Taurus Group: Best Digital Asset Infrastructure Provider Switzerland 2021

Taurus Group has earned the trust of global financial institutions — in record time. It was established in 2018 in Geneva to launch one of the world’s first regulated digital asset exchanges. It built the most complete digital asset platform ever seen — from the ground up. Taurus has a full-service solution for banks, exchanges, technology providers and asset owners, as well as managers with a single platform for the issuing, onboarding, management and booking of tokenised securities and digital currencies, covering any type of asset on any standard. Clients can digitalise and tokenise private assets and manage cryptocurrency assets within a simple, secure, next-generation infrastructure. Taurus offers four battle-tested and future-proof products: PROTECT, CAPITAL, EXPLORER and TRADE. PROTECT is a custody platform supporting crypto currencies, tokenised assets and digital currencies. CAPITAL enables all-in-one asset servicing operations. EXPLORER provides SaaS blockchain nodes and indexing to help clients reduce costs and scale faster, while TRADE offers competitive and transparent pricing across a wide asset coverage. Taurus engineers make up 70 percent of the Swiss company’s staff. It has distinguished itself with expertise that crosses into financial services and regulations. Taurus has claimed more than half of its home market share and will use future funding rounds to fuel its expansion plans. The CFI.co judging panel presents Taurus Group with the 2021 award for Best Digital Asset Infrastructure Provider (Switzerland).


WiseEnergy: Best Solar Asset Manager UK 2021

[caption id="attachment_8895" align="aligncenter" width="748"] WiseEnergy Global Managing Director: Rebecca Carter[/caption]

Founded in 2008, WiseEnergy manages and optimises solar assets for its parent company, NextEnergy Capital Group, and external clients worldwide. WiseEnergy guides clients along every step of the investment process, from construction to long-term operational asset management. It has more than 1,500 solar assets under management, representing a €4bn value and a power capacity of 2.3 gigawatts. WiseEnergy has made ESG a strategic priority (building on its biodiversity experience in the UK) ,and has a welcoming work culture with a 120-person team of professionals from diverse backgrounds providing global insights and local connections. The team is well versed in remote working technologies, and the company has introduced additional layers to ensure that every member feels connected to the whole — despite Covid-caused isolation. For example, WiseEnergy focuses on mental health and support for employees, and hosts monthly virtual update and strategy sessions to maintain connectivity and reaffirm its vision for the year ahead. All employees are passionate about a ruthless focus on performance, a strong commitment to ESG, and personal initiative for innovation and continuous improvement. Superior returns are achieved by maximising asset-generated revenue, reducing asset operational expenditure and executing risk mitigation for our clients. In this way, WiseEnergy maximises upside and also avoids losses for example by ensuring a proactive “spare part” procurement strategy . WiseEnergy is working to expedite the transition to clean energy — and is convinced that its market-leading investor returns will continue to provide momentum to the movement. The CFI.co judging panel salutes a small organisation with an outsized global impact, presenting WiseEnergy with the 2021 award for Best Solar Asset Manager (UK).


SIS Group of Schools: Best International Educational Institution South East Asia 2021

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With an unpredictable world, how does a good school prepare students for their future? Why is quality education becoming increasingly unaffordable in many developing countries?

The SIS Group of Schools and its Singaporean Founder Jaspal Sidhu have a joint purpose to establish quality schools at affordable tuition fees. Using 3 well-established and globally recognised curricula (Singapore, Cambridge and the International Baccalaureate), SIS has established a strong presence in South East Asia, with a comprehensive network in Indonesia and regional representation in India, Myanmar and South Korea. Today SIS is establishing more footprints in these geographies in a strategic partnership with the International Finance Corporation (World Bank).

The SIS Group of Schools welcomes students into a holistic, nurturing and safe environment where year-round inter-disciplinary projects test knowledge and understanding of multiple subjects. SIS leadership and teachers collaborate actively throughout the Group, guiding their students’ educational development and overall well-being. The unique collaboration eco-system has allowed the Group to make great strides to cut annual costs for students to boost educational inclusion and spur regional socio-economic development. This saw the Group being awarded the 2019 Financial Times-IFC (World Bank) Global Transformational Award for education.

Besides high academic achievements, the SIS Group of Schools also focuses on 21st century skills like Perseverance, Analytical Thinking, Collaboration and Entrepreneurism. SIS students have moved on to top universities in the region and other parts of the globe.

The CFI.co judging panel congratulates the SIS Group of Schools on winning the 2021 award for Best International Educational Institution (South East Asia).

More on the Group's CEO here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKZ2fligFbc

SIS Group Founder and Chairman Jaspal Sidhu: Making Quality Education Affordable

Further information: press


Cessatech A/S: Best Medical Treatment IPO Nordics 2020

Cessatech credits the substantial oversubscription of its recent IPO to a high-calibre team with strong skills and a collaborative work ethic. The Danish pharmaceuticals company invites investors to reimagine healthcare in the context of evidence-based treatment specially designed for children. Cessatech starts with drugs that have already proven effective in adults, but have yet to be adapted to address children’s unmet medical needs. It fast-tracks clinical trials — without compromising on strict standards of quality and safety — to develop innovative solutions with a reduced risk profile and a shorter time to market. The company’s leadership team brings a diverse range of experiences to the table, from drug development and paediatric analgesic research to product launches and capital raising. The pipeline product (CT001) is an analgesic non-invasive nasal spray for children experiencing acute pain, including that caused by medical procedures. Cessatech based the development of the drug on a decade’s worth of clinical experience. The treatment has shown promising preliminary results in a collaborative five-year retrospective study and was proven safe and effective through a clinical Phase II trial at Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), which is where Cessatech began as an offshoot project. Cessatech will begin late-stage development of the drug this year. Other products in the pipeline include a solution for MRI sedation and a local anaesthetic gel. The CFI.co judging panel is pleased to announce Cessatech as the winner of the 2020 award for Best Medical Treatment IPO (Nordics).


Jaguar Land Rover: Best Corporate Treasury UK 2021

Jaguar Land Rover invites the world to consider the future of luxury motoring with its global Reimagine campaign. It underscores the company’s ambition to set new benchmarks for environmental, societal and community initiatives. British brands Jaguar and Land Rover are automotive icons, and that brand equity has been bolstered by a treasury department that has kept the company well positioned to deal with the unexpected. That readiness was put to test with the Covid crisis, which caused a two-month plant closure and a Q1 sales decline of over 40 percent. The treasury department, which also handles investor relations, took a forward-thinking approach to maintaining sufficient liquidity to be able to manage an unplanned event like Covid, giving the company time to manage costs and  facilitate a speedy recovery. After issuing €1bn of 5 and 7 year bonds in November and December of 2019, the company had £3.6bn available in cash as well as £1.9bn in undrawn committed credit facilities going into the pandemic at the end of March 2020. This gave Jaguar Land Rover the ability to absorb Covid and potential Brexit risk and quickly bounce back, achieving £439m in Q3 pre-tax profits and £562m in free cashflow. The company weathered the pressure on cashflow through Covid with shrewd cost management and spending cutbacks. The Treasury has since issued another $1.35 billion of 5 and 7 year bonds with innovative financing structures in October and December of 2020. to continue to stay ahead of the curve on liquidity The CFI.co judging panel salutes the department that has helped to keep the company’s tank full — and its insurance policies up to date. Jaguar Land Rover takes the 2021 award for Best Corporate Treasury (UK).


BBVA Asset Management: Most Responsible Investment Management Team Spain 2021

BBVA Asset Management (AM) has set out to integrate sustainability commitments throughout every aspect of the organisation. BBVA asset managers prioritise sustainability as key for long-term impacts, and have begun to integrate ESG criteria throughout the investment process. The firm urges industry stragglers to get on-board or risk getting left behind as new EU regulations change the investment landscape. BBVA AM has seen a surge of demand for ESG-focused products from clients and investors, and it expects this to become a core part of its business model. It conducts an ESG analysis to measure carbon emissions and environmental practices of each company in its portfolio. Social impacts and governance practices are also considered. BBVA AM serves as the investment management arm of BBVA Group in Spain, where the group is headquartered, as well as Portugal, Luxembourg, Turkey, Mexico, Peru, Colombia and Argentina. The firm builds on more than 40 years of experience in asset management and has more than 700 employees, including 150 internationally certified investment experts. With €110bn in AUM, BBVA AM offers three flagship vehicles for responsible investing: a sustainable development equity fund, sustainable fixed-income fund, and a sustainable balanced fund. BBVA AM has distributed nearly €1.2m between 28 charities as part of its sustainable balanced fund, BBVA Futuro Sostenible, and plans to share another €1m between 23 projects this year. The CFI.co judging panel presents BBVA Asset Management with the 2021 award for Most Responsible Investment Management Team (Spain).

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Asteria Investment Managers: Best ESG Impact Investment Strategy Europe 2021

Geneva-based Asteria Investment Managers takes its name from a variety of starfish known for its ability to regenerate its limbs. The metaphor neatly describes the company’s aspirations towards the regenerative economy. People and planet is the phrase used by Asteria to sum up the company’s approach to ethical investing. Asteria is one of a new generation of independent asset management companies dedicated to impact investing, accelerating the transition to a sustainable socio-economic system, putting the human being and the planet’s ecosystems at its heart. Impact investing combines the generation of financial returns with support for companies demonstrating a measurable social or environmental benefit – and is the principal objective at Asteria. The company was founded in 2019 but its investment professionals have more than 20 years’ experience. Asteria has at its core a commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals, used by investors to evaluate corporate behaviour. It uses ESGs to guide its strategy, using capital as an agent of change, encouraging a move towards sustainable and fair economies. It places long-term positive performance at the same level of importance as impact generation. The company, which manages both private and listed asset classes, devotes time and resource to large-scale, sophisticated research to guide its pursuit of investment solutions which lead to positive environmental impact. The company embraces its responsibility, not only in guiding investment strategies, but also ensuring it generates a small environmental footprint, while guaranteeing a job and lifestyle balance for its employees. The judging panel is pleased to present Asteria Investment Managers with the 2021 award for Best ESG Impact Investment Strategy Europe.


