Henkel: Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development 2020

Henkel is a leading international chemical and consumer goods company headquartered in Düsseldorf. Its top brands include Schwarzkopf, Loctite and Persil. At over 140 years old, Henkel is no stranger to sustainability. Over several decades, it has shown deep commitment through its expanding sustainability leadership. Its current activities cover six key areas: social progress, performance, safety and health, energy and climate, materials and waste, and water and wastewater. Underpinning these activities are a set of ambitious goals set in 2010. These include the reduction of its carbon footprint from production by 65 percent by 2025, 100 percent renewable energy use by 2030, 100 percent recycled or reusable packaging by 2025 and 50 percent less fossil fuel plastics by 2025. Henkel has already increased its overall efficiency by 56 percent, is using 31 percent less CO2 per product and 40 percent less waste per product. It is also a leader for sustainability within its value chain. Henkel is a founding member of the global Alliance to End Plastic Waste. It supports social and waste reduction projects in Haiti, Indonesia, the Philippines and Egypt alongside social enterprise Plastic Bank. As part of its Sustainability Ambassador Programme, over 50,000 Henkel employees have brought the message to over 170,000 schoolchildren in 53 countries since 2012. The CFI.co judging panel applauds Henkel’s long track record and is proud to confirm the 2020 award for Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development.


Bangchak Corporation Public Company Ltd: Best Sustainable Innovation Strategy Thailand 2021

Over nearly four decades, Bangchak Corporation Public Company Limited (BCP) has been contributing to Thai socio-economic development through five core divisions: petroleum refinery and trading, marketing, bio-based products, green power and natural resource business development. BCP aims to lead the vanguard of Asia’s transition to a greener future. It has applied strict corporate governance criteria across operations to build a sustainable business model and an inclusive workplace. It has also created long-term value for stakeholders. BCP was the first company in Thailand to receive ISO 50001:2018 certification, and the first oil refinery to be certified by the Water Footprint programme. In 2019, BCP cut water consumption by 31 percent. It off-sets thousands of tons of CO2, continuously improves energy and waste efficiencies, and plans to become carbon-neutral by 2030. It has enhanced fossil fuel production and developed bio-based alternatives to meet growing national energy demands. BCP also generates and distributes clean energy from solar, wind, water and geothermal power projects in Thailand, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia and Laos. Plastic waste is tackled with circular economy solutions at its 1,200 service stations. The group is powered by a team 1,250-strong and a corporate “3S” strategy that priorities security, stability and sustainability. The CFI.co judging panel recognises a company striving to overcome environmental challenges. Bangchak Corporation Public Company Ltd wins the 2021 award for Best Sustainable Innovation Strategy (Thailand).


HotForex: Best Market Research and Education Global 2021

HotForex puts clients’ interests at the centre of everything it does. Its title is the unified brand name of the HF Markets Group, which operates in the UK, Cyprus, Dubai, Mauritius, South Africa and the Seychelles. HotForex is recognised as a global leader in online trading, specialising in foreign exchange and contracts for differences (CFDs) on stocks, commodities, metals and indices. HotForex maintains its market-leading position by delivering superior customer service, reliable products, and useful resources. It has developed two trading platforms and a host of complementary products. HotForex weathered the Covid storm by retaining its commitment to clients, striving for results and constantly seeking improvement. HotForex has 200 employees on its global team, including analysts and researchers that contribute to its ongoing educational outreach. The team conducts daily technical and fundamental analyses of the markets, and shares the findings through multiple channels, in several languages. HotForex posts live Q&A sessions on its social media channels and hosts free weekly webinars covering topics for advanced and novice traders. Digital denizens can brush up their trading skills with video tutorials on the HotForex website or its YouTube channel, which has 26,000 subscribers and counting. The company has just released the Global Trends Report for 2021 for its clients. The CFI.co judges recognise a repeat programme winner, and present HotForex with the 2021 global award for Best Market Research and Education.


Man Group: Best Investment Management Services UK 2020

Man Group is an investment management firm with a 230-year trading history and over $113bn in funds under management. Man Group is headquartered in London and has a global network with 15 international offices. It leverages more than 25 years of experience of global investment management to deliver risk-adjusted returns to investors. Institutional investors have contributed 84 percent of the funds under the group’s management. Man Group is comprised of five specialised investment management engines. The companies in the group benefit from an integrated business model and central infrastructure, where back- and middle-office functions — technology, compliance, human resources, legal, operations and facilities — are shared group-wide so the front office is free to focus on clients. Man Group counts its unified operating platform and specialised investment approaches as key commercial differentiators that allow it to defend its market-leading position while adapting to client needs and evolving market conditions. It targets technology as crucial to the on-going success of the business and has partnered with the University of Oxford to advance research into quantitative finance, machine learning and data analytics. The Oxford-Man Institute has been a part of the university’s engineering science department for over a decade, giving the group a direct link to cutting-edge research and inspiring a cross-pollination of ideas between academia and investing. The CFI.co judging panel declares Man Group as the winner of the 2020 award for Best Investment Management Services (UK).


ICICI Bank UK: Best International Digital Banking UK 2021

ICICI Bank UK was established to enable the global Indian community to conduct cross-border business with ease. Founded in 2003, ICICI Bank UK PLC is a 100% subsidiary of ICICI Bank Limited (India) and is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority. ICICI depositors are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, which would pay out if the bank were ever unable to fulfil its financial obligations.

ICICI Bank UK benefits from a strong technical team, which has developed a digital platform that provides clients with secure access to their money while abroad, with seamless functionality of debit card and a user-friendly digital interface. The bank leverages its local base to facilitate credit history checks and documentation completion.

ICICI Bank UK offers a full range of commercial and business banking services, including savings and current accounts, SME financing and real estate investment portfolios. The closed-user group creates cross-border financial solutions: instant client on-boarding and remittance to ICICI Bank accounts in India, faster payments, and attractive interest rates. It also offers competitive rates on foreign exchange and multi-currency transactions. Business accounts are available in Sterling, US dollars and euros.

The CFI.co judges are impressed with ICICI Bank UK’s credentials, technical advancement and the fact that they offer Instant Current Account opening through mobile app, even if customer is in India at the time of account opening. Hence, declare ICICI Bank UK PLC winner of the 2021 award for Best International Digital Banking (UK).


Shanti Hospitality Group: Best Hospitality Investment Portfolio Global 2021

Shanti Hospitality Group offers a range of investment services, including due diligence, contract negotiations, operational consultation and expansion support. It also provides asset-management, from financial monitoring and market repositioning to benchmark analysis and budget reviews. It tackles projects from conception and design development through to renovations and expenditure recommendations. The group has been energised by the resurgence of global markets and is keen to capitalise on new opportunities for strategic partnerships. Shanti Hospitality has a global portfolio of 2,000 rooms across 24 hotels. It operates two fine-dining restaurants and an innovative digital platform connecting street vendors with property owners to create vibrant outdoor eating experiences. Shanti Hospitality maintains a competitive edge by adapting to customer needs with an active, open-minded approach to investment. It focuses on delivering an exceptional experience for clients across a wide portfolio of brands, and welcomes collaboration with partners pursuing innovative ideas. Its business model is streamlined into three verticals: asset management of the third-party-operated hotels it owns and operational management of its own and third-party-owned hotels. Shanti Hospitality Group is on a journey of continuous improvement, incorporating best-in-class practices that keep pace with market advances. It aims to enhance guests’ wellbeing with high-touch amenities and impeccable accommodation. It has also hinted at plans for future expansion on its offering. The CFI.co judging panel congratulates Shanti Hospitality Group, winner of the 2021 global award for Best Hospitality Investment Portfolio.


QNB ALAHLI: Best SME Bank and Best Retail Bank Egypt 2021

Over the past four decades, QNB ALAHLI has solidified a leading market position as a specialised financial partner for retail and business clients —and the second-largest private bank in Egypt. It has attracted more than 1.2 million clients, offering a digital banking platform paired with high standards of governance, transparency and disclosure. Clients can have secure, on-demand account access, or personal assistance from one of the 6,686 QNB Alahi representatives. The network includes 231 branches, 611 ATMs and more than 54,000 point-of-sale (POS) devices. It also runs a 24/7 call centre to ensure customer concerns are swiftly resolved. QNB ALAHLI offers retail and business banking solutions, including savings and current accounts, loans and credit lines, payroll services and specialised SME packages. It supports micro-enterprises with preferential financing solutions designed for pharmacies, manufacturers, contractors and POS merchants. QNB ALAHLI sees SMEs as crucial to economic growth, and launched a “fast injection” lending programme to provide them with working capital and medium-term facilities with reduced processing time. QNB ALAHLI is proud to report good results for 2020 including a seven percent growth in retail. SME business grew by almost a quarter (confirming the bank’s position as market leader). The CFI.co judging panel has once again found cause for recognition, and presents QNB ALAHLI, a repeat programme winner, with the 2021 awards for Best SME Bank and Best Retail Bank (Egypt).


The Access Bank UK Ltd: Best Africa Trade Finance Bank 2021

The Access Bank UK has kept trade finance flowing throughout the pandemic, protecting its staff and ensuring operational continuity. It delivered its promise to prevent furloughs and even brought in new team members. The Access Bank UK increased its income by 19 percent while maintaining trade finance volume (£3.8bn) and a bank balance sheet (£2.5bn). In 2020, it expanded its business in Ghana, supported multinationals in Angola and extended its operations in Mozambique. The Access Bank UK is well positioned to capitalise on opportunities in OECD markets, with headquarters in London and offices in Dubai and Lagos. It is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the PRA. The Bank is a subsidiary of the Nigerian Access Bank Group, which serves 36 million customers. The Access Bank UK serves as the Groups OECD confirming hub and is a confirming bank in the Global Trade Finance Programme of the International Finance Corporation. It mitigates import and export risks, offers letters of credit, provides payment guarantees and manages foreign trade exposure. The CFl.co judging panel presents The Access Bank UK, a repeat programme winner, with the 2021 award for Best Africa Trade Finance Bank.


