LONDON: The Financial Times and IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, today announced the winners of the 2013 FT/IFC Sustainable Finance Awards, with M-KOPA of Kenya winning the Award for Excellence in Sustainable Finance, Banco Santander taking the Sustainable Global Bank of the Year transaction prize, and Impax Asset Management of the UK recognised as Sustainable Investor of the Year.

The FT/IFC Sustainable Finance Awards, now in their eighth year, have established themselves as the world’s leading awards for environmentally and socially responsible banking and investment. The 2013 Awards attracted a record 254 entries from 164 financial institutions and 57 non-financial groups in 61 countries.

The awards were presented at a special dinner in London attended by around 200 senior decision-makers in finance and sustainability. Jim O’Neill, former chief economist and head of asset management at Goldman Sachs, was keynote speaker at the dinner. The event followed a one-day Sustainable Finance Conference organised by the Financial Times and IFC.

The 2013 winners and special commendations in each category are:

Sustainable Bank of the Year
  • Regional winner Africa/Middle East: Standard Bank, South Africa
  • Special Commendation for Leadership in the Middle East: Bank of Palestine
  • Regional winner Americas: Banco Santander Brasil, Brazil
  • Regional winner Asia/Pacific: Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Japan
  • Regional winner Europe: GLS Bank, Germany
  • Special Commendation for Leadership in Eastern Europe: Center-Invest Bank, Russia
  • Sustainable Global Bank of the Year (transactional): Banco Santander, Spain
Sustainable Investor of the Year
  • Winner: Impax Asset Management, UK
  • Special Commendation: LeapFrog Investments, Mauritius

Sustainable Investment of the Year

  • Winner: WHEB Partners and Resysta International, Germany
Technology in Sustainable Finance
  • Winner: M-KOPA, Kenya
  • Special Commendation: Etisalat, UAE
Achievement in Inclusive Business
  • Joint Winners: Kenya Tea Development Agency, and Universitaria Minuto de Dios, Colombia
Achievement in Impact Investing (special award supported by UK Department for International Development)
  • Winner: Root Capital, USA
Excellence in Sustainable Finance
  • Winner: M-KOPA,Kenya

“This year’s short-listed entries were among the most diverse we have had, particularly in the areas of technology and inclusive business. The winners really are leading the way in their respective fields and we congratulate them,” said Martin Dickson, US Managing Editor of the Financial Times and co-chair of the awards judging panel.

“I’m excited that these awards provide us with the opportunity to continue to identify and reward the most innovative companies committed to leadership in sustainability as well as those dedicated to serving and integrating the economic base of the pyramid. The winners are finding transformational and profitable ways that are both replicable and scalable to help improve the lives of millions around the world,” said Nena Stoiljkovic, IFC Vice President, Business Advisory Services, said.

The judging panel consisted of:
  • Martin Dickson, US Managing Editor, Financial Times (co-chair)
  • Nena Stoiljkovic, Vice President, Business Advisory Services, IFC (co-chair)
  • Fabio Barbosa, CEO, Grupo Abril
  • James Cameron, Non-Executive Chairman, Climate Change Capital
  • James Gifford, Executive Director, UN PRI
  • David Harris, Director, FTSE ESG
  • Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President and CEO, Women’s World Banking
  • Chris Locke, Managing Director, GSMA Development Fund

PwC was technical advisor for the programme.

For more details on the FT/IFC Sustainable Finance Conference and Awards, please visit www.ft-live.com/sustainablefinance

Pictures of both events will be available on that website from 0900 hours (GMT) the following day.

For further information, please contact:

Sin Yee Hon, Financial Times
London
T: +44 (0) 20 7873 3811
E: sinyee.hon@ft.com

Julie Ziegler, IFC
Washington DC
T: +1 (202) 473 0128
E: JZiegler1@ifc.org

About the Financial Times:

The Financial Times, one of the world’s leading business news organisations, is recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. Providing essential news, comment, data and analysis for the global business community, the FT has a combined paid print and digital circulation of more than 600,000 (Deloitte assured, Q1 2013). FT.com has over 328,000 paying digital subscribers and the newspaper has a global print circulation of 256,696 (ABCs, May 2013).Mobileis an increasingly important channel for the FT, driving a third of FT.com traffic and 15% of digital subscriptions. FT education products now serve 25 of the world’s top 50 business schools.

About IFC:

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. We help developing countries achieve sustainable growth by financing investment, mobilizing capital in international financial markets, and providing advisory services to businesses and governments. In FY12, our investments reached an all-time high of more than $20 billion, leveraging the power of the private sector to create jobs, spark innovation, and tackle the world’s most pressing development challenges. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

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