Carne Group Financial Services: Best Fund Services Team Ireland 2020

Carne Group is trusted by the world’s leading asset managers, insurance companies, pension funds and wealth managers to manage their governance, compliance, regulatory and substance requirements. Carne, founded in 2004, is a global leader of outsourced fund management solutions. It is headquartered in Ireland with offices in the financial districts of Luxembourg, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Portugal, the UK, the US, and the Channel Islands. Carne deploys a team of 270 professionals – comprised of 25 nationalities, and including 30 accountants and 10 lawyers – to support a roster of some 500 clients. Carne has achieved gender parity in its diverse team, which fosters long-term relationships with clients. It delivers innovative management solutions for everything from data and due diligence to compliance, risks and operations. Carne combines over 16 years of industry and local expertise with institutional best-practice and is a governance and substance provider for Asset Managers with more than $1tn in AUM. Its management, governance and fund services are supported by Carne’s industry leading technology and risk driven platform, CORR (Compliance, Oversight, Risk & Reporting). The CFI.co judging panel is pleased to present Carne Group Financial Services with the 2020 award for the Best Fund Services Team (Ireland).


National Hotels Company: Best Hospitality Corporate Governance Bahrain 2021

Bahrain can trace its history back to one of the world’s most ancient civilisations, and boasts an alluring mix of Arabic architecture and modern amenities. National Hotels Company rolls out a welcome for business travellers, long-term residents, tourists and short-stay guests to the kingdom. It ensures that its business objectives are reached and obligations to shareholders and stakeholders are fulfilled by following sound governance practices. National Hotels has been a pioneer in the national hospitality sector since the 1970s. There are two flagship properties in its portfolio: the Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa, and the Diplomat Commercial Offices (DCO). The 245-room hotel has 16 meeting rooms and two spacious ballrooms — as well as Bahrain's only rooftop venue — with space for up to 1,800 guests. The DCO, which offers discounts for Diplomat hotel guests, is in the heart of the business district. It provides entrepreneurs with workspaces that have panoramic views of the sea and city as well as easy airport access. National Hotels aligns its corporate governance policy with international standards, best-practice and regional regulations. Honesty and transparency are cornerstones, and the governance structure outlines the responsibilities and duties of the board and executive management team. It sets rigorous standards for safeguarding the interests of company and stakeholders. The CFI.co judging panel presents National Hotels Company with the 2021 award for Best Hospitality Corporate Governance (Bahrain).


Tolomeo Capital: Best Technology Investment Team Switzerland 2021

Zurich-headquartered Tolomeo Capital was established in 2011 as a spin-off from the quant and risk management unit of one of Switzerland’s largest institutional family offices. The firm is licensed and regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority to operate as an asset manager of collective investment schemes. Tolomeo Capital has assembled a team of professionals with strong analytical backgrounds and complementary skills in investment and risk management, financial mathematics and software engineering. The team translates innovations into tradable quantitative models, focusing on quantitative, tech-driven strategies with an emphasis on risk-adjusted returns. A sustainability risk policy excludes investment in controversial industries and companies that score poorly in the MSCI ESG Rating methodology. ESG performance is an integral part of the Tolomeo process, with transparent reporting practices. The firm benefits from a proprietary tech infrastructure that gives control over every detail of the investment process. It aims to create an independent return stream and deliver uncorrelated, long-term alpha via systematic, short-term and price-based trading strategies for liquid, publicly traded equity securities and derivatives. Tolomeo Capital prioritises R&D and collaborative partnerships. It has entered into close co-operation with the Baloise group — one of the country’s largest insurance companies and a Tolomeo Capital shareholder — to develop products and services for systematic, rule-based investing. The CFI.co judging panel presents Tolomeo Capital with the 2021 award for Best Technology Investment Team (Switzerland).


Portobello Capital: Best Mid-Market Investment Partner Iberia 2020

Independent private equity firm Portobello Capital has distinguished itself as a proactive partner of the mid-market investment sphere. The Madrid-based firm was founded in 2010, and its portfolio has grown to include more than 60 investment vehicles and €1.4bn in AUM. Portobello Capital partners with dynamic companies, providing the funding and know-how to maximise value creation. It looks for entrepreneurs who aren’t afraid to challenge convention, and favours bold thoughts and actions. Portobello Capital has successfully raised five funds since its inception — two of them during the pandemic. It has 17 companies in its portfolio and 30 professionals on-staff. Portobello Capital follows a rigorous selection process and invests considerable resources in the recruitment and retention of high-calibre team members. The result is low staff turnover and high employee engagement. Portobello Capital builds trust with stakeholders — employee or client — by always acting with fairness, respect and integrity. It takes the time to understand its clients’ needs, then takes decisive steps to help them. The firm serves a few select family offices, but its main investors are international institutions. Portobello Capital understands how the Spanish market works and leverages the right platforms to facilitate responsible growth. The firm anticipates a growth spurt of its own as it looks to enlarge the size and geographic scope of its portfolio in the near future. The CFI.co judging panel names Portobello Capital winner of the 2020 award for Best Mid-Market Investment Partner (Iberia).


Eric Sturdza Investments: Best Boutique Fund Manager UK 2021

Eric Sturdza Investments is an independent investment fund manager founded in Guernsey in 1999. It serves high-value individuals and large institutional investors. Sturdza has $2.8bn AUM across eight specialised funds.

Their largest fund offering is now in the European equity space. Other funds consider strategic equity opportunities in China, Japan, and around the world. There is also a fixed income fund and a flexible allocation fund within their offering. Two of the funds have a four-star rating from Morningstar. Eric Sturdza Investments also manages investment mandates for large institutional investors.

The CFI.co judging panel is impressed with the commitment to long-term active investment. This includes the building of relationships with companies it invests in to better assess strategy and ESG commitments and active participation in proxy voting. Eric Sturdza Investments is a signatory to the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).

Another strength of the company is its relationships with leading investment advisors. It identifies independent advisors with outstanding track records and innovative strategies. Eric Sturdza Investments provides them with the independence they need to flourish while supporting them with rigorous risk management and oversight.

The CFI.co panel also notes that the board directors are very approachable and have decades of combined experience within the Industry and with the company. Eric Sturdza Investments has a very experienced and dedicated team working in Guernsey with little staff turnover.

It is thus the panel’s pleasure to award Eric Sturdza Investments the 2021 award Best Boutique Fund Manager (UK).


Scottish Friendly: Best Mutual Insurer UK 2021

As a mutual, Scottish Friendly is a mission-driven company, never complacent. The Glasgow-based business has almost 160 years of experience and over 200 employees. Scottish Friendly consists of three main subsidiaries — assurance, asset management and insurance — and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. It has some 700,000 members and manages assets of over £5bn. It recorded its second-highest sales figures during the pandemic, thanks to business continuity plans and rehearsed disaster-prep exercises. The company focused on survival tactics and reacted swiftly to protect the wellbeing of its colleagues and existing customers over driving sales performance.. Remote working was enabled within days of lockdown, setting everyone up on the cloud and ensuring that home offices provided ergonomic working conditions. It launched new products with some partners and restructured relationships with others. It introduced a new ethical investment fund and introduced new functionality to further enhance its mobile app. Over the past year, it has made a conscious choice to support strategies rather than sales figures — for the good of the company, its team and its members. It increased the budget for charity donations whist others detracted and led campaigns that resulted in support for the Trussell Trust Glasgow Foodbank and the Mental Health Foundation. The CFI.co judging panel is impressed to see a company come out the pandemic stronger than it entered. The judges present Scottish Friendly, a repeat programme winner, with the 2021 Best Mutual Insurer (UK) award.


Alaska Permanent Fund: Best SWF Investment Team The Americas 2021

Alaska Permanent Fund (APF) began 45 years ago with an initial contribution of $734,000. Through expert management and a disciplined investment approach, that has grown to a $75bn portfolio. APF ranks as the largest sovereign wealth fund in the US. It was launched to ensure that non-renewable resources would be converted into a sustainable source of intergenerational support for Alaskans. State law mandates that a quarter of any oil and gas royalties be deposited into the fund.  Currently, the annual withdrawal from the earnings that it generates account for 70 percent of the government’s unrestricted general budget. This draw from the earnings provides for government services, including the dividend program for eligible Alaskan residents. The Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation (APFC) is responsible for the fund’s investment and asset management — and it delivers a stand-out performance. APFC is strengthened by a diverse leadership team and staff that aim to protect principal capital and outperform market benchmarks. It forges partnerships with premier external managers to amplify internal investment capacities and broaden the fund’s investment reach. APFC CEO Angela Rodell ushered in an era of transformation for the fund, growing it by more than 25 percent. Under the APFC’s stewardship, the fund has proven to be a key revenue generator, with wise investments ensuring that trend for the future. The CFI.co judging panel presents Alaska Permanent Fund with the 2021 award for Best SWF Investment Team (Americas).


LIFT-Financial: Best Independent Financial Adviser UK 2021

LIFT-Financial’s story began in 2007 when the two founders Michael Holden and Joel Adams established the business. The ethos at the start was expert, professional, fee-based advice with an ethical, client-centred approach. The firm achieved Chartered status within two years — which only a relatively small number of financial planning firms in the UK hold.