Kaleido Privatbank (formerly AP Anlage & Privatbank): Best Boutique Private Bank Switzerland 2021

Kaleido Privatbank AG is moving from a transactional banking towards boutique services for Central European and German-speaking regions. The bank is rebuilding itself, and the transformation — which would normally take around two years — will be condensed into a supercharged six-month timeline. Kaleido Privatbank AG is headquartered in the heart of the financial hub in Zurich, where over a quarter of global private and institutional assets are managed. The bank will relocate to more spacious offices to accommodate teams of investment managers, financial intermediaries, compliance specialists and technology experts. It’s also bringing in a new team to spearhead the development of its German markets. As a part of the transformation process the bank also changed its name. Kaleido Privatbank remains true to traditional Swiss banking principles of exceptional customer care, strong governance, and discretion. Kaleido Privatbank understands the needs of high-net-worth individuals, wealthy families and entrepreneurs, and applies more than 25 years of expertise to customise solutions for them. It aims to become a global reference point for its affluent clientele, and has set new standards for transparency and discretion. Kaleido Privatbank does not consider itself bound by quarterly results, but rather dedicated to its customers and its own integrity. It offers clients access to exclusive communities of like-minded souls and a network of global experts. The CFI.co judging panel presents Kaleido Privatbank AG with the 2021 award for Best Boutique Private Bank (Switzerland).


AVL: Best Mobility Tech & Engineering Innovator Global 2020

The mobility sector is overdue for transformation, with environmental, social and technical challenges adding urgency and impetus. Austria-based AVL describes change as the lifeblood of the automotive industry — and the core of its own purpose. The family-run business, launched in 1948, has seven decades of experience in mobility innovation. It has grown into a global technology leader with deep cross-industry knowledge of powertrain systems. AVL’s strong leadership and research teams push beyond current boundaries to uncover new potential. The company contributes to the fight against climate change by developing next-generation solutions and services that are clean, affordable, connected and intelligent. It aims to reduce complexity and add value for customers by adhering to strict quality and innovation standards. As an adaptable company with a global presence and a dedicated workforce, AVL exercises its influence to set the mobility trends of the future. The revolution, with AVL at the vanguard, will address evolving consumer demands and environmental concerns. It favours sustainable design and development to reduce the carbon footprint of powertrain systems across all lifecycle stages, ensuring affordability for the consumer. Electrification, autonomous vehicles, partnership with other engineering companies and data intelligence are high-growth areas that have attracted the attention of AVL. The CFI.co judging panel presents AVL with the 2020 global award for Best Mobility Tech & Engineering Innovator.


Atkins: Best Sustainable Engineering & Design Partner Global 2021

Atkins is a global engineering, design and project management consultancy whose corporate culture and business model deliver positive impacts. The UK-based firm partners with infrastructure clients around the world to help drive sustainability and digital transformation. Atkins sees climate change as the challenge of the century — and innovation, disruption and collaboration as the keys to solving it. Equality, diversity and inclusion are its core tenets of employment, and Atkins strives to attract under-represented demographics through outreach campaigns. It recruits top talent, treats its people with respect, and gives them room to grow. The workforce is united behind a common ideal: to build a better tomorrow by working together today. The company partners with customers to help enhance infrastructure operations, strengthen community connections and curb carbon emissions. Atkins is part of SNC-Lavalin Group, founded in 1911 and now leading the “net-zero engineering” movement. Atkins leverages the reach and expertise of the group to serve clients in energy, transportation, city planning, environment, defence and security sectors. It is a signatory to the UN Global Compact with an SDG-aligned business model. Atkins has identified goals for the business and its stakeholders over the next three years: affordable, clean energy, climate action, and sustainable cities and communities. The CFI.co judging panel declares Atkins winner of the 2021 global award for Best Sustainable Engineering & Design Partner.


Tanqia: Best Sustainable Growth Strategy Middle East 2021

Tanqia serves a vital need in the UAE, where underground aquifers show falling outputs and rising salinity. At the current pace of water use — without factoring in population or industry growth — the UAE is likely to become one of 10 most water-scarce regions in the world, and could deplete its reserves within the next 50 years. Tanqia amplifies the region’s supply and protects the precious resource through wastewater treatment solutions. The company broke ground on its state-of-the-art wastewater collection and treatment system (WWCTS) in 2005, and the system has been operational since 2009. The treatment site, located north of Fujairah City, spans 160,000 square metres. It’s in full swing of an expansion project that will push daily treatment capacity from 16,000 cubic metres to 46,000. The pioneering firm is upgrading its effluent distribution network to provide tertiary-treated effluent water that is suitable for unrestricted irrigation and special industrial usage. Upon completion, the network will provide billions of litres of optimally treated effluent to substitute the use of desalinated and underground water for non-potable use, helping to relieve strained reserves. The plant, which is the first privately held WWCTS in the Middle East, has garnered international recognition for its efficient operations and sustainable impacts. The CFI.co judging panel recognises this innovation by repeat programme winner Tanqia, and presents it with the 2021 award for Best Sustainable Growth Strategy (Middle East).


Corporación Zona Franca Santiago: Best ESG Industrial Free Zone LatAm & Caribbean 2021

Santiago Free Zone Corporation (CZFS) has earned a reputation for innovation and socio-economic development across Latin America and the Caribbean. CZFS has been a catalyst for growth over the past 47 years, generating jobs and upskilling employees. It operates the Victor Espaillat Mera Industrial Park (PIVEM), a corporate campus complete with a high-capacity wastewater treatment plant, rooftop solar panels and fibre-optic telecommunications. The complex is on a massive plot which features an urban park with forested trails and recreational areas. These green spaces contribute to the wellbeing of the workforce and community. CZFS protects this natural resource with the proactive reforestation of thousands of square kilometres each year. CZFS has adopted a comprehensive CSR structure that centres on the environment, education, entrepreneurship and health. Technical training and educational programmes ensure a pipeline of skilled labour. Preventative health services and outpatient care are available onsite, and a range of other specialities will be added this year. La Aurora Co-operative is the financial and social support axis of PIVEM's workforce, facilitating savings and investment products. Other support includes a fire substation for PIVEM companies and the surrounding community, CEGESTA talent management, and CAPEX business promotion and professional development. The CFI.co judging panel recognises a repeat programme winner — Corporación Zona Franca Santiago — with the 2021 award for Best ESG Industrial Free Zone (LatAm & Caribbean).


SkyBridge: Best Global Hedge Fund Advisory Solutions US 2021

US-based SkyBridge is an alternative investments firm founded by Anthony Scaramucci in 2005. The core team has been with the company since its inception, providing clients with multi-asset class advisory, hedge fund solutions and opportunistic investment vehicles. The firm follows an investment philosophy for alpha generation that combines portfolio management, manager selection and institutionalised risk management. The product line-up includes a registered and private fund of hedge funds, customised separate accounts and hedge fund advisory services, a Bitcoin fund and pre-IPO investments. It manages an Opportunity Zone REIT, which targets assets in economically distressed communities where preferential tax treatment is available. SkyBridge manages several SPVs (special purpose vehicles) that invest in late-stage private technology companies. It also unites finance industry thought-leaders in the annual SALT (SkyBridge Alternatives) Conference. Despite the economic ravages of the pandemic, over the past 12 months SkyBridge is up 37 percent for investors. It has achieved this through dynamic and agile portfolio management. SkyBridge runs risk analytics through an integrated system covering the full investment range. It provides research, due diligence and insights for advisory clients, giving them all the tools necessary for informed decision-making. SkyBridge manages $3bn in advisory assets and $4bn in discretionary. It has also received a $100m SMA / Fund of one mandate and a $10bn risk advisory mandate. The CFI.co judging panel presents SkyBridge with the 2021 award for Best Global Hedge Fund Advisory Solutions (US).


Barents Re: Best Specialty Reinsurer 2021

In a world of uncertainty, people want predictability – not an easy task, as no-one possesses a crystal ball, says Gerardo García chairman of Barents Re, a specialist global reinsurance group. Founded in 1996, the company excels in responding to the challenges of climate change, political tensions, and shifting business trends. The company’s mantra is: “Do it well – and do it properly.” Barents Re has moved at speed to adapt to recent disruptions, aiming to provide certainty for clients in a rapidly changing environment for insurance. Staff constantly track global movements, adjusting operations to suit the changes. The shift away from globalisation, for instance, has led the company to invest in local “cells” in more than 70 countries around the world - in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. It recognises that each market is different, and there can be no blanket approach. According to García, insurers face challenges everywhere, which is why each Barents Re local cell must always strive to be a centre of excellence. The company offers an array of niche and speciality reinsurance products in fields which include bonds, energy, finance, constructions and engineering, property and marine cargo. Its experienced underwriting teams have a breadth of knowledge, enabling them to create innovative solutions for clients across a range of subjects. The judges recognise the company’s ability to move at pace, focussing on discipline and execution, and maintaining long-term client relationships, which is why they are pleased to present Barents Re with the 2021 award for Best Specialty Reinsurer.


