Financial Markets

The Financial Times and IFC announced the winners of the 2012 FT/IFC Sustainable Finance Awards, with Bridges Ventures of the UK winning the Award for Excellence in Sustainable Finance, Standard Chartered named as Global Sustainable Bank of the Year, and Kilimo Salama (supported by IFC-led GIIF) of Kenya taking the prize for Technology in Sustainable Finance.

Now in their seventh year, the FT/IFC Sustainable Finance Awards, the awards have become known as the "Oscars for smart banking’’ and are a benchmark for institutions focused on sustainable development. The 2012 Awards attracted 161 entries from 145 financial institutions and 36 non-financial groups in 67 countries.

IFC Vice President Nena Stoiljkovic, a co-chair of the event, presented the awards at a gala dinner in London attended by around 200 senior decision-makers in finance and sustainability. IFC Director Georgina Baker emceed the event. Baroness Susan Greenfield, Scientist, Writer and Broadcaster, was keynote speaker at the dinner.

The event followed a one-day Sustainable Finance Conference organized by the Financial Times and IFC. IFC Vice President Rashad Kaldany opened the event.

This year's event included two new categories: Sustainable Investment of the Year and Technology in Sustainable Finance.

"The winners of the FT/IFC Sustainable Finance Awards demonstrate that environmental, social, and governance standards are good business and good for the bottom line,” Nena Stoiljkovic, IFC Vice President, Business Advisory Services, said. “The expansion of categories helped us attract an even more diverse pool of candidates in 2012. More companies, as well as financial institutions, are adopting sustainable standards, and this year's applicants are a sample of a growing trend that deserves recognition.”

The 2012 winners and special commendations in each category are:

Sustainable Bank of the Year
 

• Regional winner Africa/Middle East: Nedbank, South Africa
• Regional winner Americas: Itaú Unibanco, Brazil
• Regional winner Asia/Pacific: YES Bank, India
• Regional winner Europe: Co-Operative Banking Group, UK
• Sustainable Global Bank of the Year
• Winner: Standard Chartered, UK
• Special Commendation: Credit Suisse, Switzerland

Sustainable Investor of the Year

• Joint winners: Bridges Ventures, UK, and SAM, Switzerland
• Special Commendation: LeapFrog Investments, Australia
  

Sustainable Investment of the Year 

• Winner: PerPETual Global & Aloe Private Equity, India-UK
• Special Commendation: CleanStar Mozambique & Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Mozambique-UK

Award for Technology in Sustainable Finance 
 

• Winner: Kilimo Salama, Kenya
• Special Commendation: Yellow Pepper, USA
• Special Commendation for Emerging Regional Influence: Banco de Galicia y Buenos Aires, Argentina

Award for Excellence in Sustainable Finance 

Winner: Bridges Ventures, UK


The judging panel consisted of:

 

• Martin Dickson, Deputy Editor, Financial Times (co-chair)
• Nena Stoiljkovic, Vice President, Business Advisory Services, IFC (co-chair)
• James Gifford, Executive Director, UN PRI
• David Harris, Head, Responsible Investment, FTSE Group
• Mary-Ellen Iskenderian, President and CEO, Women’s World Banking
• Chris Locke, Managing Director, GSMA Development Fund
• Herman Mulder, International Sustainable Development Advisor

PwC was technical advisor for the event.