LIFT-Financial now has 90 employees, including 19 Chartered financial planners and offices in Cheshire, London, and Edinburgh. Authorised and regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority, LIFT-Financial offers a range of financial planning services, including investments, pensions, tax, mortgages, and insurance. They also provide tailored, comprehensive financial education in the workplace for corporate clients.

In 2011 LIFT-Academy was set-up to cultivate new talent through a combination of an intensive in-house development programme and industry exams. It focuses on professional development, starting with recent graduates and helping them to maximise their qualifications and potential.  Most of their advisers are Fellows of the Personal Finance Society, representing the UK’s Chartered Insurance Institute's highest qualification.

LIFT-Financial takes pride in a transparent business model that puts client care front and centre. It uses a fee-based structure instead of one calculated on percentages to deliver the right outcome for clients. LIFT-Financial partners with corporate businesses to provide the best in workplace education and pension schemes. It approaches clients' financial plans from many angles, including estate planning, cash-flow planning, and good financial housekeeping. It considers clients’ personal and financial goals to create a realistic plan and structure their finances accordingly.

The company aims to exceed the standards of service and advice offered by other firms — and with a healthy influx of new clients from positive word-of-mouth referrals, LIFT-Financial seems to be hitting the mark. The CFI.co judging panel presents LIFT-Financial with the 2021 award for Best Independent Financial Adviser (UK).


Tirupati Graphite: Best Sustainable Value Creation Strategy Global 2021

Graphite has many uses, from the “lead” in your pencil to dry lubricants, high temperature refractories, flame retardants, composites and lithium-ion batteries (LiBs). Tirupati Graphite aims to set the global benchmark for flake graphite and graphene production. The public company has operations in Madagascar and India and was incorporated in London in 2017. Tirupati Graphite employs green technologies to lower its carbon footprint and is committed to increasing sustainability throughout the supply chain. It has achieved outstanding results using its proprietary zero-hydrofluoric acid, zero-waste purification technology in manufacturing trials. Spherical graphite (SPG) is the anode material used in LiBs, and Tirupati Graphite has completed tests for establishing LiB-grade SPG manufacturing plants with a German equipment specialist. Plant development was fast-tracked to beat the original completion target of July 2022, and the firm is already in talks with manufacturers of electric vehicles (EVs), batteries and anodes. The company points to growing EV adoption and stresses on the importance of aligning production capacity with sustainability in value creation and markets. Tirupati has a network of green-tech facilities for graphite processing and graphene manufacturing being fully integrated in its space. It has achieved impressive growth over a short time, ranking in the top five flake graphite companies worldwide. China, the world’s foremost commercial producer, should prepare for some healthy – and green – competition. The CFI.co judging panel presents Tirupati Graphite with the 2021 global award for Best Sustainable Value Creation Strategy.


Tendance Finance: Best Alternative Investment Advisory Team France 2021

Tendance Finance has differentiated itself from the masses with its investment approach. The Parisian firm, founded in 2011, has developed a market strategy that targets one asset, and one trend. It seeks investment opportunities in the global investment universe, and consolidates equity and bond markets as a single asset with equal risks and matching direction. Then it applies a long-bias with reactive risk management to protect clients’ capital. Tendance Finance has created a proprietary grading system — the Global Pooling Index — to identify products with the best relative momentum, which feeds into its ever-growing index of market data. The firm aims to deliver healthy long-term results — regardless of economic conditions — and deploys systematic strategies to ensure dynamically managed core exposure to equity and sovereign bond markets. Tendance Finance trades only in liquid, listed futures and caters services to suit the needs of institutional and accredited professional investors. Tendance Finance was formed with the support of New Alpha AM, a subsidiary of La Française AM Group. The firm is guided by a leadership team that has deep expertise in the fields of alternative and traditional investing. The CFI.co judging panel was impressed with the firm’s novel approach to consolidated asset-management and confirms Tendance Finance as the 2021 winner of the award for Best Alternative Investment Advisory Team (France).


Volante Technologies: Best Payments & Financial Messaging Solutions Global 2021

As the financial services industry faces new challenges in bringing secure, fast, and compliant payment options to their clients, Volante Technologies’ cloud-native solutions simplify and automate complex processes in payments and financial messaging.

Volante Technologies is a global fintech leader that processes trillions of dollars in daily transactions, providing mission-critical solutions for some of the world’s largest banks, market infrastructures, exchanges, clearing houses and card networks. It has a presence in 35 countries and claims a substantial slice of the payments pie, counting four of the world’s top five corporate banks as customers. Volante customers account for 40 percent of all US commercial bank deposits, and 70 percent of worldwide card traffic.

Volante also implements a client-centric approach to “wow” customers with its suite of simple, innovative and transformative solutions. Maximizing client value is a key priority. Volante has over 100 clients globally, many of whom have enjoyed reductions in project costs of nearly 62%, and an associated 70% acceleration in the time required to deploy new payments products. Volante is happy to join clients at the drawing board — or in a video conference — to solve problems hand-in-hand as a trusted partner.

The US-headquartered company was established 20 years ago with a long-term strategy: it offers worldwide cloud-based or on-premise solutions for payment modernisation, real-time/instant payments, end-to-end domestic and cross-border payment processing as a service, financial messaging, and ISO 20022 migration. The ISO 20022 standard has proven invaluable to the finance industry for the streamlined processing, payment data and enhanced inter-operability it affords, and Volante helps clients along the adoption curve.

Based on its innovative fintech solutions and consistent high level of customer satisfaction, the company has impressed the CFI.co judging panel, which declares Volante Technologies the 2020 winner of the global award for Best Payments & Financial Messaging Solutions.


Applied Systems: Best Cloud-Based Insurance Software Provider US 2021

Founded in 1983, Applied Systems has cornered the market for cloud-based insurance software. The multinational company has offices in the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland, and employs 1,600 people. Applied Systems has cultivated a work culture that inspires camaraderie and collaboration, and encourages innovation. Applied Systems partners with insurance agencies and brokerages to help protect consumers. According to independent assessment, half of all property and casualty insurance agencies use Applied Systems’ tech, as do almost all independent agencies and brokers in America. Applied Systems software solutions increase information exchange, automate workflows and enhance communication. The firm helps to unlock and analyse raw data to support informed decision-making. It has developed a broker management system, Applied Epic, to meet the specific regulatory and market needs of different countries. Applied Systems believes that the pandemic spurred the insurance industry to pack three years of digital transition into a three-month period. The pioneering company has contributed to the growth of the global industry. Insurers, agencies and brokers know that Applied Systems has the technology covered, allowing them to focus on growing the business and serving clients. Applied Systems received a nine-figure investment in 2018 from CapitalG, Google’s growth equity investment fund, which has fuelled research into AI and machine-learning. The CFI.co judging panel presents Applied Systems with the 2021 award for Best Cloud-Based Insurance Software Provider (US).


CIMB Bank PH: Best Digital Banking Solutions Philippines 2021

Established in the Philippines in 2018, CIMB Bank has achieved remarkable growth at lightning pace. Customer acquisition has increased by 103 percent, now sitting at three million. There has been an 800 percent increase in deposits and a 500 percent jump in loan disbursements. CIMB Bank offers savings interest rates of up to four percent, higher than any of the country’s major institutions. CIMB’s end-to-end digital app has streamlined onboarding, and clients can open a savings account or apply for a loan within 10 minutes. The loan portfolio is strengthened by a credit-scoring model that allows for the inclusion of previously unbanked, but credit-worthy, citizens. About a third of CIMB savings account holders — and 60 percent of its loan applicants — are first-time bank users. CIMB is a digital pioneer offering AI-enhanced features for facial recognition, ID authentication, and loan risk-scoring. It uses algorithms to analyse smartphone metadata, predict behavioural patterns and assign credit scores — within seconds. CIMB Bank promotes financial literacy through social media campaigns — #MoneyMattersMonday, #WealthWisdomWednesday, and #FinancialFreedomFriday — and teaches basic financial skills on its YouTube channel. Satisfied customers serve as the bank’s unofficial brand ambassadors in online communities, where they praise its strong services and social commitments. The CFI.co judging panel presents CIMB Bank PH, a repeat programme winner, with the 2021 award for Best Digital Banking Solutions (Philippines).


Rubicon: Best SaaS Smart City Solutions US 2021

Rubicon is a software platform that works with businesses and governments around the world to develop solutions designed to end waste. It does this by helping its partners find economic value in their waste streams and confidently execute on their sustainability goals. Rubicon was founded in Kentucky in 2008 by Nate Morris, an entrepreneur who sought to address the growing global problem of the accumulation of waste and its harmful effect on the environment. Morris started out with a $10,000 line of credit and turned it into a billion-dollar business. The B Corp certified company has almost five million service locations across 20 countries on five continents. Rubicon offers waste and recycling services, fleet management and smart city enablement. It partners with clients worldwide to facilitate the transition to a zero-waste future, using big data and analytics to increase efficiencies, cut costs and implement preparedness plans. Rubicon has developed software-as-a-service (SaaS) packages for municipal clients, enabling governments to put taxpayer dollars to good use and protect environmental resources. By helping municipal departments to digitalise their operations, Rubicon supports cities’ sustainability objectives while also collecting and compiling data to enable them to optimize their waste management operations. Tech-empowered cities can make data-driven decisions to end waste in all its forms: time, money, energy, human capital and resources. It allows the delivery of systemic, sustainable, positive change, and keeps taxpayer savings front and centre. Nothing removes roadblocks faster than a measurable return on investment. The CFI.co judging panel is pleased to present Rubicon with the 2021 award for Best SaaS Smart City Solutions (US).