Omantel: Best Digital Transformation Leadership GCC 2021

Visitors to Oman will hear plenty about as well as experience smart solutions, the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence. The sultanate is among a host of Gulf States in the vanguard of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. And at Omantel, the Muscat-based telecommunications giant, they are keenly aware that digital transformation is vital to provide the impetus for success. Founded in 1970, Omantel has grown to become a leading provider of integrated telecommunications in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) region, committed to helping the digital society flourish. In 2021 the company is helping businesses take the next leap – with the introduction of a 5G mobile network to customers in Oman. This follows the 2019 roll-out of a 5G fixed wireless access alternative to fibre broadband. The service offers the most powerful 5G wireless broadband connection with speeds of up to 1Gb. Omantel believes the improved systems will allow businesses to find new ways of working. The company’s stated aim is to promote digital inclusion, responsibility and innovation. It says its focus is on delivering quality service. At the launch of the new service Talal Said Al Mamari, CEO of Omantel said: “We’re pleased to be the first to launch 5G for mobile, which will open new horizons for the mobile sector and will heavily contribute towards supporting growth and digital transformation across different sectors.” Omantel’s rapid moves to extend digital technology to businesses in the Gulf region has been recognised by the judging panel, which is pleased to present the company with the 2021 award for Best Digital Transformation Leadership GCC.


Applied Science Private University: Most Innovative Community Impact Research University Middle East 2021

Amman’s Applied Science Private University (ASU) was established in 1991 at the behest of Jordanian expatriates. Limited availability in public systems had forced expats to send school-age children abroad to study — with high costs for the parents and culture shock for the students. Now the university’s curricula and research facilities attract academics from the world over, with nine faculties, 33 bachelor and 8 masters degrees on offer. Thousands of students are enrolled at ASU, with hundreds of faculty members to help them to realise their academic ambitions. The university has always prioritised scientific research, which has given it a competitive edge in recruitment. In a recent independent study into research volume, three ASU professors ranked in the world’s top two percent. ASU established the ICE innovation and entrepreneurship centre, a creative space where students and alumni can turn concepts into opportunities. The centre also serves as an incubator, with technical manufacturing capability and hands-on experience provided through partnerships with local and international businesses. The surrounding community benefits from the alignment of study programmes with local needs. ASU nursing students gain practical experience and provide vital services at the university’s partner hospital. Engineering students collaborate on climate-change solutions at ASU’s Renewable Energy Centre, which features a commercial-scale solar power system and weather station. The CFI.co judging panel presents Applied Science Private University, a repeat programme winner, with the 2021 award for Most Innovative Community Impact Research University (Middle East).


March Asset Management: Best Thematic Funds Management Team Spain 2021

As part of an unlisted, family-owned group, March Asset Management (March AM) is not beholden to shareholder or market pressures, leaving it free to focus on long-term value creation for clients. The firm was founded in 2000 to serve as the investment arm of the March Group, one of the great European banking dynasties. March AM was the first boutique to introduce thematic investment funds in Spain over a decade ago — and it’s now a specialist. Funds centre around concerns for the planet and family businesses. The firm maintains low debt ratios by focusing on value creation. It has some €6bn in AUM and is developing value-added thematic funds. March AM’s senior leaders are recognised players with over 35 years of combined experience and deep industry expertise. The team works in cohesive harmony and takes pride in deploying proven risk-management skills. March AM’s investment philosophy centres around value creation and asset protection over the long term. It seeks out pricing inefficiencies that present opportunities for engaged, direct and active investors — then allocates portfolio assets and selects companies with tactical precision. March AM has developed a sustainable and responsible investment policy that ensures the decision-making process includes ESG criteria as well as quantitative and qualitative financial considerations. It influences corporate governance decisions with proxy votes and engages with investee companies to drive ESG performance. The CFI.co judging panel presents March Asset Management with the 2021 award for Best Thematic Funds Management Team (Spain).


Co-op Legal Services: Best Estate Administration & Probate Services Provider UK 2021

Co-op Legal Services became the first alternative business structure (ABS) in the UK in 2012 and has long been established as a market leader in probate.

Part of Co-op Group, it invests in leading-edge tech and digital services to optimise financial outcomes in estate planning and administration. Most people don’t understand the law surrounding probate and estate cases and therefore miss out on improving financial outcomes— something the firm aims to rectify through interactive digital services.

Prospective clients complete an online questionnaire to receive free legal advice on standard and trust wills. Co-op Legal Services has created digital diagnostics for legal advice, including a calculator for those considering a trust will. It complements this with supporting info-graphics to explain the lay of the legal land.

It offers free advice through an innovative, market leading digital interactive, about the necessary steps to take in the case of the death of a loved one, including dates and deadlines, and ways the firm can help clients achieve quick settlement.

Co-op Legal Services has 600 employees at offices in Manchester, Bristol, Stratford-upon-Avon, Sheffield and London. Solicitors offer assistance on the more challenging moments in their clients’ lives. They help with probate and estate administration, family law and divorce, will-creation, conveyancing and employment law.

Clients can choose between fixed or flexible-pricing schemes, while the majority of personal injury claims follow a “no win, no fee, no risk” format.

The company consistently receives high rankings from clients on Trustpilot. Co-op Legal Services is entrusted with over £1.5bn in estates annually.

The CFI.co judging panel presents Co-op Legal Services — a repeat programme winner — with the 2021 award for Best Estate Administration & Probate Services Provider (UK).


Surecomp: Best Digital Trade Finance Solutions Global 2021

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Surecomp was established 33 years ago with the aim of setting a new industry standard in trade finance digitalisation. Clients are flocking to the cloud, and Surecomp helps them with a suite of digital applications to solve key problems. The digitalisation process represents a monumental undertaking for most organisations — particularly financial institutions — but Surecomp simplifies the complexity of trade finance with digital innovation. Surecomp claims to be the only company to identify trade finance as both a banking and corporate solution, and to deal across Europe, the Americas and Asia. It offers next-gen trade finance solutions to assist banks and corporations with transformation strategies, and third-party partnerships with local banks give Surecomp a competitive edge. The firm invested in R&D and tasked a team with soliciting market feedback to identify opportunities for innovation — and then developed in-house solutions to help clients scale their businesses. Surecomp helps clients save time and money by harnessing efficiencies while fostering collaboration through open API (Application Programming Interface) connectivity. Surecomp’s market reach includes some 30 fintech companies — and that number is rising. Everything is geared towards growth and stability, from its digital-first approach and future-focused products to its family-friendly work culture and equal-opportunity ethos. Surecomp started the year on track for good growth figures. Positive feedback from satisfied customers, and media coverage of their stories of transformation, suggest that streak will continue. The CFI.co judging panel declares Surecomp winner of the 2021 global award for Best Digital Trade Finance Solutions.


Wealth Club: Best HNW Investment Platform UK 2021

Wealth Club is a leading alternative investment platform exclusively for high net worth and sophisticated investors. Wealth Club specialises in government-endorsed, tax-incentivised solutions, including venture capital trusts (it is the largest non-advisory broker with a 19% market share), inheritance tax portfolios, enterprise and seed enterprise investment schemes (EIS and SEIS) and alternative investment market individual savings accounts (AIM ISAs). The company has some 7,000 clients and 35,000 members active on the platform. Wealth Club’s founding team brings leadership experience from the financial services industry, notably Hargreaves Lansdown, where Wealth Club CEO Alex Davies served as a board director. Since launch in 2016 Wealth Club clients have invested £560m through its platform. The Wealth Club platform gives clients control over investing, with insights from in-house teams of analysts and researchers as well as CEO interviews. Technology and medtech are areas of high interest, and investment minimums start at as low as £10,000 for single company opportunities. The company has laid a solid foundation towards the goal of building a £1bn business — from the ground up. The CFI.co judging panel announces Wealth Club as winner of the 2021 award for Best HNW Investment Platform (UK).


Bank of Baghdad (BOB): Best Bank Iraq 2021

Bank of Baghdad (BOB) is Iraq’s largest private commercial bank, with 40 national branches and one in Beirut. The multinational, multi-regional institution has, over the past three decades, earned the trust of the people — and the lion’s share of business in Iraq. BOB is the only such bank in the country to have a 10-year clearing relationship with Citibank of New York. It ensures full compliance with regulatory and ethical standards through a comprehensive governance structure. This has raised the bank’s profile with international companies and the expat community. There is a BOB branch located in the US embassy and an ATM in the British embassy, and BOB is the preferred bank of EU and UN employees in Iraq. It has achieved year-on-year growth and the highest rating from the Central Bank of Iraq. BOB has the largest customer deposits in the country, and despite the pandemic, 2020 was a record year. The bank seeks to empower employees and clients, and this mentality of shared success further bolsters its credibility and popularity. It has invested in technology to enhance ease of transactions and grant customers peace-of-mind. There is a workforce of 800 professionals, and a strong service ethic is a selection criterion. BOB is listed on the Iraq Stock Exchange and is majority-owned by Burgan Bank in Kuwait, with investment fund shareholders in New York and London. The CFI.co judging panel congratulates Bank of Baghdad, the 2021 winner of the Best Bank (Iraq) award.


