledge and expertise. The firm's fund management seeks to promote sustainable global commodity value chains by increasing regional self-sufficiency (food security and gender equality), optimizing resource usage (environmental resected) and stabilizing prices (poverty alleviation). It provides companies more direct access to consumer markets, capital  and encourages compliant/transparent operations. ln 2018, it reached some 28’000 smallholder farmers and helped to divert agricultural waste for recycling. The INOKS team is a mix of genders and cultures, with 57 percent of women employees and 10 nationalities, and a majority from minorities. The CFI.co judging presents INOKS Capital with the 2020 award for Best Sustainable Impact Hedge Fund Manager (Switzerland).


24Storage AB: Most Promising Value Creation IPO Nordics 2020

[caption id="attachment_7328" align="alignright" width="200"] 24Storage AB CEO: Fredrik Sandelin[/caption]

With the growth of global populations and urban clusters, storage space has become a dwindling resource.  Swedish company 24Storage hopes to solve that challenge by digitalising the sector in the country. 24Storage was founded in 2015 and went from inception to IPO in under four years. The company was listed on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market at the end of 2019, with ABG Sundal Collier ASA acting as liquidity guarantor and Arctic Securities as the sole global coordinator and bookrunner. It attracted such interest from institutional investors that there was heavy oversubscription. The investment community seeks opportunities with high-growth potential, and 24Storage has demonstrated an aptitude for value creation and expansion. The company is responsible for more than 53,000 square meters of rentable real estate – and more than 6,000 customers have signed-up for its automated solutions. As the name implies, 24Storage offers a convenient, around-the-clock solution for individual and business clients. The 10,000 climate-controlled facilities are spread across 23 centres, and can be accessed, by key, at clients’ convenience. The CFI.co judging panel believes in 24Storage’s promising business model and applauds a growth strategy with long-term vision. Early indications — an increase of up to 25 percent in net sales and gross profit margins — show this faith is not misplaced. The judges recognise a rising industry leader, and present 24Storage with the 2020 award for Most Promising Value Creation IPO (Nordics).


The Southern African Development Community (SADC): Outstanding Contribution to Socio-Economic Development Southern Africa 2020

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) unites 16 countries behind a mission to promote sustainable and equitable socio-economic growth through co-operation and integration, efficiency and productivity, peace and security. Each member state ascribes to the principles of sovereign equality, solidarity and democracy. They pledge to respect human rights and the rule of law, seek equitable balance and mutual benefits, and resolve disputes peacefully. They work together to establish — and ensure — a basic living standard across the population. SADC deploys two key development strategies to spur socio-economic progress: infrastructure and industrialisation. SADC has charted a roadmap to create a community around common goals. It has achieved the first major milestone towards its overarching objective in the establishment of the SADC Free Trade Area, which has resulted in a substantial increase of intra-regional trade. The free trade agreement eases tariff barriers to bring benefits to all citizens. It has paved the way for the second integration phase, a SADC Customs Union, by modernising cross-border payment systems, implementing best-practices banking standards and developing a legal and administrative framework for financial institutions. SADC drives the development of energy, water and connectivity industries to encourage self-reliance and inter-dependence among member states. The clear protocols that govern SADC operations have been honed over the past four decades, through regular assessment and agile response, and have established strong value chains that stimulate and support regional growth. The CFI.co judging panel announces SADC as the 2020 winner of the Outstanding Contribution to Socio-Economic Development (Southern Africa) award.