PwC Middle East: Best Business & Tax Services Provider Middle East 2021

[caption id="attachment_9086" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Hani Ashkar, PwC Middle East Senior Partner (left) and Mark Schofield, Middle East Tax & Legal Services Leader (right)[/caption]

PwC’s response to Covid-19 illustrates why it is a trusted provider of tax and business services worldwide. In the Middle East, as well as globally, the company’s purpose is to build trust in society and help solve complex problems. PwC is also committed to helping local companies globalise and global companies localise.

The region’s businesses were already familiar with the challenges of geopolitical tensions, demographic shifts, the impact of technology and the need to diversify economies. Then came the pandemic – and with it a need to adapt rapidly. The crisis prompted Middle Eastern states to implement both emergency and other longer-term tax measures to protect their economies, significantly increasing the complexity of tax compliance.

PwC, with experienced teams on the ground, has steered businesses and private clients through a complex maze of new obligations, while also offering advice to governments on strategies.

PwC set up innovative and dedicated advice and information web pages and held regular webinars to explain the diverse issues. Specialist teams within PwC were also able to draw on their global network of specialists to give tailored guidance to clients.

A key to the success of PwC’s operations on the ground is developing local talent and expertise, essential to improve levels of trust with local companies. PwC believes the pandemic is an opportunity for Middle Eastern businesses to focus on broader economic, political and societal themes, and ways in which opportunities for growth around these can best be achieved.

The firm, which carries out regular research, is working with clients on sustainability, technology and upskilling goals, offering a range of solutions to deal with the challenges and complexities around these.

The judging panel recognises PwC for exceptional client services in difficult times and is pleased to confirm the 2021 award: Best Business & Tax Services Provider Middle East.


Verdant Capital: Best FinTech Capital Raising Team Africa 2021

Founded in 2013, Verdant Capital is a leading corporate finance advisor and fintech specialist in Africa. Using its extensive investment experience and contacts, it is playing an increasingly important role in the pan-African fintech space. Its track record is garnering international attention and has caught the eyes of the CFI.co judging panel. In 2020, it closed three fintech deals with a total value of $40m. These three involved a subscription car company in South Africa, an innovative lease--financing company in East Africa, and a fintech SME-lender to SMEs in South Africa. It is expecting an even stronger 2021 with perhaps double the number of deals. As it continues to build its pipeline, Verdant Capital is also expanding its global reach. It currently has five offices across the continent. The team also has strong investment banking experience and contacts in North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Verdant Capital is the partner firm for its region for leading global M&A partnership, IMAP. The CFI.co judges are also impressed with the breadth of its services. Verdant goes beyond private debt and equity raising. It also has extensive experience in M&A and debt restructuring advisory services. This includes debt renegotiations, distressed refinancing and distressed M&A. CFI.co judges are pleased to present Verdant Capital the 2021 award Best FinTech Capital Raising Team (Africa).


Carey: Best Corporate Services Team UK 2021

Carey is a locally owned company of legal professionals in Guernsey, in theChannel Islands. It has been in operation for more than 45 years, putting into practice the values to which many others pay only lip service. The firm has created a collaborative work culture and united individuals with a shared passion for good governance and transparent reporting. Carey deploys a 60-person team to support 180 client groups in 50 countries with a comprehensive range of corporate, fund, and private wealth services. Carey takes the time to understand the “why” behind clients’ motives before formulating an action plan. It can assist with a range of services: administration of fund structures, stock exchange listings, property portfolios, philanthropic structures, succession planning and more. Carey creatively partners with clients on sustainability issues, using good governance to apply best practices, track environmental and social impacts, and support informed decision-making at board level. It offers answers to crucial questions that often go unasked and works with blue-chip corporations, fund managers, family offices and foundations to avoid potential pitfalls, strengthen accountability and ensure compliance. Carey donates time as a corporate service provider to the  region’s sustainable finance strategy group that forms part of Guernsey’s membership of the UN’s Financial Centres for Sustainability and supports regulated sustainability fund accreditation. The firm challenges expectations and goes above and beyond for its clients. The CFI.co judging panel declares Carey winner of the 2021 award for Best Corporate Services Team (UK).


Orbian: Most Innovative Trade Finance Solutions Global 2021

ORBIAN is the longest tenured Supply Chain Finance (SCF) provider. They have been providing SCF solutions for over 20 years and financing over $230 billion in trade flows to-date for leading Fortune 500 & Global 500 companies. ORBIAN is 100% dedicated to Buyer-centric SCF solutions including their Traditional Supply Chain Finance product and, more recently, Express SCF (xSCF) and Virtual Card (e-Card) offerings.

A pioneer in its industry at many levels, ORBIAN launched, in 2010, the first bank-agnostic multi-bank SCF Program ever implemented in Europe and in 2014, ORBIAN was first company to provide SCF to Mainland China.

Orbian universal funding structure, combined with their SCF technology platform, allows them to offer comprehensive SCF solutions and services to large corporate clients globally and programs with virtually unlimited funding capacity, while mitigating the funding and operational risks inherent in all other SCF offerings. Their streamlined and award-winning onboarding process ensures best-in-class customer experience.

Orbian’s financial, legal and technology experts work closely with clients to ensure swift and seamless SCF implementation, using an approach that covers business process, strategy design and IT integration and build a substructure to manage supplier engagement, documentation and onboarding.

ORBIAN has maintained its industry-leading position through the years by annually investing about 15% of revenue into the continuous improvement of technology, team skills and customer experience and by being a recognised thought leader in themes that bring the industry forward. A recent example is ORBIAN’s work around sustainable Supply Chain Finance in order to become a key player in the ESG agenda in the financial sector.

Headquartered in Carlsbad, CA with offices in London (UK) and Munich (Germany), Orbian provides global customer support for our clients in a variety of languages. The CFI.co judges recognise Orbian with the 2021 global award for Most Innovative Trade Finance Solutions.


Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel: Best Luxury Landmark Resort Experience GCC 2021

Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel is like a scene from an Arabian fairy tale, nestled between the Gulf of Oman and the Al-Hajar mountains. The resort has been converted into a Ritz-Carlton hotel, combining modern amenities with traditional aesthetics to deliver a five-star experience. Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel sits on 200 acres, including the longest beach in Muscat. Guests enter through a domed portal with intricately inlaid walls and are welcomed with local treats served on terraces overlooking lush gardens, pools and picturesque landscapes. Diners at the four resort restaurants can feast their eyes on the views while taking their tastebuds on their own gastronomic holiday. The resort has 250 rooms as well as a spa, meeting spaces and a ballroom. There are six swimming pools, including one reserved for children, and a ladies-only beach — a first for the sultanate. Local Omanis make up half of the ladies and gentlemen and Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel benefits from a leadership team with cross-sector experience and a track record of operational expertise. There is constant market study to ensure a competitive offering for guests, and the secluded resort, with its expansive gardens and terraces, has become a favourite meeting point for heads of state — and an oasis of beauty during the pandemic. The CFI.co judging panel presents Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel with the 2021 award for Best Luxury Landmark Resort Experience (GCC).


Tirelli & Partners: Best Exclusive Residential Property Consultancy Italy 2021

The motto of Milan-based Tirelli & Partners, a leading European name in luxury real estate, is: “Every day we unlearn to better learn”. The maxim illustrates the company’s absolute commitment to innovation – but that ambition was tested when the Covid-19 pandemic hit Italy in early 2020. Company founder, Marco Tirelli remained sanguine. While viewings were closed down, Tirelli & Partners concentrated on staying connected to clients, using cutting-edge video and web technology to keep the wheels turning. Marco Tirelli, in a US radio interview in March 2020, said: “We are not in the real estate business, we’re in the human relationship business.” The company has a progressive approach to business – putting honesty, transparency and integrity at the core of its operations. Tirelli & Partners, in business for almost 35 years, was the first estate agency in Italy to obtain Benefit Corporation (B Corp) certification, joining a global list of more than 3,000 businesses, across 150 industries in 70 countries, who have chosen to commit to being a positive force for change. Tirelli achieved this accolade for its pledge to aspire to more than profit margins, following instead a “non-extractive” business model that safeguards the environment and provides shared benefits for all. Business priorities have been redefined – it’s not just about profit, but choosing to focus on the well-being of people, social cohesion and the regeneration of natural environments. For the second year in succession, the Cfi.co judges are pleased to declare Tirelli & Partners the 2021 winner of the Best Exclusive Residential Property Consultancy Italy award.


SegurCaixa Adeslas: Best Insurer Spain 2021

SegurCaixa Adeslas is a leading health insurer in Spain, where strict Covid measures have included a three-month national lockdown, border closures and other types of restrictions that have affected the daily activity of people and businesses. Despite the difficult year, SegurCaixa Adeslas has achieved superior growth +2,9 percent (vs +1,1% non-life insurance market) and new competencies. It has developed a robust digital platform known as Adeslas Salud y Bienestar and introduced tools so policyholders can manage their personal health programmes in a secure and convenient way. The digital health initiative has proven successful, and patients have expressed their confidence in the online support system. SegurCaixa Adeslas measures its success with a mix of customer satisfaction and business ambition — a mindset that has helped it to outperform average market growth and claim 30,4 percent of health insurance market share in 2020 (+6,2% vs 2019). There are 1,250 medical centres and 43,000 medical professionals in the SegurCaixa Adeslas network that, despite the fact that health policies do not explicitly cover pandemics, they have cared for more than 22,000 insured infected by Covid since the beginning of the pandemic. The company offers a wide range of non-life insurance products, with healthcare as its primary Line of Business and specialised offers for individuals, businesses and senior people, as well as home, motor, personal accident and funeral insurance. SegurCaixa Adeslas recognised that many people have been hard-hit in recent months and for this reason it reinforced the development of its MyBox product line, sold exclusively through the bancassurance channel, which offers 3 years without premium increases. This step forward also has other dimensions, such as the inclusion of service quality commitments and accompanying the client throughout the life cycle of the policy for a more satisfactory insurance experience. SegurCaixa Adeslas contributed €2.7m to the sector-sponsored solidarity fund to protect Spanish healthcare workers, and launched its own €160m liquidity fund for the medical staff and hospital providers in its network. The CFI.co judging panel presents SegurCaixa Adeslas, a repeat programme winner, with the 2021 award for Best Insurer (Spain).