Bolsa Mercantil de Colombia: Best Socio-Economic Impact Commodities Exchange Latin America 2021

Since 1979, Bolsa Mercantil de Colombia (BMC) has contributed to the country’s socio-economic development by providing a cross-sector procurement platform. More recently, BMC bridges the financing gap caused by some banks’ reluctance to extend lending beyond business clients, and opens the markets for SME financing. This was appreciated by many during a widespread lending freeze during the pandemic. Through BMC-member brokerage companies, the exchange connects investors with commodity producers in the agricultural, agro-industrial and energy sectors. BMC saw the introduction of futures and options as a chance to modernise its production model. It provides investors with opportunities and commodity producers with liquidity. BMC has played a pivotal role in the development of Colombia’s natural gas industry. Over the past 6 years, it has collected and compiled transactional and operational data, providing a wealth of information for stakeholders and authorities. The exchange aims to expand the scope of the entire energy market. The BMC supports procurement processes for government agencies at local and national levels. Transparency and efficiency are cornerstones of the BMC playbook — which should help with its mission to open its platforms to more markets. BMC leadership takes a mentoring approach to its team to ensure a continuous and concerted effort to strengthen the Colombian economy and benefit society. The CFI.co judges present Bolsa Mercantil de Colombia with the 2021 award for Best Socio-Economic Impact Commodities Exchange (Latin America).


BancSabadell d’Andorra: Best Asset Management Solutions Andorra 2021

BancSabadell d’Andorra (BSA) is a full-service bank that continues to impress with its innovation in asset management and gravitas in governance. It was founded in 2000 by an alliance between Spanish bank Banco Sabadell and a group of local business owners. This mix of owners is a genuine strength. It provides BSA with the highest of prudential and operational standards mixed with local Andorran acumen. The investment team works closely with the investment committee of Banco Sabadell group and clients. Through these relationships and its understanding of the local, European and global markets, the team continues to innovate with its funds. Last year it developed a sustainability fund and opened a technological fund for retail investors both with significant success. Now it is working on a fund focused on emerging markets in Asia and beyond. These are on top of its existing funds that are already extensive in their offerings. Asset classes include short-term cash investments, fixed-income, and equities. The equity funds focus on Europe, America, and new technologies. BSA also prides itself on its commitment to customer service, and there have been regular and helpful improvements. It is also committed to high ethical standards and is proud to have not incurred any sanctions during its existence, which are often the bane of small financial jurisdictions. The CFI.co judging panel is pleased to award BancSabadell d’Andorra winner of the 2021 Best Asset Management Solutions (Andorra).


GreenBank Capital: Most Innovative Global Merchant Bank Canada 2021

For any fledgling business, the sudden and unexpected loss of a visionary leader is a hammer blow. When Danny Wettreich, the respected entrepreneur and visionary who founded and chaired GreenBank Capital in 2013, passed away suddenly in 2018, impetus could easily have stalled. But his son, Mark Wettreich, the current chairman of GreenBank, was determined to protect his father’s legacy, and build upon the passion and foresight at the heart of the business. Mark resolved to press ahead with the founding concept – a merchant bank which seeks out fast-growing, globally scalable businesses and supports them through all stages of growth, while balancing the risks by acquiring tangible assets and injecting a healthy dose of business acumen. GreenBank believes that this under-represented sector has great potential. The company has a global reach, with its experienced team operating not only in Canada but in the USA and Europe. GreenBank is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE: GBC) as well on and the OTCMKTS in the USA (GRNBF) and the Deutsche Börse in Germany (FRA: 2TL). It has a network of contacts who constantly comb the world’s markets for opportunities with potential to add value to GreenBank’s portfolio. Mark and the GreenBank team have taken the original compelling vision and business model and developed GreenBank into a Company with a strong foundation and a clear roadmap for the future. The company has invested, among others, in major scientific innovation, electric vehicles, fintech, precious metals, mobile apps and pharmacy as well as real estate in order to blend risk with asset backing. It is also an early supporter of blockchain technology as a means of speeding up transactions and reducing costs, and it continues to promote its development. The judging panel recognises GreenBank’s talent for innovation, and has no hesitation in presenting the company with the 2021 award for Most Innovative Global Merchant Bank Canada.


Curinde: Best Free Economic Zone Manager Dutch Caribbean 2021

The Caribbean island of Curaçao is becoming a logistical trade hub. It is a far-flung part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, benefitting from treaties with the EU and the Americas. It has a sophisticated financial industry, extensive port facilities, reliable communications infrastructure and a skilled, multilingual labour force. Curinde aims to strengthen the country’s status by providing professional support and qualitative facilities in two Free Economic zones, at the airport and harbour, and at the Brievengat industrial park. Steven Martina, Curaçaoan minister of economic development, expects the industrial park to become the heart of the island’s economy, generating local employment and spurring international trade. Curinde has clients ready to settle into the industrial area of the port and hopes to commence operations soon. The company adheres to international guidelines for transparency and intellectual property laws. A strong governance structure gives it a sure footing in the battle against illicit activity. Curinde places great importance on its reputation for integrity and collaboration. It works with customs agencies and merchants to increase awareness of opportunities and highlight best-business practices. Curinde has made confident investments over the past seven years to transform the free trade zones — and has secured certificates and accreditations that underscore its growing prestige. The CFI.co judging panel announces another accolade: Curinde claims the 2021 award for Best Free Economic Zone Manager (Dutch Caribbean).


Raiffeisen Centrobank AG: Best Structured Products Bank CEE 2021

Innovation is at the centre of the drive to expand business at Austria’s Raiffeisen Centrobank AG (RCB). The investment bank provides a range of products and services in the equities and derivatives sectors. It is a market leader in the field of structured products, and is striving to expand operations in its core markets of Austria, Central and Eastern Europe. It concentrates on maintaining a holistic approach to customer service, strengthening of its product portfolio, and ensuring clients have a clear understanding of opportunities available to them. The company, founded in Vienna in 1973, has recently expanded operations in Serbia and Belarus. Leveraging its experience in the field, RCB’s puts its attention on expansion and the strengthening of its market position. Having weathered the early challenges of the pandemic, the bank is now seeing a significant increase in business. Record numbers of clients, eager to take advantage of the opportunities presented by lower stock prices, are approaching RCB. The bank has earned an enviable reputation as a pioneer in the field of structured products. It is Austria’s largest issuer of certificates, and is seen as a major player in CEE markets. The CFI.co judging panel continues to be impressed by the performance of the bank — and presents it with its third award. Raiffeisen Centrobank AG takes the 2021 award for Best Structured Products Bank (CEE).


FXSpotStream (FSS): Best FX & Precious Metals Trading Platform US 2021

FXSpotStream is a market disruptor bent on driving down trading costs. Since its 2011 launch, the bank-owned consortium has operated a market-utility service with a multibank API (application programming interface) and GUI (graphical user interface) for routing FX and precious metals orders between clients and liquidity providers. FSS has invested time and resources to develop and digitalise the systems. Before FSS, traders dealing with individual interfaces from different banks were met with multiple charges to operate their business. The FSS service brings efficiencies to the market, cutting  trading costs for market participants, while at the same time providing for a transparent, bilateral relationship between clients and LPs. FSS has followed a global business model since the beginning, searching for -   and securing -   the calibre of liquidity providers able to handle larger trading volumes and offered cost reductions. From offices in New Jersey, London and Tokyo, the company works with tier-one banks and clients from a variety of financial sectors across the Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific. FSS  is a lean company that thrives in volatile markets, and its proactive response to the pandemic served it well. Employees swiftly adapted to remote working with zero system failures - even with a record volume of trading supported. Average daily volume (ADV) rose 18.52% from 2019 to 2020, and first quarter ADV for 2021 reached $51.3bn. FSS swaps the "broker mentality" for collective service delivery: relationship management, quality service and market expertise. The CFI.co judges declare FXSpotStream winner of the 2021 award for Best FX & Precious Metals Trading Platform (US).


Crescat Capital: Best Global Macro Investment Strategy US 2021

Global financial markets often focus on exploitable inefficiencies, and Crescat Capital develops macro-economic models to turn those inefficiencies into profits. The Colorado-based firm traces roots back to 1999, when its founder and chief investment officer, Kevin Smith, launched his first discretionary managed account strategy. This formed the bedrock of Crescat Capital’s modus operandum. The firm’s core strengths are macro-economic research and modelling, and pursuing these themes has proven successful. Equity and macro models identify overlooked opportunities and yield data insights on market trends. Crescat Capital has assembled a niche team of industry professionals to assess the markets, build and refine the models, and present a transparent narrative to clients. The company believes its robust and repeatable investment process can deliver strong absolute and risk-adjusted returns over the long-term. Crescat’s value-driven models and prudent risk management allow it to anticipate and capitalise on global events. It embraces volatility as an opportunity to initiate long positions at the lowest price points. The company has an active social media presence and publishes regular research briefings. Crescat Capital funds were ranked in the top 10 of 2020 by Bloomberg — validation of the efficacy of its Covid response strategies, which included weighted investments in precious metals for capital preservation. Crescat points to an increasing wealth in the bottom half of the economic bracket, fuelled by a ramp-up in consumer spending. The CFI.co judging panel presents Crescat Capital with the 2021 Best Global Macro Investment Strategy (US) award.


DLM Capital Group: Best Structured Finance & Securitisation Team West Africa 2021

DLM Capital Group creates bespoke business solutions for alternative financing and harnessing funds for growth. The Nigerian group focuses on four key sectors — consumer credit, agriculture, microfinance and education. It aligns its operations with a mandate to reduce poverty and improve living conditions for Africans, while mobilising resources for the continent's economic and social development. DLM aims to be the bridge between consumer-based loans and capital markets. It offers a full range of investment banking products, including corporate finance advisory, asset management and securities trading to sovereign and sub-sovereign entities, as well as to private and public corporations. The firm crafts strategies for micro-finance banks, asset financing, agricultural, infrastructure, energy and mining. DLM has won recognition in West African capital markets, acting as sole arranger to over 80 percent of structured finance transactions in Nigeria — and all of the securitisation transactions. It provides deal structuring, advisory execution and capital raising services across the Nigerian capital market. The pandemic sparked an infusion of technology throughout the group’s operations, with automated processes and increased time efficiency. DLM Capital Group has remained fully operational during the crisis. It recently launched an asset financing scheme and is preparing a venture into digital banking. The DLM team believes that “together, we can change the world”. The CFI.co judging panel presents DLM Capital Group with the 2021 award for Best Structured Finance & Securitisation Team (West Africa).


