Africa investor (Ai), a leading international investment and communications group, yesterday announced the winners of the 2013 Africa investor Index Series Awards, which were held on 24th September 2013 at the New York Stock Exchange.
This year, the Nairobi Securities Exchange walked away with the title of Most Innovative African Stock Exchange, UBA Capital snagged the Award for Best African Bank, and Ecobank took Best African Research Team for the second year running. The Most Innovative Capital Markets Regulator was won by the Securities Exchange Commission of Nigeria, and Auerbach Grayson took the Award for Best Performing Broker in Africa.
Actis was recognised this year as the Best African Fund Manager, while Umeme out of Uganda took the Award for Best African Listing. Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) and Safaricom picked up the Awards for Best Performing Ai100 Company and Best Performing Ai40 Company respectively. Simon Dornoo, MD of GCB, and Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore were accordingly recognised as Ai100 CEO of the Year and Ai40 CEO of the Year.
In the socially responsible investment categories, Most Innovative Ai SRI50 Company was awarded to First Bank of Nigeria and Most Innovative Ai SRI30 Company went to Kenya Commercial Bank. Aliko Dangote, Founder and CEO of Dangote Group, took Ai SRI50 CEO of the Year, while Ai SRI30 CEO of the Year was awarded to Phillips Oduoza, Group MD/CEO, UBA Bank.
Two new categories have been added this year to recognise outstanding efforts by pension funds investing in Africa. The Africa investor International Pension Fund Initiative of the Year was awarded to the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, while the Africa investor African Pension Fund Initiative of the Year went to South Africa’s dynamic, Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF). Finally, Mohamed El-Erian was recognised as the Africa investor Capital Markets Personality of the Year.
Commenting on the Awards, Hubert Danso, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Africa investor, said, “Every year, our Ai Capital Market Awards, linked to our Ai Index Series launched in 2005, continue to stimulate capital market transactions and bring new and exciting participants from all over the world to invest in Africa’s growth. We are honoured to be in a position to reward and recognise Africa’s capital market investment success stories and commend not only the winners, but all those that participate in the process, which goes a long way to raising Africa’s international investment profile.”