National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited (NCB): Best Digital Banking Services Caribbean 2020

The home page of the National Commercial Bank Jamaica’s website shows a young man smiling happily as he reaches for a smart phone. “Bank on the go, 24/7, with the mobile app,” says the caption – an illustration of how the bank is moving rapidly towards a digital future. NCB has a reputation for being ahead of the curve in banking innovation – it issued the first Jamaican credit card in 1981, for instance. Since its inception as the Colonial Bank of London in 1837, it has grown to become a dominant force in the island’s financial sector, and recognised as one of the safest banks in the Caribbean. Even so, the decision to undertake an ambitious core banking digital upgrade in 2019 was seen as a major challenge. There were inevitable glitches as NCB began the process of overhauling and modernising its systems, but it overcame problems quickly and openly – and the upgrade came just in time. When Covid-19 hit the island the bank was able to extend digitisation with relative ease. By September 2020 in-bank transactions had been reduced by 70 percent as more customers moved online. One of the principal aims of the Jamaican government’s National Identity Scheme, which is scheduled to be rolled out later in 2021, is the prevention of fraud and identity theft, and NCB believes that, thanks to the digital modernisation, it is well-positioned to help even more Jamaican businesses and individuals to make the move to digital. The judging panel is pleased to present NCB the 2020 award for Best Digital Banking Services Caribbean.


Making Science Group: Best Digital Growth Strategy Spain 2021

The term “digital native” describes a generation instinctively comfortable with technology. Many businesses, however, are still run by “digital immigrants” for whom the tech world can be a confusing place. That’s where the Madrid-based Making Science Group comes in. It’s a young company in every sense, having been founded only five years ago as a technology and digital marketing consultancy specialising in e-commerce and digital transformation. It is driven by dynamic digital natives with a wide knowledge of big data, user experience software development and data-driven creativity. Staff members are encouraged to “learn something new every day” as they strive to offer clients tailor-made brand and advertising strategies. The company prides itself on its expertise in web analytics and user behaviour. It offers a complete digital package, from website design to lead generation. At its core the company has a commitment to innovation, and is a staunch supporter of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) aims, having pledged to a zero-carbon future. It devotes time and resource to staff development, and has created its own charitable foundation, funded by profits. When rare snowstorms disrupted Spain in January 2021, it organised the distribution of coats and blankets to stricken citizens. As part of its international expansion, Making Science acquired Nara Media in 2021, a London-based digital marketing agency specialising in mobile app marketing and measurement. It also operates in Mexico, Portugal, Italy, Colombia and France. The judging panel is pleased to present Making Science Group with the 2021 award for Best Digital Growth Strategy Spain.


Hemisfério Sul Investimentos (HSI): Best Real Estate Private Equity Investor Brazil 2021

Good enough is not enough. These words greet any new employee arriving at Hemisfério Sul Investimentos’ São Paulo headquarters. HSI is Latin America’s largest private equity real estate management business and has a well-defined business strategy constructed under this adage. And though the work is exacting, the majority of senior employees have been with HSI for most of its existence.

The company believes that proactivity is the key to achieving quality investment returns. The leadership consists of a core of experienced professionals with a combined 298 years of knowledge and experience in the sector. The management team prides itself on rising to new challenges and always seeking to improve.

The team puts great weight on its core values: integrity, agility, diligence, and restless curiosity while aiming to resolve challenges with speed and simplicity. Invariably, this involves innovative solutions, and the strategy is working. HSI has raised $5bn in commitments and has returned $2.6bn to investors since its inception. According to CEO Maximo Lima, the team strives to “go the extra mile” in order to create value and exceed the expectations of both investors and partners.

HSI attracts long-term investors to Brazil from across the globe, including the USA, Germany, Switzerland, Singapore, and the UAE. HSI aims to provide top tier returns, achieved through the coordinated action of the entire organisation. By developing optimal strategies for investors, HSI’s experienced management team unlocks growth while mitigating risk.

The Cfi.co judging panel is pleased to present Hemisfério Sul Investimentos with the 2021 award for Best Real Estate Private Equity Investor Brazil.


Domini: Best Impact Investment Advisory United States 2021

[caption id="attachment_9033" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Carole M. Laible: Chief Executive Officer, Domini Impact Investments LLC[/caption]

Domini is heartened by the rising momentum of the impact investment sphere. The US-based mutual fund firm with $2.6 billion assets under management was an early adopter of socially responsible investing and launched its first product in 1991. The niche firm operates on the belief that every each and every dollar spent has an effect, positive or negative. Impact investing starts with individuals who believe, communities that share, and mutual funds that care. The power of small is the greatness of all, Domini believes. The company strives to “grow the pie” and welcomes others to the industry with knowledge-sharing and collaboration. Domini aims to harness the power of finance to build a better world, with universal human dignity and ecological sustainability as the primary goals. It believes impact investment standards provide the roadmap. Domini follows a three-pillar investment approach, applying standards across the process, engaging with investee companies, and investing in communities. It understands that financial systems are only as strong as their foundations, and works to create meaningful progress and concrete community impacts through its portfolio. The firm leverages almost 30 years of research data to make the case for ESG-focused investments for positive impact and returns. The CFI.co judging panel appreciates a company working at grass roots level to build a collective future of resiliency and prosperity, and names Domini winner of the 2021 award for Best Impact Investment Advisory (US).


Domini is heartened by the rising momentum of the impact investment sphere. The US-based mutual fund firm with $2.6 billion assets under management was an early adopter of socially responsible investing and launched its first product in 1991. The niche firm operates on the belief that every each and every dollar spent has an effect, positive or negative. Impact investing starts with individuals who believe, communities that share, and mutual funds that care. The power of small is the greatness of all, Domini believes. The company strives to “grow the pie” and welcomes others to the industry with knowledge-sharing and collaboration. Domini aims to harness the power of finance to build a better world, with universal human dignity and ecological sustainability as the primary goals. It believes impact investment standards provide the roadmap. Domini follows a three-pillar investment approach, applying standards across the process, engaging with investee companies, and investing in communities. It understands that financial systems are only as strong as their foundations, and works to create meaningful progress and concrete community impacts through its portfolio. The firm leverages almost 30 years of research data to make the case for ESG-focused investments for positive impact and returns. The CFI.co judging panel appreciates a company working at grass roots level to build a collective future of resiliency and prosperity, and names Domini winner of the 2021 award for Best Impact Investment Advisory (US).


Stifel Europe: Best Mid-Market Investment Banking Team Europe 2021

Stifel Europe seeks out fast-growing UK and EU companies and connects them to funding from around the world. It stands out in the investment and funding fray with an inclusive culture, a flat organisational structure and an experienced team. The firm has headquarters in London and Frankfurt, with offices in France, Switzerland, Italy and Spain. It offers a range of capital solutions that go beyond equity and debt. A 550-person team develops small and mid-market investment opportunities in the technology, health, fintech and real estate sectors. Stifel liaises and partners with business leaders, institutional investors and market regulators across Europe, giving clients access to opportunities and advancing the scope of its renowned research capabilities. The team works closely with clients to understand each company’s needs and tailor solutions for their specific needs. Stifel Europe’s combination of industry verticals and sector expertise allows for optimal funding flexibility. The organisation contributed to a review of the UK's share-listing regime, led by former EU commissioner Lord Jonathan Hill and released in March. The team was proud to see its advisory contributions considered along with those of industry giants such as HSBC and Citibank. Stifel Europe may be modestly sized, but it’s at the top of its game. The CFI.co judging panel presents Stifel Europe with the 2021 European award for Best Mid-Market Investment Banking Team.


ING Bank (Philippines): Best Wholesale Banking Services Philippines 2021

ING Bank (Philippines) has been providing wholesale banking services in the Philippines since 1990. Since that time, it has built up an outstanding track record in helping local and foreign companies. For example, it has participated in a diverse range of capital raising from plain vanilla bonds and note programs to landmark ESG financing for corporations and financial institutions. Its extensive range of services also includes advisory on prominent local M&As, structured finance, corporate lending, foreign exchange and derivatives. These are provided by a dedicated team of local and international experts and product specialists who tailor every solution to the exact needs of their clients. Clients also benefit from ING’s presence in over 40 countries around the world. ING has also shown a strong commitment to product and market development in the Philippines. In 1996, it was the first foreign bank in the Philippines to receive a universal banking license. In November 2018, it launched an all-digital retail banking platform. The platform is available as a mobile app and makes banking clear and easy. Features include facial recognition technology and instant money transfers. The CFI.co judges also note ING’s leading example on the CSR front. This includes the current partnership with UNICEF in the “Fintech for Impact” program. ING has been lauded by the local trade press and industry bodies many times over the years and now the CFI.co judging panel is delighted to bestow another accolade: ING Bank (Philippines) the 2021 award Best Wholesale Banking Services (Philippines).