BK Capital: Best Corporate Finance Advisory Rwanda 2021

<img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9275" src="https://cfi.co/awards/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BK-Caoital-300x71.jpg" alt="BK-Capital" width="300" height="71" />Over the past four years, Rwandan firm BK Capital has positioned itself as an investment gateway with a client-centric focus. The firm is led by an investment team with a strong track record of exceeding expectations. A network of investment contacts provides clients with tailored solutions and advisory services. The panel noted that BK Capital has been the lead transaction advisor for the two major listings on the Rwanda Stock Exchange in the last year, Cimerwa PLC in Aug 2020 and MTN Rwandacell PLC in May 2021. Clients benefit from the firm’s in-house market research, which contributes to informed decision-making. BK Capital offers a suite of advisory services covering corporate finance, deals, valuation and performance enhancement. Risk analysis, financial restructuring and business modelling also form part of its repertoire. It assists corporate clients with the launching of IPOs and the raising, budgeting, and structuring of capital. It can chart a clear path through M&As, joint ventures and strategic alliances as well as divestures and optimised exit strategies. It helps with competitive analysis, pricing strategies, and contract negotiations. BK Capital offers wealth management services, providing impartial financial advice and analysis that put client needs front and centre. It accompanies those clients at every stage of the investment process, helping to develop strategies, administer schemes and report performance. The firm is a subsidiary of BK Group PLC, a leading and listed Rwanda financial services group. The CFI.co judges point to the firm’s innovative products and superior customer service as key factors in their decision to present BK Capital with the 2021 award for Best Corporate Finance Advisory (Rwanda).


TRUMPF Venture: Best Technology Investment Partner Germany 2021

As a business in the vanguard of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, TRUMPF Venture is constantly monitoring global developments in areas like Al, the Internet of Things and robotics, seeking to identify disruptive new players in whom to invest or to promote, thus contributing with more than capital to the table. But as industry moves into a new age of inter-connectivity, criminal elements are keeping pace with technological advances. Cyberattacks are costing global business more than $300b every year, and those involved in illicit activity are becoming ever more sophisticated — which is why in 2021 TRUMPF Venture is investing in a new generation of cyber security businesses. TRUMPF Venture is the corporate investment arm of the giant German industrial machine manufacturer, the family owned TRUMPF Group, which began life as a metal-working machine shop in Stuttgart in 1923. Today, from its base in Ditzingen, southern Germany, it's a global leader in industrial tools, lasers and electronics, and runs subsidiaries across the world, with production facilities in the USA, UK, Europe, China and Japan. In January 2021, TRUMPF Venture announced significant Investments in two cyber security businesses; the US-based CYR3CON and L7 Defense of Israel. Both companies are involved in ground-breaking developments, taking the fight to the cyber criminals, undermining their operations, and predicting vulnerabilities in targeted businesses. Dieter Kraft, MD of TRUMPF Venture, says: "Both Investments underpin our strong belief that cyber security is critical for industrial solutions to provide appropriate resilience facing increasing cyber-attacks." In 2021, for the second year running, the judging panel is pleased to present TRUMPF Venture with the award, Best Technology Investment Partner Germany.


National Bank of Ethiopia: Best Central Bank Governance Africa 2021

If any corner of the world needs stable institutions, it’s the turbulent Horn of Africa. The National Bank of Ethiopia, the country’s central bank, has a vision stemming from the government’s pledge to build a country where democracy, good governance and social justice reign. After the political upheaval of the second half of the 20th century, the bank reorganised, adapting to a new era of market-based economic policy with the aim of creating a stable financial system. In 2019 it began a comprehensive three-year reform programme, supported by the IMF, to tackle Ethiopia’s international debt, moving the country from high to medium risk. Thanks to its governance strategies, the bank is helping to turn Ethiopia into one of Africa’s fastest growing economies. The bank plays an important role in economic research, giving policy advice to the government while ensuring price and exchange rate stability, adequate international reserves, and improving the dependability of the financial system. Its aim is to be one of the strongest, most reputable central banks in Africa. In response to Covid-19, the bank relaxed regulations to allow companies to better manage debt and ensure the viability of those worst affected. It also moved to provide loans to private banks during the height of the pandemic, to avoid liquidity issues. It has committed to the prevention of money laundering, smuggling and the financing of terrorism. The judging panel recognises the bank’s commitment to good governance, and is pleased to present the 2021 award, Best Central Bank Governance (Africa).


Moonfare: Best Private Equity Performance Transparency Platform Global 2021

Moonfare provides individual investors and fund managers unrivalled access to the world of top-tier private equity funds. It normally takes a small mountain of money to attract the attention of such funds; through the Moonfare platform, interested investors can register in just 15 minutes and minimum amounts start at €50,000. Founded in 2016, Moonfare had a stellar year in troubled 2020. It more than doubled funds under management, from €230m to over €500m and is now close to hitting €1b in summer. This was achieved by bringing an increasing number of private funds to the platform — to date there were 36 different funds offered — and by boosting the number of investors to over 1,700 mid year. This includes new HNW investors introduced via Asian banks and wealth managers. These are remarkable figures considering the upheavals caused by the pandemic. Moonfare’s fully digital approach clearly resonates with private investors. Small wonder, then, that Fidelity International recently has taken a stake in the company. Buyout funds represent 60 percent of assets under management and include allocations to industry giants such as CD&R and KKR. The CFI.co judges were impressed by Moonfare’s widening array of funds, with new investment strategies and asset classes. This includes Venture Capital tech and healthcare funds, growth equity, infrastructure, and distressed. The judges present Moonfare with the 2021 award for Best Private Equity Performance Transparency Platform — its second consecutive annual win.


Maybank Kim Eng: Best Capital Markets Brokerage South East Asia 2021

The brokerage market in Thailand is fragmented, with small market shares divided between about 40 brokers. It’s an industry plagued by high personnel turnover, but over half the staff at Thai broker Maybank Kim Eng have been part of the team for at least 15 years — some of them for more than 20. The firm is a subsidiary of Maybank, a Malaysian state-owned banking giant. Maybank Kim Eng has turned a corner after a difficult four-year period that included a drop in revenue. The broker kept morale high throughout by prioritising people over profit and cultivating long-term relationships. It continued paying out staff bonuses throughout the hard times. It has built a sizable customer base — 150,000 traders strong — including many high-net-worth clients. Maybank Kim Eng focuses on anticipating customer needs rather than pushing products, and claims to have the top research team in Thailand. It values diversity, with women representing 57 percent of staff, and aims to extend gender balance to the executive level. Maybank Kim Eng has flown under the CFI radar in the past, but its ambitious digital transformation, willingness to embrace change and ability to evolve with customer needs have brought it to the judges’ attention. It leads by example, with strict codes of conduct and a focus on promoting ESG investing in the region. The CFI.co judging panel congratulates Maybank Kim Eng on winning the 2021 award for Best Capital Markets Brokerage (South East Asia).


Stantec: Best Gender Inclusion Strategy North America 2021

Stantec, a company committed to design with community in mind, was founded as a one-person firm in 1954 by Harvard environmental engineering graduate Don Stanley. The operation now has some 22,000 employees spread across 350 locations on six continents. It has assembled a team of designers, engineers, scientists and project managers to build client partnerships centred on community, creativity and innovation. Based in Canada, the global company has a culture which reflects the diversity of the communities it serves. Stantec aims to drive change as an employer that prioritises sustainability, diversity, inclusion and equity. It has always exceeded the requirements for Canada’s 30% Club, which calls for 30 percent of board members to be female. Stantec has 55 employee resource group (ERG) chapters and provides in-person unconscious-bias training. The ERGs began as a grassroots movement that now has chapters dedicated to women, pride, indigenous connections, Latinos, Asians, people with disabilities, military veteran advocates, cultural awareness and inclusion. ERG chapters are run by employees and supported by Stantec. Stantec puts people at the centre of everything it does and invests time and resources to promote inclusion and diversity. This year, it has committed one percent of pre-tax profits to community engagement programmes across its global network. Stantec also runs a scholarship programme offering summer internships and work experience opportunities. The CFI.co judging panel recognises a company with a great awareness of communication, transparency and engagement: Stantec wins the 2021 award for Best Gender Inclusion Strategy (North America).


WEC Energy Group: Best ESG Growth Strategy United States 2021

From its base on the shores of Lake Michigan,  WEC Energy Group is rapidly moving towards a bright, sustainable future. WEC Energy Group didn’t simply adopt ESG goals, it fixed them firmly at the core of its operations in America’s heartland. The company, founded in 1896 as the Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company, is now one of the  largest electricity generation and natural gas companies in the United States, providing energy to some 4.6 million customers across the Midwest. The company is committed to cleaner energy and recognises the reduction of emissions as an essential part of its strategy. WEC Energy Group plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60 percent by 2025, 80 percent by the end of 2030 — and to make its electric generation fleet carbon-neutral by 2050. The group also plans to achieve net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas distribution system by the end of 2030. In 2019, WEC announced a new ESG strategy. The $16bn plan, the largest five-year capital plan in the company’s history, includes new investment in solar, wind, battery storage and efficient natural gas generation. It is expected to cut emissions while maintaining reliability and delivering savings to customers. In 2020, it was named one of America’s most responsible companies. WEC Energy Group’s focus is on investing in cost-effective renewables, while retiring less efficient fossil fuel units and improving its natural gas distribution system. The judging panel recognises WEC’s commitment to ESG goals, and is pleased to present the 2021 award: Best ESG Growth Strategy (United States).