Century Pacific Food, Inc (CNPF): Best ESG Mid-Cap Company Philippines 2020

Sustainability equates to business viability according to Century Pacific Food, Inc (CNPF), the family-run and publicly listed Philippines company dedicated to nourishing bodies – and bank accounts. The patriarchal founder, Ricardo Po, established Century Pacific Food in 1978 to process, manufacture and export tuna products. CNPF now dominates Filipino markets as the country’s largest producer of canned food products, and has made significant inroads into global markets as a preferred supplier to international brands. Tuna remains a top performer among its canned foods, providing a tasty and affordable source of protein. The company is committed to the responsible stewardship of natural resources and collaborates with international organisations to encourage sustainable practices across the supply chain. CNPF complies with strict conservation measures as a member of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) and promotes environmental awareness and advocacy as a regular partner of the World Wide Fund for Nature. CNPF products are stocked in over 900,000 outlets nationwide and exported to 65 countries, including some of the world’s most strictly regulated markets. The company prioritises ESG performance across its framework of protein delivery, purchase assessment, planet preservation and personal development. In 2019, it distributed over 22m kilograms of protein in the Philippines and supported 13,725 jobs. January marked its first full year of plastic-neutral operations. The founder’s four sons now the lead the company — and are grooming the next generation to take up the mantel in the future. The CFI.co judging panel is pleased to recognise Century Pacific Food as the 2020 winner of the Best ESG Mid-Cap Company (Philippines) award.


SegurCaixa Adeslas: Best Insurance Spain 2020

SegurCaixa Adeslas is the non-life insurance company with the best track record in Spain in recent years, thanks to a strategy focused on profitable growth. It is the country’s leading Health insurance company, forming part of the Mutua Madrileña Group, and CaixaBank is one of its shareholders. It also ranks #1 for Accident insurance and #2 for Household insurance. Motor, Death and Liability insurance are also among its main lines of business. The company’s greatest strength is its sales network, backed by both CaixaBank’s banking channel and the traditional insurance channels.

SegurCaixa Adeslas is the company preferred by businesses for their employees’ healthcare. Its market share in this segment is 42.8%, confirming Health insurance as the most highly valued company benefit by the workers and one of the best means of achieving customer loyalty. More than 60% of the companies in the Ibex 35, Spain’s benchmark stock market reference index, have an employee Health insurance policy with SegurCaixa Adeslas.

Committed to providing a high-value personalised service for policyholders, the company is developing an ambitious technology transformation plan to offer increasingly agile, accessible services. One of its most prominent initiatives is Adeslas Health and Wellbeing, a digital platform that helps its customers look after their health and increases their involvement in prevention and improving their quality of life.

With over 5.6 million health and dental policyholders, it has 1,240 of its own and chartered medical centres and contracts with 216 private hospitals. Adeslas’ list of medical professionals is the longest in Spain, with more than 43,000. It also ranks very highly (with over 50% of the market share) for dental care, for which it also has a network of 194 of its own clinics.

The CFI.co judging panel declares SegurCaixa Adeslas as winner of the 2020 award for Best Insurer (Spain).


Total Eren: Most lnnovative Renewable Energy Solutions Global 2020

Energy production from renewable sources such as solar, wind and hydro addresses urgent global challenges and advances sustainable development goals. Over a billion people are estimated to live in "energy poverty" - having limited or no access to electricity - and more than 80 percent of them live in rural areas. French Independent Power Producer (“IPP”) Total Eren forges long-term partnerships with local teams around the world to develop renewable energy projects that meet growing demands with a sustainable and economically viable supply. Founded in 2012, Total Eren serves as the dedicated renewables arm of the EREN Groupe, an innovator of natural resource efficiency. Since its launch, the company has established a global network of renewable energy powerplants with a gross production capacity upwards of 2.8 GW - and it plans to push that to 5 GW by 2022 with projects under development. Total, the major energy company, invested in Total Eren in 2017 and, since then, has increased in direct and indirect stake to 30% in aggregate. The company is also supported by top ranked financial investors: Bpifrance, Next World Group, Tikehau and FFP. Everyday, Total Eren demonstrates the agility of a project developer, the vision of an investor, and the expertise of an operator. lt selects partners whose interests align with the company's ethos and objectives. lt specialises in greenfield investments and maintains control over assets through majority holdings or co-management agreements. The team at Total Eren boasts a cross-industry collection of skills and experience that leads to quick and competent project management, in-depth risk assessments and step-by-step development. Total Eren's project portfolio spans five continents, with a presence in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Africa. The CFl.co judging panel presents Total Eren with the 2020 award for Most lnnovative Renewable Energy Solutions (Global).