Région Île-de-France: Best Sustainability Bond Issuer France 2021

Région Île-de-France is a pioneer of sustainability, issuing green bonds worth €4bn between 2012 and 2020. It was the first European regional authority to cover capital expenditure through green financing. The region accounts for nearly a third of French GDP, and last year launched an €800m Eurobond to finance Covid recovery — the largest and the longest-maturity transaction in its history. It was also the first dual-tranche bond offered by Région Île-de-France, achieving a record high for investor participation and a record low for overall financing costs. Over the past eight years, international investor numbers have doubled, accounting for 52 percent of the base. The authority seeks to improve quality of life with strategic investment and the shrewd management of its main sectors: transport, economic and environmental development, research, secondary education, professional training, employment, social inclusion, housing and culture. Last year, over half of budgeted capital expenditures contributed to the region’s ecological ambitions. This year, the top priorities are to improve responses to the pandemic, implement at least half of regional climate-change commitments, and pursue an investment plan to create 30,000 new high school places. Work continues on digitalisation and energy efficiency for schools, and the region continues to fight rising poverty among young people. The CFI.co judging panel presents Région Île-de-France with the 2021 award for Best Sustainability Bond Issuer (France).


Cura & Senectus Investment: Best Asset Manager Liechtenstein 2020

[caption id="attachment_9115" align="aligncenter" width="768"] Michel van Zanten[/caption]

The people make the difference at Cura & Senectus Investment, an asset and wealth manager based in the financial centre of Liechtenstein. The go-ahead principality nestled between Germany, Austria and Switzerland gives the firm an advantage in the recruitment of top talent. It has assembled a team with deep investment expertise and complementary background in many asset classes including private equity, digital assets, real estate and alternative investments. Cura & Senectus Investment works with asset allocators, family offices and wealthy individuals and has build a track record of delivering strong returns. It focuses on the implementation of high performance investments and stayed ahead of the competition with, amongst others, the early adoption of digital investments and implementation of best practice principles. Liechtenstein was one of the first countries in the European Economic Area to implement the AIFMD – the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive. This regulatory framework for alternative funds (hedge funds, investment trusts and private equity) was adopted shortly before Cura & Senectus Investment launched. The firm follows a strict code of conduct to safeguard clients assets and investments. Cura & Senectus Investment prides itself on strong risk management skills and focus on due diligence, oversight and regulatory reporting. It offers services in Asset Management, fund set-up and structuring, establishing investor profiles and family office services. This is a firm that doesn’t rest on its laurels, and 2021 will see a roll out of new products. The CFI.co judging panel announces Cura & Senectus as the winner of the 2020 award for Best Asset Manager (Liechtenstein).


PCP (P Capital Partners): Best Private Credit Partner Northern Europe 2021

PCP is a leading example of how a credit partner can be a key strategic partner for its clients while generating higher returns for investors. Founded in 2002 by its management team and Proventus AB, PCP is an active credit investor and loan provider to mid-sized companies in Northern Europe, the Nordics and Iceland. It builds on Proventus’ 60 years of experience in working with family companies, entrepreneurs, and privately owned businesses. PCP takes pride in building strategic relationships with these companies and providing them with creative funding solutions. It provides funding for capital expansion, acquisitions, restructuring and refinancing. It excels in creating low-risk structures in complex situations and in helping worthy companies too often ignored by traditional finance providers. PCP raises capital for its funds by issuing debenture notes to external investors. As an active strategic partner, it helps clients develop coherent strategic plans and provides incentives for their fulfillment in addition to traditional loan conditions. Since 2002, PCP has invested in over 130 companies and has raised over €4.3bn for its clients. The CFI.co judging panel also notes its high ESG standards in its company analysis and its long track record with companies in the wind power, solar power, biogas, waste and sustainable foods industries. Given its outstanding excellence and service to its unique client base, the panel is pleased to award PCP winner of the 2021 Best Private Credit Partner (Northern Europe).


Peel Hunt LLP: Best Equity Research Team UK 2021

Peel Hunt offers research, sales, investment banking advisory and capital markets services, as well as a trading platform, to provide liquidity to investors and business intelligence and interpretation to corporate clients. Peel Hunt is gunning to be recognised as the global specialist of UK investment banking — and research underpins the firm’s steady march toward its goal. Fund managers want to know how a business is running, and Peel Hunt understands all the moving parts. The research department is led by industry veterans boasting sixty decades of combined experience in financial analysis. While many competitors entrust R&D to junior analysts, Peel Hunt has positioned its research division front and centre. The team works with the investment banking and sales departments to engage with clients as one unified house, giving them a comprehensive service that has led to successful long-term relationships. Partnerships begin with collaborative interdepartmental relationships that centre around clients and other stakeholders. Peel Hunt calls this approach “joined-up broking”. The firm has built a network of links with corporate management teams across multiple industries. In anticipation of the pandemic, it hosted digital investor seminars and relied on virtual technologies to continuously conduct business and engage with clients. Peel Hunt works with 156 corporate clients and covers some 440 stocks — and traded 14% of LSE volumes in 2019. The CFI.co judging panel presents Peel Hunt with the 2021 award for Best Equity Research Team (UK).


Inter Seguros: Best Family Insurance Solutions Brazil 2021

Banco Inter is well known in Brazil as the first 100 percent digital bank. It has broken down the barriers to banking for Brazilian families with its Super App for mobile phones. Now through its insurance company, Inter Seguros, it is bringing the same innovative approach to personal and family insurance. In March 2020, Inter Seguros launched its new platform “Plataforma de Proteção” within the Banco Inter Super App. The platform uses extensive data and proprietary algorithms to personalise insurance offerings to Banco Inter customers. It also brings Banco Inter’s trademark simplicity and transparency. Customers can buy insurance with just a few clicks and completely online. Inter Seguros has also worked hard to streamline the typical processes that can make insurance cumbersome. The platform currently has 16 products, including pet and mobile phone insurance among more traditional products like home and auto insurance. The CFI.co judges are impressed by the innovation in both delivery and products, and the success the new platform has achieved in its first year. The platform has already reached over 400 thousand active users and in 2020 sold over 265 thousand insurance products. It is now the largest insurance platform in Brazil. Through its success it is bringing greater certainty to countless Brazilian families and at a time where certainty is at a low ebb. CFI.co judges are thus pleased to present Inter Seguros the 2021 award Best Family Insurance Solutions (Brazil).


NIRAMAI: Best Medical Device Innovator India 2021

Technological innovation has chipped away at the limitations of the medical profession for centuries, but NIRAMAI believes that AI advancements will be the industry gamechanger. The Bangalore-based deep-tech start-up’s acronymic title stands for Non-Invasive Risk Assessment with Machine Intelligence. It is dedicated to fighting breast cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women. The World Health Organisation warns that one in every 12 women is at risk of breast abnormalities at some stage of life, and early diagnosis is crucial. NIRAMAI focuses on the key limitations of traditional detection methods. MRI machinery is cumbersome and expensive, X-ray scans cause incremental, cumulative health damage, and the entire process is at-best uncomfortable and embarrassing for the patient. The company addresses these shortfalls with an AI-powered solution. It has developed portable diagnostic cubicles that promise privacy and accuracy. NIRAMAI stands behind its product and procedures, which have delivered excellent results in reducing screening costs while amplifying detection parameters. It uses patented AI and machine-learning algorithms to create thermal-analytics-based diagnostic tools. The multi-use system enables early-stage detection of health conditions, as well as large-scale screenings. The company is proud to see that the investments it has made in research, data and technology are paying dividends in terms of revenue as well as health outcomes. The CFI.co judging panel presents NIRAMAI, a patent holder in 10 global territories, with the 2021 award for Best Medical Device Innovator (India).


National Bank of Poland: Best Central Bank Governance Europe 2021

The panel of jurors and editors of CFI.co (Capital Finance International), a prestigious international journal reporting on business, economics and finance, presented the Best Central Bank Governance Europe 2021 award to NBP (National Bank of Poland in English) under the leadership of Prof. Adam Glapiński.

The global pandemic has caused unprecedented challenges in Poland and Central Europe — but Narodowy Bank Polski (NBP) was well prepared. Under the model leadership of Professor Adam Glapiński – President of Narodowy Bank Polski –  NBP reacted swiftly, strongly and with conviction to the upcoming shock.

It was the President of NBP that first signalled the need to lower interest rates, promptly slashing the main policy rate to 0.1 percent. NBP also launched the largest asset purchase programme among the emerging market economies, which was a huge step for combating the economic consequences of the pandemic. NBP purchases government securities and government-guaranteed debt securities on the secondary market and offers bill discount credit to support lending to the private sector.

NBP is supported by a team of experts who safeguard the value of the zloty, the Polish currency. A modern arsenal of tools is in place to monitor data and identify risks. The proactive decisions taken by the NBP Management Board have helped Poland to achieve the lowest unemployment rate in the European Union, one of the lowest economic contraction rates in the European Union, and a record high in capital accounts. NBP acts with full independence. With market confidence, it strives to advance the economic wellbeing of the country and Poles and supports government policy. In 2020, NBP generated a profit of $2.5bn — 95 percent of which goes to fund the state budget. The bank also deserves credit for storing significant reserves of gold, which is purchased with a great feel for the market. NBP has the strength and readiness to withstand market pressures, and the flexibility to respond to dynamically changing market conditions. The Polish central bank is able to respond swiftly since it is prepared for different scenarios, having at its disposal a broad and modern arsenal of tools to support Poles.

In a nutshell, National Bank of Poland under the leadership of Professor A. Glapiński  responded to the pandemic in a swift manner securing the Polish economy from the worst scenario of deep recession and high unemployment. Narodowy Bank Polski, and thereby Poland, is at the forefront of the fight with the economic consequences of the pandemic. Positive opinions on the bank’s communication, actions as well as its governance by Professor Glapiński have been expressed by the world’s leading financial institutions such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and last but not least, the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda, who said that Prof. Glapiński should continue his mission as NBP President for the next term of office.