Bite Investments: Best Global Alternative Investments Platform UK 2021

Bite Investments is majority owned by VCP Advisors, a regulated global financial services firm. Alternative investments have become an increasingly attractive option for advisors and high-net-worth investors seeking to diversify their portfolios. Bite is a UK-headquartered company whose workforce — with a balanced mix of backgrounds in tech and wealth management — serves clients across Europe, Asia, North America and the Caymans. This has allowed Bite to develop a platform that facilitates fund access, enhances due diligence and streamlines regulatory compliance. It enables easy onboarding of new clients, using multi-factor authentication and self-certification investor screening. Bite puts all necessary research resources at investors’ fingertips, including access to all key facts and figures, audited records, management presentations and interviews. The investment process has been digitalised, from automated fund allocations to customised reporting functions. The platform helps investors and advisors by removing fund-access roadblocks such as oversubscription, high illiquidity and buy-ins with institutional-level minimums. The funds cover private equity and debt as well as infrastructure and real estate. Bite also works with advisors, asset & wealth managers, private banks and fund managers to digitise their operations, providing private market technology strategies including turnkey white labelling options and bespoke technology solutions. The CFI.co judging panel declares Bite  Investments winner of the 2021 award for Best Global Alternative Investments Platform (UK).


Zoscales Partners: Best Sustainable Investment Strategy East Africa 2021

Zoscales Partners connects international investors with high-growth, high-impact opportunities in East Africa. The firm combines private equity investments, knowledge sharing and scalability support to fuel SME growth. Zoscales targets industries with attractive exit strategies and a compound annual growth rate of 15 percent or better. The three core divisions are healthcare, fast-moving consumer goods, and materials. Its first $75m fund was launched in 2017, with five investments done so far. The most recent addition was a 2020 investment in Ethiopia’s first private-sector MRI provider, Pioneer Diagnostics Center (PDC). During the course of 2021, the fund is expected to make its last two investments before launching its second fund. Zoscales Partners identifies six SDGs where its operations have the most impact and offers training, workshops and scholarships. It finances clean water and sanitation projects, integrates climate action across investments and catalyses the development of sustainable cities and communities. The firm has generated high returns for investors while creating over 500 quality jobs across East Africa. It expects to double job creation before year end and focuses on diversity by hiring more female employees to the companies . Zoscales has a Danish origin story, following the friendship of cofounders Ashenafi Alemu, of Ethiopia, and Jacop Rentschler, of Denmark. That style of collaboration continues, with a large institutional investor base in Europe and a network of regional partners. Fundraising is underway for Zoscales’ second fund, with a $200m target and continued focus on core industries. The firm favours strong ESG initiatives — which helps it secure funding from institutions including the International Finance Corporation and World Bank. The CFI.co judging panel congratulates repeat programme winner, Zoscales Partners, on the 2021 award for Best Sustainable Investment Strategy (East Africa).


ThirdWay Africa: Best ESG Merchant Banking Team Africa 2021

When London-based investment firm ThirdWay Africa (TWA) was launched in 2014, its objective was to fundamentally change Africa’s investment landscape. That aim has never faltered, and TWA has kept the focus firmly on the UN’s Environmental, Social and Governance aims for sustainable development. This ambitious drive has been adopted as a business essential in the field of banking — and beyond. TWA believes that profit hinges on communities and the environment — and that business must lend support in those areas. Sustainability is more than an aspiration, it’s a vital component in constructing a healthy future for the planet. The firm facilitates dialogue between private capital, development organisations and governments to find ways to co-operate. The traditional view of Africa as a continent of high costs, low liquidity and skills shortages is outdated. TWA’s role is to help navigate challenges and overcome preconceptions. It is recognised for its track record of unearthing investment opportunities such as conservation tourism. Before the pandemic, tourism accounted for more than seven percent of Africa’s GDP, and the sector is a crucial asset in the battle to halt the loss of natural habitat. It has been supported by a TWA fund during the Covid crisis. The company is looking to expand its operations, too, with a focus on South America. The judging panel, for the second consecutive year, is impressed. It presents ThirdWay Africa with the 2021 award for Best ESG Merchant Banking Team (Africa).


Old Mutual Investment Group: Best ESG Responsible Investor Africa 2021

[caption id="attachment_9311" align="aligncenter" width="472"] Managing Director of Old Mutual Investment Group: Tebogo Naledi[/caption]

Old Mutual Investment Group forms part of an organisation with a 175-year history in South Africa. The multi-boutique investment house oversees listed equity AUM for parent company Old Mutual Ltd and offers solutions for institutional and individual investors. Old Mutual Investment Group believes responsible investing to be a moral imperative as well as an opportunity to gain a competitive business edge. This allows for the pursuit of delivering sustainable long-term returns for our clients, while being responsible stewards of the assets we manage. It integrates ESG factors throughout the decision-making process. Old Mutual Investment Group takes proactive stewardship of investments by exercising proxy voting rights to push for better ESG performance . Its investment products support economic growth aligned with socially inclusive, low-carbon and resource-efficient outcomes. In addition, clients gain exposure to renewable energy, land reform, affordable education, and gap housing through the group's private market affiliates. Old Mutual Investment Group develops investment solutions using hard exclusions based on ESG leadership indices and Shariah investment principles. It offers equity guidance through its proprietary ESG profile-scoring system - and targets a 20 percent improvement in those scores and a 40 percent reduction in carbon intensity. Old Mutual Investment Group has a partnership mindset and strives to increase the size the entire pie, not just its own slice. The CFl.co judging panel presents Old Mutual Investment Group with the 2021 award for Best ESG Responsible Investor (Africa).


CORDET: Best Alternative Credit Investor United Kingdom 2021

In the wake of the 2008-09 financial crisis, many smaller mid-market companies felt abandoned by banks and traditional credit providers. With the pandemic, history is repeating — and once again, London-based CORDET has stepped into the breach. It continues to help companies across the United Kingdom and Northern Europe with alternative financing solutions. This includes bespoke schemes for stable companies, financing packages for non-investment grade issuers, and assistance for investors purchasing companies through debt-advisory services. CORDET prides itself on its ability to provide tailored support and flexible financing solutions to new and existing borrowers, with its nimble approach enabling it to remain highly active throughout the pandemic. CORDET typically helps companies with annual revenues lower than €250m and EBITDA between £2m and €15m. It builds strong relationships with its investors and the companies in which it invests. It relies on its diverse and talented team members, drawn from across Europe — many of them with 25 years’ experience, or more, in the field. During the pandemic, CORDET has worked hard to maintain its level of service to customers, despite the challenges presented by repeated lockdowns. And it hasn’t closed its door to new client relationships, either; it has clearly demonstrated its strong commitment to being a “all-weather” investor. In addition to its strong commitment to ESG principles, as reflected in its consistent rating as a signatory to the UN’s Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI), CORDET has shown continued support for local communities. For example, it has supported children’s charities and provided more than 400 gifts for children in care. For the second year running, the CFI.co judges are delighted to present CORDET with the award for “Best Alternative Credit Investor (United Kingdom)”.


Baluarte: Best Investment Management Team Portugal 2021

Multi-family office Baluarte was founded in 2014 to help individuals, families and institutions protect their wealth and achieve their financial goals. The firm focuses exclusively on independent investment advisory services and corporate and M&A advisory, and operates in Portugal, Italy and Spain on behalf of a diversified and distinguished international clientele. Independence and transparency are paramount at Baluarte, and ensure a full alignment of interests with all its investors. Each individual investment management team member has more than 25 years of industry experience. The team engages with clients to understand their financial circumstances and ambitions, then charts a path likely to maximise risk-adjusted returns. Baluarte acknowledges market volatility but believes there is always some order in apparent chaos. The team takes the time to analyse trends and reveal the underlying structure of the market, then advises clients on any necessary adjustments. Each client is assigned a dedicated financial advisor who will analyse their personal situation and create a suitable risk profile. They will then define ideal investment structures and strategies according to that profile, selecting the financial instruments to begin building a portfolio. Advisors will also prepare trade information for clients' approval and transmit the documents to the preferred intermediary. The team stays on top of all portfolios, analysing any deviations and proposing corrective or preventative measures where necessary. The CFl.co judging panel presents Baluarte with the 2021 award for Best Investment Management Team (Portugal).


Botswana Stock Exchange: Best Economic Impact Securities Exchange Africa 2021

Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) traces its history to 1989, when the country relied on an informal trading system known as the Botswana Share Market. Today, it’s the only exchange with the authority to operate and regulate the country’s securities market. BSE has proven capable of meeting the capital-raising needs of Botswana companies. The exchange has invested considerable resources in state-of-the-art technology and trading systems. It benefits from a fast development track and strong investor support. Sustainability ranks highly in the business model, and corporate social investment (CSI) initiatives give back to the community. The exchange runs successful CSI campaigns and engages with community organisations and citizens to boost socio-economic progress through educational support. It has provided students with funding for supplies and has helped raise the pass rate in several schools. In terms of public education initiatives, BSE works to cultivate a culture of investing for various demographics, aiming to increase the retail investor base to 100,000 by the end of 2021. These activities including the award-winning BSE Senior Secondary Schools Finance & Investment Competition which was named Best Educational Initiative in Africa in 2019. The exchange modifies strategies appropriately to expand the business, continuously solving problems and creating opportunities. It aspires to be world-class and has established a solid foundation of capital market development in the region, on the continent and through the World Federation of Exchanges. BSE sees itself as a product of its environment: innovative and proactive, just like the companies it lists. BSE is qualified to address any structural issues that might arise without waiting on guidance from outside. The CFI.co judging panel presents Botswana Stock Exchange with the 2021 award for Best Economic Impact Securities Exchange (Africa).


