WINDHOEK – Standard Bank has been acknowledged as the ‘Most Innovative Investment Bank from Africa’ by The Banker magazine, a global financial publication.
According to the magazine, Standard Bank was recognised not only for its deep sector expertise, renowned skill and long-held relationships across the continent, but also for the innovative and customised manner in which it assists its clients, in an often challenging and complex financial and regulatory cross-border environment in Africa, and beyond.
Standard Bank’s Investment Banking franchise played a pivotal role in a series of landmark deals across the African continent, from a variety of key sectors, such as Mining & Metals, Oil & Gas, and Power & Infrastructure. Each deal stands out as an example of innovation, benefiting both clients and investors.
At a time when multi-national corporates are rapidly increasing investment in Africa, and revising their business strategies on the continent to benefit from increasing growth and rising consumer spending power, Standard Bank has differentiated itself from other African investment banks, due to the breadth and nature of the transformative transactions the bank has been involved in.
This includes the largest debut bond in sub-Saharan Africa to date – the Republic of Kenya’s US$2 billion debut sovereign bond, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc – the first Nigerian company to have its ordinary shares dual-listed on both the LSE and the NSE; largest ever IPO in Nigeria; largest IPO in sub-Sahara Africa (ex SA) since 2008, and the largest African Oil & Gas IPO since 2011. Also included is the co-arranger on the City of Johannesburg’s N$1.46 billion green bond, the first listed green bond in the South African debt capital markets to be used for environmental and social sustainability projects, .
The awards were presided over by a leading panel of experts, encompassing senior editorial staff from The Banker magazine, including Paul Wallace, Africa editor, as well as a series of senior executives from a range of Africa-focused advisory firms and investment companies, such as Jerome Booth, former head of research at Ashmore Group and Belia Fofana, founder and chief executive of Miktay Capital, an advisory firm for infrastructure projects. The group of judges were particularly impressed with Standard Bank’s role in Seplat IPO, Osun State’s Sukuk in Nigeria, Aspen Pharmacare’s US$2.7 billion worth of loans and Johannesburg’s N$1.46bn green bond.
David Munro, Chief Executive, Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB), Standard Bank, said: “We truly appreciate receiving this prestigious award. It is an external, objective assessment of what we are trying to achieve at CIB – ensuring that large global multi-national corporations, and South African companies, are able to do business in Africa; and providing access for African companies to the international capital markets.”