Goren Capital Group (GCG): Best Investment Bank Israel 2021

In 1997, “deal maker” Samuel Gortler founded Goren Capital Group (GCG) — an Israeli investment bank that promises zero conflict of interests. A strict code of conduct ensures operations are compliant with governance and regulations across national and global markets. GCG recently finalised three major transactions with a shipping group, a power station and two Israeli infrastructure groups. GCG advisory services cover sell-side, buy-side, corporate divestitures, management-led buy-ins and buy-outs and strategic lead advisory, as well as debt, mezzanine and equity acquisition financing. GCG advises top-tier companies on financial policy and capital structures and offers advisory on financing alternatives, including the issuance of local and global debt. Its corporate finance services extend to mergers and acquisitions, project financing, privatisation and capital markets advisory, with GCG acting as arranger and co-ordinator. The group nurtures long-term relationships with a network of stakeholders that includes international credit agencies, institutional lenders and corporate leaders. It claims the distinction of being the only Israeli firm to offer local as well as global financing alternatives, and these bragging rights are backed up by a track record of successful transactions using foreign funding sources. A partnership with Greenhill, an independent investment bank with 15 offices on five continents, extends GCG’s access to worldwide advisory capabilities and cross-industry expertise. The CFI.co judging panel announces Goren Capital Group as winner of the 2021 award for Best Investment Bank (Israel).


Canadian Pacific: Best ESG Railroad North America 2021

Canadian Pacific (CP) recently celebrated its 140th anniversary – and the company is going full steam ahead with plans to transition the industry. First stop: climate change. CP has begun this journey by developing the first electric freight locomotive in North America to be powered using hydrogen fuel cell technology. It will convert a diesel line-haul locomotive to green power and then conduct testing and trials to assess its freight-rail readiness.

CP broke ground on the pilot project late last year and expects to have a functional prototype ready for demonstration and field testing by 2022. This is an innovative leap for the company, which has been meeting efficiency challenges over the past three decades. CP’s efforts have enhanced locomotive fuel efficiency by more than 40 percent since 1990.

Recognized for its leadership in addressing climate change, CP was added to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index in 2020. CP recently installed a 5,000 MW solar farm to at its corporate campus, providing renewable electricity for its headquarters building and reducing its carbon emissions by 2,600 tonnes each year.

With a network that stretches across some of the most picturesque landscapes in North America, CP’s 12,000-strong workforce takes pride in serving and protecting those lands. CP’s sustainability efforts are focused on energy savings, improvements in reliability, and advancing eco-friendly emerging technologies and innovative technology solutions.

The CFI.co judging panel presents CP with the 2021 award for Best ESG Railroad (North America).


Al Fozan Holding: Best Diversified Holdings Governance GCC 2021

“Success is ultimately defined by the measure one helps and benefits one’s fellow man. We aim to achieve this every day.” The statement illustrates Al Fozan Holding’s core values. The family business has grown since its foundation in 1959 to be one of Saudi Arabia’s most celebrated organisations. The Al Fozan family name has long been recognised and respected, not only throughout Saudi Arabia, but across the region and further afield too. It has gathered a large and diverse investment portfolio, encompassing industries including manufacturing, real estate, and retail. But it is more than just a conglomeration of assorted enterprises. It has an active social foundation which manages a large portfolio of non-profit organisations, CSR initiatives and other social investments. The company mantra is to “build a brighter future for everyone around us”. Today Al Fozan Holding is poised to grow beyond its regional base, with ambitions to become a prominent player in the global arena, but the company’s standards will remain the same. Al Fozan Holding is selective in its portfolio choices, insisting upon ethical rules of service and governance which cover sustainability, hiring and conflict resolution policies and strong board structures. It places a high value on individual skill and experience in its leadership teams, allowing a large degree of independence. In the words of the group chairman, Abdullah bin Abdullatif Al-Fozan: The judging panel recognises the skill with which Al Fozan Holding has grown through diverse acquisition in the past 60 years and is pleased to present the company with the 2021 award, Best Diversified Holdings Governance GCC.


Moody's de Mexico SA de CV: Best Risk Analysis Latin America 2021

Moody’s coverage in Mexico includes around 50 corporates and financial institutions, plus over 100 funds, asset managers, sub-sovereigns, and finance projects. It rated 74 percent ($16,280bn) of Mexico’s cross-border debt and published more than 2,600 Latin America reports in 2020. One of the company’s core strengths is the seniority and skill of its analysts. In Mexico, Moody’s has a 25-person team with a century of combined experience; the group has over 1,000 analysts around the world. Moody’s has expanded its ESG and climate capabilities to serve the growing demand for sustainability insights. Applying its integrated data and analytics capabilities, coupled with deep domain expertise, Moody’s helps its customers to take a more holistic view of risk and to integrate E, S, and G factors into their assessment of credit risk and other investment decisions and processes. This enables Moody’s customers to mitigate risks and to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the transition to an inclusive, green, and sustainable global economy. As part of an ongoing digital transformation, it has launched two microsites: one to explain the rating process to prospective issuers, and a Covid-19 microsite with some 1,700 research publications. It releases podcasts through a proprietary hub and mainstream media channels. The CFI.co judging panel was impressed by a company with a specialised regional focus and expansive global reach, and announces Moody's de México as winner of the 2021 award for Best Risk Analysis (LATAM).


SPORTFIVE: Best Value Creation Sports Marketing Agency Global 2020

SPORTFIVE connects sports brands, rights-holders, media platforms and fans with a global network of business relationships. Its decades of experience and innovative spirit generate long-term value, establish pioneering partnerships, and create exciting experiences. SPORTFIVE is based in Hamburg, with hundreds of contractual relationships and representation for individual athletes from around the world. The agency has a presence in Pacific Asia, Europe and the US, where it has eight offices. It specialises in digital marketing campaigns and endorsement agreements. The dedicated team works the global sales network, and the agency has earned a reputation as a transparent, reliable service provider. SPORTFIVE takes a customer-centric approach and creates bespoke solutions for each project. It partners with brands to provide experiential marketing, entertainment advisory, hospitality and travel services. It helps rights-holders handle distribution strategies, internationalisation services, athlete management, arena operations, digital fan experiences and media, sponsorship and hospitality sales. Media platforms come to SPORTFIVE for advisory services, production assistance, content distribution and partnership, and airtime sales. The SPORTFIVE team leverages 25 years’ international industry expertise to provide a comprehensive offering with consulting and activation elements. SPORTFIVE, previously known as Lagardère Sports and Entertainment, has undergone a rebranding process since it was acquired by HIG Capital in April last year. The CFI.co judging panel declares SPORTFIVE the 2020 winner of the global award for Best Value Creation Sports Marketing Agency.


IBM: Best Investor Relations United States 2020

IBM was aware of the importance of shareholder engagement long before it became an accepted business convention. While many listed companies confine their encounters with investors to the proxy season, for IBM it’s a year-round activity. The company, founded in 1911, is now a multinational tech business with headquarters in New York and operations in 170 countries. And at the core of its business is a commitment to keep investors informed of its ambitions, and dealing with their questions in an open and transparent manner. In 2017 the company embarked on a rigorous off-season campaign of engagement with its shareholders, ensuring the company’s direction was evident. In 2020 it began this process just two weeks after the proxy meeting. IBM’s investor relations team believes that by doing so, it improved communications significantly, identifying issues of most concern to investors. The team has been able, for instance, to recognise a growing interest in environmental and social issues. IBM is steering away from computers and operation system software into higher growth areas - hybrid cloud and AI – and believes it has laid the foundations for a new era of technology and business. Since 2012 it has invested $120bn into a transformation strategy and has acquired businesses which reflect this direction. At the same time, the company has returned $97bn to shareholders. But it’s for the company’s far-sighted awareness of the importance of investor relations that the judging panel is pleased to present IBM with the 2020 award: Best Investor Relations United States.


Aquis Exchange: Best Pan-European Equities Trading Exchange 2021

European investors and businesses will doubtless have heard of Aquis Exchange. It was the first European trading venue to introduce a subscription pricing model, and is the sixth-largest exchange in Europe for intra-day trading operations. But even institutional investors may have yet to learn of its latest tech advances. The company’s dedicated division, Aquis Technologies, develops and markets cloud-powered solutions, including high-capacity matching engines and trade surveillance systems. Aquis Exchange is authorised and regulated by the financial authorities of the UK and France to operate as a multilateral trading facility in 15 European markets. It has changed the investment rules to prevent aggressive, non-client proprietary trading. It operates lit order books and clients are charged according to a subscription plan based on messaging traffic, rather than securities value. These pioneering tactics result in cost-effective trading and high-touch liquidity. Independent analysis has determined that the firm offers low toxicity and signalling risk. The company’s newly acquired primary listing business, Aquis Stock Exchange, allows growth companies to raise capital and both retail and institutional investors to trade shares. The CFI.co judging panel presents Aquis Exchange, a tech-driven disruptor, with the 2021 award for Best Pan-European Equities Trading Exchange.


Bedrock Group: Best Investment Portfolio Manager United Kingdom 2020

Founded in 2004, Bedrock is a global investment and advisory group with headquarters in Geneva and fully regulated offices in London and Monaco. It aims to simplify clients’ lives, serving as the single point of contact for all their banking and investment needs. Bedrock tailors solutions for high-net-worth families, investment professionals, endowments, foundations and institutions. It offers objective, actionable advisory and customises privileged investment solutions according to individual client needs. It has achieved economies of scale that ensure competitive fees on institutional banking costs and share classes. The firm deploys a global team of 80 specialists and its strategic foresight protected clients’ capital throughout the early volatility of the Covid crisis. Its early picks in tech and biotech have been some of the portfolio’s strongest performers in the past year. Bedrock credits its impressive portfolio performance to a dedicated team, strong diversification and proactive asset management. The firm promises outstanding service and personal commitment. Clients have direct access to the firm’s founding partners in addition to the investment team. They pull together to achieve clients’ financial objectives, and work to preserve and propagate wealth for future generations. Bedrock publishes a bi-weekly newsletter with the most relevant, market-affecting events and well-researched facts. The CFI.co judging panel presents Bedrock Group with the 2020 award for Best Investment Portfolio Manager (UK).