Grupo Traxion: Best Integrated Logistics Solutions Mexico 2021

Over the past 65 years, Mexico’s Grupo Traxion has developed the infrastructure and partnerships to make it a leader in transportation and logistics services. In 2018, it acquired a packaging and courier company that transformed the scope of its services. The acquisition was stripped down and converted into an e-commerce operation — perfectly positioned to grow with the surge of online shopping during the pandemic. E-commerce accounted for a mere 2 percent of Grupo Traxion’s revenue pre-Covid; it now makes up 70 percent. The group took a conservative stance in 2020 and focused on running defence. It launched a logistics and tech innovation division that has allowed it to develop business lines and gain market share. Group revenue rose 172 percent in 2020, and logistics services were up 25 percent. The growth spurt was triggered and supported by natural market forces, and Grupo Traxion was quick to seize the opportunity. It launched a digital broker initiative to connect clients and third-party cargo service providers, with Traxion managing the connection, routing the trip, processing the payments and providing further logistics support. Grupo Traxion claims to be only company in Mexico capable of managing the country’s complete supply chain while making efficient use of the main infrastructure. The group anticipates future growth thanks to the ongoing global shift to e-commerce. The CFI.co judging panel presents Grupo Traxion, a repeat programme winner, with the 2021 award for Best Integrated Logistics Solutions (Mexico).


Mercedes-Benz: Best Automotive Branding Europe 2021

Das beste oder nichts – the best or nothing, a powerful slogan which defines the Mercedes-Benz philosophy. When the global pandemic forced the company to close its spectacular, nine-floor museum in Stuttgart, which tells the history of the company from 1886 to the present day, website visitors were offered an impressive virtual tour instead. It’s just one example of the company’s dedication to customer service, which it believes is at the heart of the global success of the Mercedes-Benz brand. In 2020 the company sold more than two million cars and 375,000 vans. But pride in the brand isn’t just encouraged with customers – it is also fostered among the company’s 173,000 employees worldwide. Mercedes-Benz believes the strength of a brand is maintained by exceptional customer support, but that this can only be achieved when the workforce is inspired by, and committed to, the brand itself. The company works hard to ensure that its workforce is fully engaged, living and breathing the brand. The company has five key objectives to keep its brand strong: innovation, performance, design, safety and the environment. Researchers and engineers are occupied in numerous initiatives to create the technology required for a new, more environmentally-friendly automotive future, including innovations in electric vehicles and next generation battery development. With 35 production sites on four continents, the company is gearing up to meet the needs of that future. The judging panel acknowledges the company’s commitment to branding, and is happy to present Mercedes-Benz with the 2021 award, Best Automotive Branding Europe.


Lockheed Martin: Most Innovative NextGen Technology Solutions Global 2021

The Osiris Rex space probe, designed, built and flown by Lockheed Martin scientists and engineers, is currently speeding homewards having almost completed its 1.4 billion mile mission to capture a piece of rock the size of a chocolate bar – which may provide answers to the origin of our solar system, even life itself. It is one example of the trail-blazing work being undertaken by a pioneering company at the frontier of scientific exploration. The company, founded in California in 1912 as the world rushed to put men into the skies in timber and canvas crafts, has always been at the leading edge. Today the company is a global leader in the field of advanced technology, covering satellites, hypersonic aircraft, global positioning systems and artificial intelligence, among other spheres of technology. Its mission is to “transform with urgency” to deliver the insights Lockheed Martin’s clients need to stay ahead in a world of rapidly-evolving threats. The company is embracing disruptive innovation in its processes, technology and tools – and sharing its resources with a growing list of start-up tech businesses who are supported with financial grants, and given access to Lockheed Martin’s network of contacts and accumulated knowledge. The Osiris Rex probe, with its precious cargo of space rock – the largest sample collected since the moon landings of the 1970s – will return to earth in 2023. For the second year running, the judging panel salutes the many advances achieved by Lockheed Martin with the 2021 award, Most Innovative Next-Gen Technology Solutions Global.


Banco Hipotecario: Best SME Bank Central America 2021

Banco Hipotecario (BH) was established in 1935, after a 115-year struggle by the farmers and pro-independence leaders of El Salvador for the creation of a mortgage bank. Ever since, BH has sought to make a difference to customers’ lives — while contributing to El Salvador’s productivity. It works with SMEs across the country, paying special attention to agricultural operations and micro-enterprises. Its business banking services include payment processing, working capital, debt consolidation, energy efficiency credit, overdraft protection and equipment purchase. Clients benefit from a robust digital platform and dedicated staff assistance. BH joined a national digitalisation campaign to provide MSMEs with the e-commerce tools and skills so necessary during the pandemic. Thousands of businesses across Central America have benefitted from the programme, which provides a free e-commerce page as well as virtual and face-to-face training. BH president Celina Padilla Meardi recently introduced a UN-backed initiative to increase the economic autonomy of Salvadoran women through financial, personal and professional development programmes. The bank, which is led by the president and a predominantly female board of directors, made an ideal partner. BH continues to prioritise customer convenience, and has opened a second branch of its new “café banking” concept. Customers at BH Cafés can conduct business, access wi-fi — or even borrow a digital device — while enjoying coffee and a snack. The CFI.co judges present Banco Hipotecario, a repeat programme winner, with the 2021 award for Best SME Bank (Central America).


BlueRock Group: Best Boutique Real Estate Investment Solutions DACH 2021

Since its 2011 launch, BlueRock Group has prioritised sustainability and applied due diligence to limit financial, technical, legal, and tax risks. The group has raised more than €300m in equity and invested €1.2bn in Germany. It is finalising two major projects: a large residential portfolio in Berlin and an office complex in Eschborn, just outside Frankfurt. Both present opportunities for institutional investors, wealth managers, family offices and high-net-worth individuals. BlueRock Group analyses real estate trends at the macro- and micro-economic level, then identifies promising opportunities. Berlin is an under-valued real estate market, with steady growth anticipated over coming decades. The firm negotiated a great deal in Berlin, securing an average price of €2,500/m2 — when the median runs more than double that. The competitive purchase prices and desirable locations make a strong case for capital protection. Asset sizes range from €3m to €10m. BlueRock Group plans to exit the portfolio in the third or fourth quarter of 2025. In the downside protection scenario, it would pursue unit-by-unit-sales over an eight-year term. BlueRock’s Eschborn portfolio features two recently renovated office buildings, with an occupancy rate of 85 percent and rental income upwards of €2m. Eschborn is a business-friendly city with lower tax rates than Frankfurt — which can be reached by rail in 15 minutes. The CFI.co judging panel presents BlueRock Group with the 2021 award for Best Boutique Real Estate Investment Solutions (DACH).


FiduSMART: Best Audit & Tax Services Team Switzerland 2021

FiduSMART has 10 years’ experience in global financial consultancy, and aims to provide entrepreneurs with services that create value and boost growth. The company is based in Switzerland and has a structured suite of offerings for tax optimisation, management consulting, controlling, accounting and fiduciary responsibilities. FiduSMART is capable of handling any tax situation: withholdings, VAT, international regulatory compliance, inheritance, donations, assets, family office services or business mergers, acquisitions, and sales of companies. The first steps in the management consulting process are to set objectives and sub-targets, then identify strengths, weaknesses, potential threats, and opportunities. Goals and initiatives are plotted onto a strategic map to provide a dashboard to track progress. These management tweaks have helped clients to increase revenues and profitability, innovate products, improve facilities, forge strategic partnerships, make operational efficiencies and embrace enhanced corporate culture. FiduSMART looks after the books so that businesses can look after the clients. Its accounting services include balance sheet analysis and liquidity plans on monthly, quarterly, half-yearly and annual bases. It assists with corporate domiciliation at home or abroad, and sets up holding and investee structures, mergers and demergers — as well as liquidations in bankruptcy cases. Fintech consulting is a rapidly growing segment of the FiduSMART business. Controlling consultancy services are geared towards best-cost analyses, flexible budgeting and lean management. The CFI.co judges present FiduSMART with the 2021 award for Best Audit & Tax Services Team (Switzerland).


Vidici Ventures: Best Fintech Growth Investor Nordics 2021

Vidici Ventures is a Nordic FinTech investor with an early-stage focus with a management team who has extensive experience from starting, operating and rapidly scaling FinTech companies. The Nordic FinTech-focused fund gets in at ground level and helps to scale emerging enterprises. The Vidici portfolio covers insurance, investment management, ticketing solutions, open banking systems, marketplace lending, digital receipts and travel and expense management. The firm cites its network of investee companies in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Germany as a key asset in the investment process. It has opened doors for Vidici, helped it to build a reputation for capital raising, and made it one of the strongest fintech pipelines in the region. The ultimate goal is to influence the transformation of the financial industry by providing funding, support and network to disruptive and scalable companies. Vidici believes that small businesses can punch above their weight to create major impacts – and the industry is shifting to the same conclusion, with adaptive regulations making space for new actors. Vidici applies an active-ownership approach to grow portfolio companies while minimising risks. Vidici’s long-term strategy has strengthened, despite the unexpected challenges of 2020. The firm took some small hits early on, but outperformed the expectations. The CFI.co judging panel congratulates Vidici Ventures, winner of the 2021 award for Best Fintech Growth Investor (Nordics).