Acadian Asset Management: Most Innovative Investment Solutions North America 2020

Acadian Asset Management has a global presence, with headquarters in Boston and wholly owned affiliates in Britain, Singapore, Japan, and Australia. As one of the first quantitative equity managers on the scene, Acadian Asset Management has worked steadily to remove all behavioural biases from the investment decision-making process. The company makes informed investment decisions backed by solid tech. Three times daily, it feeds 200m data points from a network of 70-plus data vendors into a quantitative analytical model to determine which asset classes to buy, and which to avoid. Acadian was an early signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment, and it takes that commitment to heart. It incorporates ESG considerations into the business model by tracking companies’ carbon footprint — and penalising shoddy progress with lower rankings in the model. ESG quantitative analysts manage diversified portfolios of 400 to 600 names, making direct engagement a challenge. Despite this, the team achieved direct ESG engagement with 300 companies last year, and its strong relationship with data vendors has put pressure on companies to be transparent in providing carbon disclosures. Acadian collaborates with the PRI, a founding member of the United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative, and the Church of England to combine bulk assets. The CFI.co judging panel announces Acadian Asset Management as winner of the 2020 award for Most Innovative Investment Solutions (North America).

Capital Finance International award selection criteria: Each year, CFI.co seeks out individuals and organisations that contribute significantly to the convergence of economies and truly add value for all stakeholders. The judging panel reviewed three companies for the selection of the award. CFI.co (Capital Finance International), is a print journal and online resource reporting on business, economics and finance.


Confinvest: Best Financial Services Value Creation IPO Europe 2019

Gold has underpinned world financial markets for centuries, and in times of trouble, coins and ingots of the precious metal are a stable investment. Confinvest has a 40-year history of strengthening Italy’s position in national reserves, and the Milanese company has seen 25 percent growth since the beginning of the year. Cofinvest is a crucial link between institutional investors, retail customers and banks. It has earned its reputation as a trusted custodian of assets, and its offices – In front of the stock exchange building in Piazza degli Affari– have secure vaults for physical storage. Confinvest also has comprehensive insurance, to ensure peace-of-mind. Clients maintain control of their investments via the company’s digital platform, where they can monitor market rates and request liquidation or return. The company listed on the stock exchange in mid-2019 and promotes its services through Italian banking networks and its digital platform. Confinvest runs business with a Midas touch: 2019 showed an 85 percent increase in turnover over the previous year, with EBITDA up tenfold — and shareholders can expect to see that reflected in dividend payments. The CFI.co judging panel names Confinvest winner of the 2019 award for Best Financial Services Value Creation IPO (Europe).


Tirelli & Partners: Best Exclusive Residential Property Consultancy Italy 2020

Tirelli & Partners’ property book reads like the setlist of modern fairy tales: a Roman penthouse with a two-tiered terrace, a Tuscan villa complete with vineyard and winery, a Sardinian resort with stables, paddocks and riding school. Tirelli & Partners provides high-quality, high-touch care and customised consultancy and intermediary services for exclusive residential and commercial properties. Clients have praised Tirelli for its professionalism, assistance and advice, from conception and product-planning to marketing and commercial initiatives. Furthermore Tirelli & Partners set the standard with the quality of its marketing material. Using the highest quality and cutting edge technology, its virtual and augmented reality and trackable application provides its clients with the best results.

As a globally certified B Corporation and an Italian Benefit Company, Tirelli & Partners aspires to more than profit margins. The B-Corp designation refers to 3,200 companies — in over 150 sectors and 70 countries — that have pledged to follow a “non-extractive” business model that safeguards the environment and provides shared benefits for all. In 2019, it established the non-profit Cambia Mente (Changing Mindsets) Association to pursue, promote and propagate the benefits of responsible capitalism. The CFI.co judging panel believes in this new reality of shared prosperity and progress, and declares Tirelli & Partners as the 2020 winner of the Best Exclusive Residential Property Consultancy (Italy) award.