Frasers Group: Best Low Margin Retailer UK 2020

In the low margin business environment you have to think fast and react faster to survive. But to prosper, you have to think ahead. The bloodbath on Britain’s high street over the last two decades has been terrifying – and it has changed the way consumers connect with retailers. Many long-standing famous names have disappeared in the face of fierce online competition and soaring rents and business rates. The Frasers Group believes the higher the risk, the greater the reward in the low margin arena. The company emerged in 2019 following the acquisition of House of Fraser by Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct empire. The group, once known solely for sporting goods, has diversified, now comprising some of the most iconic brands in retailing, including Flannels, Jack Wills, Game, Evans Cycles and Slazenger. The company has never been afraid to push the boundaries of traditional retailing, constantly tracking trends and reacting rapidly. At the end of 2020 Frasers Group reported a 17.6 percent jump in profits, claiming its “elevation without limits” strategy was bearing fruit, despite the pandemic. Investing in bricks-and-mortar stores, as well as online, is evidence of the company’s promise to not only keep up with trends but to “reimagine retail”, changing the way the industry operates. Frasers Group has pledged to further invest, not only in its properties, but also its digital business, to elevate its retail proposition across all channels. The CFI.co judges name Frasers Group as the winner of the 2020 award: Best Low Margin Retailer UK.


Roxgold Inc: Best Mining CSR Strategy West Africa 2021

Gold is one of the most sought-after minerals on Earth. It once underpinned national monetary systems and has ever-increasing uses in the modern world, from smartphone componentry to space travel. Roxgold strives to meet this growing global demand in the most responsible manner possible. The company is based in Canada, with mining assets in Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire. The Yaramoko Mine Complex in Burkina Faso boasts high-grade annual gold production, and the Séguéla Gold Project in Côte d'Ivoire shows high potential. Roxgold acquired Séguéla in April 2019 for $20m. Following a favourable environmental impact assessment, a mining permit was granted in December last year. Early construction work has begun, building infrastructure for a project that will create over 500 jobs for locals in the Séguéla area. Roxgold has been busy over the past year, developing the new mine while keeping production on-pace. With pandemic safeguards put swiftly in place, Roxgold was able to protect its people while also exceeding production expectations for 2020. The company reserved an entire hotel for expatriate workers and stockpiled consumables for staff. It made provisions for local contractors to reside on-site during month-long shifts and facilitated the reskilling and upskilling of local workers. Roxgold donations helped to fund educational campaigns and support health professionals in local communities. The CFI.co judging panel recognises a company with the noble aim of creating sustainable value for all stakeholders. The judges present Roxgold, a repeat programme winner, with the 2021 award for Best Mining CSR Strategy (West Africa).


Farazad Investments (FI): Best Private Equity Real Estate Group Global 2020

Internationally acclaimed entrepreneur Korosh Farazad launched his namesake organisation in 1996, and Farazad Investments (FI) is now a global operation with a presence on five continents and a portfolio of 354 projects with a funding value of $3.7bn. FI specialises in real estate equity solutions, from investment and acquisition to construction and development. It is headquartered in London and has operations in Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Australia and the US. Farazad leads the business with a top-notch team of professionals boasting over 250 years of cumulative industry expertise. The FI team approaches each project from a client-centric perspective and a value-creation mandate. Clients praise the company’s creative solutions and transparent interactions. FI is an internationally recognised brand with an organic growth strategy fuelled by solid business referrals. Decades of successful value extraction and ethical operations have built a foundation of trust that keeps the group’s project pipeline humming. FI has cultivated excellent relationships with institutional lenders and industry experts. The team takes pride in the sophisticated, highly structured debt and equity solutions it crafts for each client. FI has registered before on the radar of the CFI.co judging panel for its exceptional track record. The company has been extra selective during Covid times — but is feeling bullish about the upcoming year: 2021 opened with a busy pipeline of projects. The judges announce Farazad Investments as winner of the 2020 global award for Best Private Equity Real Estate Group.


Agrocortex: Best REDD Expert Latin America 2020

Forests are the lungs of planet Earth, and reducing emissions from deforestation and natural degradation is a primary target of the United Nations. Agrocortex provides forestry management solutions that can offset global carbon emissions, regulate regional rainfall and reduce flooding risks. They protect biodiversity while providing landowners with income options that safeguard the environment. Agrocortex estimates its REDD project — the UN-backed Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation — has saved around 5,300 hectares of Amazonian rainforest from logging between 2014 and 2019. It is one of the few forest projects in the world that aligns sustainability with the concept of the “triple bottom line”. Agrocortex manages a socially just, environmentally responsible and economically profitable operation. The project area covers some 190,000 hectares in the south-western region of the Amazon. The company divides that into 30 management units of 5,860 hectares, and limits extraction operation to just three percent of the forest each year. The remaining 97 percent is designated a conservation zone. Agrocortex has earned the support of international shareholders, who appreciate its solid corporate structure, exemplary governance, and long-term environmental and community commitments. Agrocortex hopes to serve as inspiration for other companies and landowners fighting climate change and contributing to socio-economic inclusion. The CFI.co judging panel was impressed, and announces Agrocortex as winner of the 2020 Best REDD Expert (Latin America) award.


Royal Bank of Canada: Best Private Banking Services Canada 2021

RBC is the largest bank in Canada and offers diversified financial services in the country and around the world. Its private banking division, RBC Wealth Management, took its current form in 2007 when services in the US and Canada were combined. Today, it is the fifth largest private bank globally with around $670bn of assets under management. It has offices in Canada, the United States, Britain, and Asia. RBC has around 1,750 investment advisors in Canada and 1,900 financial advisors in the US. Its high-quality advisors provide personalised financial advice that includes asset management, tax planning, estate planning, trust management, insurance solutions and philanthropy. It also provides a full suite of banking services. For ultra-high net worth individuals, RBC has a dedicated Enterprise Strategic Client Group to provide solutions across jurisdictions and generations. Over the past four years, it has modernised its software and systems for advisors and customers. These are now considered best in class. The bank also continues to innovate its investment offerings. For example, its customers can now invest in private equity, private credit, hedge funds, and other alternative investments after RBC entered a partnership with iCapital Network. It has also been investing in investment talent in 2020 with strong recruitment from rival banks. This includes a $1.2bn all-female JPMorgan Team. The CFI.co judging panel is impressed with the ambition and innovation of Royal Bank of Canada and offers congratulations on its 2021 award Best Private Banking Services (Canada).


BP Plc: Best ESG Oil & Gas Operator Global 2021

BP is one of the largest energy, oil and gas companies in the world with revenues of $183.5bn in 2020. BP was founded in 1908 with the discovery of oil in Persia. Like any company with long-term success, BP has made many transitions. In August 2020, it announced plans to transition from an “International Oil Company to [an] Integrated Energy Company”. BP plans to be net zero by 2050. This includes halving the carbon intensity of its products by that year. To do this it plans to reduce oil and gas production by 40 percent by 2030 and to increase net renewable energy generation from 2.5GW in 2019 to 50GW by 2030. BP is also investing in carbon capture and offsets. These goals are ambitious and show a company committed to helping in the global fight against climate change. While the extent of its environmental ambitions is new, BP has already established an admirable track record. Since 2016, it has reduced its GHG emissions by 3.9Mte, surpassing its 2025 target. It has also built over 7,500 EV charging stations across the UK. BP has also shown its commitment to local communities. In August, it became a UK Living Wage employer. In 2019, it contributed $84m to communities and NGOs around the world. It has also made a commitment to support the “decade of delivery” for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The CFI.co judging panel applauds BP and presents it with the 2021 award Best ESG Oil & Gas Operator Global.


Convergence Partners: Best TMT Impact Investment Strategy Africa 2021

Convergence Partners is a private equity investor with a strong impact objective and a record of identifying, developing and adding value to investment opportunities in Africa’s Technology Media and Telecom (TMT) sector. The private equity fund manager invests across all of sub-Saharan Africa with a current portfolio spanning 18 countries. It has invested in major projects in every major region of sub-Saharan Africa and the firm is always looking for opportunities to expand the reach and operations of these businesses and further its contribution to the entire continent’s socio-economic development.  Convergence Partners is headquartered in Johannesburg with offices in Lagos and Mauritius. It spurs financial and social growth with strategic investments in ICT infrastructure and digital innovation. Convergence Partners was founded in 2006 by a tight-knit team of founders who had worked together before and remain active in the business, together with a stable, experienced team that has been built over the years since. The firm values diversity and its talented team is a balance of races, genders and countries of origin. Convergence recently launched its third private equity fund; it aims to raise $250m by close and has attracted the attention of a number of DFIs and commercial investors. Convergence’s first two funds, the second of which has reached full deployment, have invested in 29 companies and exited half of those deals. Convergence Partners is chipping away at the SDG challenges facing the Continent with an investment portfolio that strengthens continental connectivity as well as educational and financial inclusivity. The firm has recently taken the step of launching Sira, its self-developed bespoke impact measurement toolkit, that tracks impact achievements across its portfolios against SDG objectives. The CFI.co judging panel declares Convergence Partners winner of the 2021 award for best TMT Impact Investing Strategy (Africa).