Home REIT: Most Responsible REIT Europe 2021

The UK’s Home REIT — the first real estate investment trust to be listed on the London Stock Exchange solely dedicated to tackling homelessness and helping women to escape abusive relationships. It has built a portfolio of affordable, government-backed homes, offering low-risk investment opportunities with high social impact.

Home REIT’s IPO was launched in October 2020, providing quality properties with significant rental savings. There has been a growing demand — and shortage — of fit-for-purpose homeless accommodation in Britain. Home REIT targets a wide range of sub-sectors within homelessness including, but not limited to, women fleeing domestic abuse, people leaving prison and the armed services, individuals suffering from mental health or drug and alcohol issues and foster care leavers. The company’s charity tenants give residents peace-of-mind by providing the occupants with long-term tenure security, as well as professional training and rehabilitation programmes. It also targets inflation-protected income, offering 25-year tenure contracts to registered UK charities targeting a minimum of 5.5%+ pa dividend and 7.5%+ pa* total net return.

Home REIT works with housing associations, charities and local authorities to provide accommodation for people in need of housing. The Home REIT portfolio offers robust rental coverage with inflation-capped leases — agreed in advance with its charity tenants. Home REIT structures sustainable investment performance through active risk management and the comprehensive application of ESG standards across its operations.

Home REIT has a growing portfolio of urban properties, and many of them boast enviable locations as well as low-carbon footprints. The CFI.co judges are impressed, and announce Home REIT as winner of the 2021 award for Most Responsible REIT (Europe).


IBM: Best Shareholder Engagement United States 2021

“Leadership is not a birthright – it takes perpetual reinvention”. These are the words of Arvind Krishna, CEO and chairman of IBM, the world’s oldest tech company. Since its foundation in New York in 1911, the company has been on a journey of continuous transformation – and at the heart of its operations is a determination to achieve transparent shareholder engagement. IBM has operations in 170 countries and employs 345,900 people, and shareholder interaction is a key element of operations. IBM is renowned for including shareholders in decision-making, both inside and outside the proxy periods. The pandemic failed to dent this strategy. In 2020, as the virus raged across the globe, IBM stepped up this engagement, with virtual meetings covering everything from company strategy to matters of governance and diversity, inclusion and environmental goals. Information is fed back to senior management and incorporated into decision-making. In 2020 IBM joined the battle against Covid-19, working with the US government to provide access to its powerful computing resource to support research. IBM, responding to shareholder concerns, has set targets to achieve net zero emissions by 2030, and has updated its aims on renewable energy. The company has made its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) data available to all its stakeholders. Reshaping the future of the company as a hybrid cloud and AI platform will give clients the digital ability to thrive in the post-pandemic period. The judging panel recognises IBM’s commitment to shareholder involvement and is pleased to present the company with the 2021 award for Best Shareholder Engagement United States.


OctaFX Europe: Best FX Trading Experience Europe 2021

OctaFX Europe, regulated and licensed by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, offers a convenient and secure trading experience. The company provides retail clients in the European Economic Area with forex trading services and contracts from difference on assets including indices, metals and commodities via an MT5 trading platform that supports all types of trade orders. OctaFX Europe protects clients with segregated accounts from company assets and negative-balance protection that ensures they can never lose more than they invest. The OctaFX risk management system will compensate for negative balances due to stop outs and adjust the account balance to zero. Personal information is kept safe with SSL (secure sockets layer) 128-bit encryption while 3-D Secure technology safeguards online payments. OctaFX adheres to strict KYC procedures for identity verification, and performs enhanced due diligence for the credit and e-money institutions, providers of liquidity, payment services, platforms, financial advisory and fintech services in its business hub. The company has created a trading environment based on equity, fairness and transparency. OctaFX offers a demo account as an educational resource to hone trading skills. OctaFX Europe offers deposits and withdrawals with zero commission and low minimums, with instant processing through Visa, MasterCard and Skrill digital wallets. Bank wires are completed in three to seven working days. An Android app and the inclusion of CFDs on stocks are due soon. The CFI.co judging panel announces OctaFX Europe as winner of the 2021 award for Best FX Trading Experience (Europe).


Nepal SBI Bank Ltd.: Best Corporate Banking Solutions Nepal 2021

[caption id="attachment_9509" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Nepal SBI Bank: Senior Management Team[/caption]

Nepal SBI Bank Ltd. (NSBL), established in 1993, offers all the amenities of a regular financial institution – plus e-banking, mobile banking, SMS banking and online ticket bookings. It provides private and public sector clients with funding solutions for operational requirements and expansion. It offers business loans to Corporates & SMEs and tailored deposit accounts to suit customer needs. NSBL has 118 outlets covering 51 districts of Nepal and credits its impressive growth over a million deposit customers and 650,000 debit card holders. The bank’s digital platform clearly displays account information, merchant payment facilities, fund transfer transactions, notifications and QR payments. NSBL holds one of the lowest NPA with healthy investment portfolio performance and deposit balances. Corporate and institutional clients enjoy preferential interest rates on fixed deposit accounts, easy disbursement of salaries with various other significant facilities. NSBL provides digital platform to its corporate customer for various banking services for payments to its creditor/multiple creditors/import payments. NSBL intends to incorporate more Hydropower and Commercial Agriculture projects into its portfolio to become a major player in the green energy sector. It also works closely with the Local government to spur socio economic development as desired by Central Bank of Nepal. NSBL is a subsidiary of the State Bank of India (SBI), having a 55% stake. SBI has more than 214 years history, a global network with 22,000 branches in India and 233 offices in 32 countries. The remaining NSBL shares are split between local partners Employee Provident Fund and General Public. The CFI.co Judging panel presents Nepal SBI Bank Ltd with the 2021 award for Best Corporate Banking Solutions (Nepal).


National Finance: Best SME Finance Solutions Oman 2021

National Finance recognises SMEs as the backbone of Oman’s economy, and has been providing financing to them — as well as larger corporates and individual clients — for over three decades. It’s a lean operation, with a 300-person team looking after 70,000 customers — 10,000 of them SMEs. National Finance is the largest non-banking financial institution in Oman, claiming 42 percent of the market share. The listed company is licensed and regulated by Oman’s central bank, and its origin story centres around SMEs. It began by financing equipment for construction and transportation companies — still a central part of its business today. It has worked with Oman-based businesses across a range of sectors and gained in-depth knowledge of the local market. National Finance acquired the local affiliate of a large Japanese multinational which enabled a doubling of balance sheet and expansion of the network to 20 branches. National Finance had adopted a tech-first business model with continuous investments since 2011 which benefitted the company on several levels, particularly customer service and also smooth assimilation of the acquired entity. During the pandemic, Oman went into full lockdown — but National Finance, with its hi-tech operations, had no interruption of service. Further investments over the past four years have ensured a thoroughly modern tech infrastructure. The company has gone almost completely paperless, inspiring others to follow the trend. Clients can visit a local branch or call the help centre with any queries — including assistance on how to use the app. The CFI.co judges present National Finance with the 2021 Best SME Finance Solutions (Oman) award.


PepsiCo: Best ESG Reporting United States 2021

In 2006 PepsiCo began a journey to transform the way it did business. While still committed to delivering strong financial returns, it recognised that the world’s needs were changing – and that the future of the company was inextricably linked to sustainability. Over the intervening years it has instilled Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) values into every area of its business. And crucially, has worked to ensure that these aims and actions are open to scrutiny. A visitor to the company’s extensive website opens a door on to a vast array of ESG activity. It provides an interactive interface, dedicated to the disclosure of information, which outlines PepsiCo’s extensive sustainability goals, and its progress towards them across a range of areas. PepsiCo is one of the globe’s leading food and beverage companies, active in more than 200 countries. It has come a long way from its roots in North Carolina from where, in 1898, it sold its first bottles of Pepsi Cola in a drug store. Today its ESG values cover everything from agriculture and animal welfare to water, packaging and climate. While remaining true to its original motto of creating “more smiles with every sip”, the company is keen to let the world see that it is committed to “conserving nature’s precious resources and fostering a more sustainable planet for our children and grandchildren”. The CFI.co judges were impressed with the way PepsiCo has created an accessible gateway to its ESG strategy, and is pleased to present the company with the award Best ESG Reporting United States.


BAWAG Group AG: Best Banking Group Governance DACH 2021

In times of crisis, a good governance structure can allow businesses to weather the storm. BAWAG Group — an Austria-based banking conglomerate with a 138-year history and 2.3 million customers in the DACH region — has proven this time and time again. BAWAG Group has coped well with the Covid challenges, thanks to a strong capital position and a prudent approach to risk management. BAWAG operates across various brands with a comprehensive offering of financial services. In 2020, BAWAG Group reported a net profit of €284m and a RoTCE (return on tangible common equity) of 10.2 percent. The Managing Board deducted dividends of €460 million from CET1 capital at the end of 2020. The group kept its branches open during lockdowns and decided to pay a special bonus of €300 to all employees. BAWAG has been there for customers throughout the pandemic, even with the majority of our staff in central functions working from home. The group ensured Retail and SMEs clients had uninterrupted access to services and support. It saw increased usage across all digital banking channels and rolled out next-level mobile retail solutions in Austrian markets. Video conferencing allowed for virtual appointments and advisory services — even on Saturdays. An ESG bonus scheme was linked to housing loans and mortgages to promote energy efficiency and incentivise environmental responsibility. BAWAG Group mobilised an internal donation campaign and raised €150,000 in educational support for disadvantaged children. The CFI.co judging panel presents BAWAG Group, a repeat programme winner, with the 2021 Best Banking Group Governance (DACH) award.