Tony's Chocolonely: Most Socially Responsible Chocolatier Global 2020

The world’s love affair with chocolate is an enduring one, but the sweet treat can be the product of dark practices. Modern slavery and illegal child labour still exists on cacao farms in some parts of the world – cacao is the tree and the bean, cocoa is the fermented product – but conscientious chocolatiers are committed to eradicating the practice. One such champion of change is Tony's Chocolonely. The Dutch chocolatier takes issue with the status quo, where a few giants dominate the world market and drive the price of cocoa so low that it creates a poverty trap for farmers and contributes to illegal child labour and modern slavery. There are millions of cacao farms worldwide and many more chocolate consumers, but the riches stay concentrated in corporations ruled more by profit margins than social progress. Tony's Chocolonely, “crazy about chocolate and serious about people”, has developed a three-point roadmap to make slave-free chocolate the worldwide norm, leading by example. It works with cacao farming communities, encouraging them to allow children to pitch in after school and learn about the family trade, but to understand and enforce the firm line against illegal child labour. It advises retailers and consumers to demand slave-free chocolate. Tony's Chocolonely puts its advocacy to action throughout its operations by investing in long-term partnerships with cacao co-operatives to increase productivity and profits. It prides itself on the transparency and traceable accountability of its entire supply chain. Tony's Chocolonely issues an open call to “choco-friends” to collaborate on best practices and unite to advance a common cause. The CFI.co judging panel applauds the company’s efforts to inspire an industry to action, and declares Tony's Chocolonely as winner of the 2020 award for Most Socially Responsible Chocolatier (Global).


MullenLowe salt: Best Sustainability Strategy Adviser UK 2020

Environmental social governance has become a mainstream corporate concern for investors and consumers are increasingly conscientious about the companies they support. Over the past two decades, MullenLowe salt has helped some of the world's biggest businesses implement purpose-driven change and establish a positive corporate culture. The company specialises in marketing and communications and promises to "make the complex simple and the simple compelling". MullenLowe salt helps companies articulate their mission and identify social and sustainability programmes that fit the brand and business model. Mullenlowe salt achieved B-Corp certification in 2015 with a commitment to balance purpose and profit. lt takes care of its team and prioritises employees' wellbeing, mental health and development. lt welcomes the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, which have raised awareness of challenges such as climate change and set adaptation guidelines for businesses. MullenLowe salt calls for a universal standard to assess sustainability performance. The company joined the Mullenlowe Group just after it underwent a  corporate rebranding and adopted their logo - a Challenger Octopus wearing boxing gloves - to highlight its bundled offering for a global network of more than 6,4000 employees, 90 offices, four subsidiaries and 65 global markets. The CFl.co judging Panel applauds the bold progress of MullenLowe salt, the 2020 winner of the award for Best Sustainability Strategy Adviser (UK).


Origo Capital: Best Sustainable Alternative Investment Manager Nordics 2020

Founded in 2011, Sweden’s Origo Capital is an alternative investment firm that doesn’t believe in “chasing Mr Market”. Why would it, when its own approach is proving so successful? Origo Capital favours a long-term focus on active and engaged ownership. The firm invests in companies with sustainable business models and conducts in-depth analyses to identify the most promising prospects of the small- and mid-cap Nordic market. Origo Capital applies sound risk management and avoids investment opportunities that fall outside its area of expertise. The firm introduced its first fund — Origo Quest 1 — in 2013. Over the past five years, that fund has beaten the market with 11 percent, achieving an average net exposure of 40 percent and annualised returns of around 10 percent. Origo gives credit to its experienced team and the business vision of its investees as well as its value-driven approach. The firm collaborates with companies as an investor with long-term vision, setting long holding horizons at a minimum of three years. Portfolio diversification is strengthened through short-sell holdings targeting underestimated risk levels in relation to valuation. Origo Capital believes maximum value comes from responsible investing principles. As a member of the Swedish Sustainable Investment Forum, Origo weighs environmental and ethical considerations in all decision making and investors can expect to see a new range of investment products on offer. The CFI.co judging panel congratulates the firm on its dependable approach, and presents Origo Capital with the 2020 award for Best Sustainable Alternative Investment Manager (Nordics).