INFINZ Awards Recognises Excellence

INFINZ Awards Recognises Excellence in New Zealand’s Financial And Capital Markets Eco-System

The 2018 INFINZ Awards were celebrated on Thursday 17 May at a Gala black-tie dinner at The Cordis Hotel in Auckland. A record 850 guests enjoyed an evening to celebrate excellence in the financial and capital markets eco-system in New Zealand.

The Awards are facilitated by the Institute of Finance Professionals in New Zealand Inc (INFINZ), a professional body with 1,500 individual members operating in the industry across New Zealand.

“The INFINZ Awards are directed at raising standards in the financial and capital markets eco-system in New Zealand, thereby enhancing the capacity for NZ businesses to raise debt and equity and to grow the economy,” says Jim McElwain, Executive Director of INFINZ.

There were 15 awards delivered on the night, with many of the categories determined by judging nominations from the industry, with 33 experienced professionals having acted as judges, contributing their time and energy to determine the awards in the areas in which they have special expertise.

In addition, some awards are determined through voting. Eighteen leading fund managers are polled to determine the broking-related awards, including that of the Research Analyst of the Year. These institutions and the research analysts from the five full-service sharebroking firms operating in New Zealand are polled for the Market Leaders Best Investor Relations Award.

A new Diversity & Inclusion award was conferred for the first time this year. This award seeks to recognise and acknowledge an inspirational role model from within the INFINZ membership who has proactively cultivated a focus on encouraging and nurturing diversity, aiming to achieve equal gender and diverse representation at all levels. The inaugural winner is Barbara Chapman, the former CEO of ASB.

Two INFINZ Fellowships and one Distinguished Fellowship were presented on the night. An INFINZ Fellowship not only recognises an individual’s career success but also the wider contribution they have made to the finance and capital markets industry.

Carmel Fisher, co-founder and former CEO of Fisher Funds, and Catherine Savage, Chair of the Guardians of the NZ Super Fund, were awarded INFINZ Fellowships.

A Distinguished Fellowship was conferred on Company Director Linda Robertson. Linda has had a leading role within INFINZ and the broader financial community with a special interest in advancing the skills amongst the treasury profession in particular and gender diversity more widely. The passing of Rob Cameron, last year’s Distinguished Fellow, was noted by INFINZ Chair Philip King, who recalled Rob’s service as Chair of the Capital Markets Development Taskforce which led to much industry reform including the establishment of the Financial Markets Authority.

“The focus of the INFINZ Awards is on those actions and individuals who have added the most value to corporate New Zealand and hence the economy,” commented Jim McElwain.

The Award Winners are as follows:

FNZC Market Leaders Best Investor Relations
Meridian Energy

NZX Emerging Leaders Best Investor Relations
NZ King Salmon

EY Debt Deal of the Year
EROAD $48m Multi-Option Credit Facility
Borrower: EROAD
Lender: Bank of New Zealand

Massey Business School Sharebroking Firm of the Year
FNZC

Fitch Ratings Fund Manager of the Year - Bonds
Nikko Asset Management

The Business Institutional Banking Innovation
ANZ - $1.8bn Green Borrowing Programme for Contact Energy

Trustees Executors NZ Debt Market Issue of the Year
Genesis Energy - $225m, 30 year capital bonds
Issuer: Genesis Energy
Arranger: Deutsche Craigs
Joint Lead Managers: ANZ Bank, Bank of New Zealand, Deutsche Craigs, Forsyth Barr

Chapman Tripp Fund Manager of the Year - Equities
Harbour Asset Management

Craigs Investment Partners Excellence in Treasury
NZ Super Fund

PwC NZ Equity Market Transaction of the Year
Oceania Healthcare $200m initial public offering
Issuer: Oceania Healthcare
Joint Lead Managers: Deutsche Craigs, FNZC, Macquarie Capital

Chapman Tripp M&A Transaction of the Year
Sale of Solid Energy’s assets
Sole Financial Adviser: Goldman Sachs

MinterEllisonRuddWatts Research Analyst of the Year
Stephen Ridgewell - Craigs Investment Partners

University of Auckland Business School Emerging Leader
Megan Blenkarne – NZX

Hunter Campbell Diversity & Inclusion Award
Barbara Chapman

Caldwell Partners Leadership Award
Grant Webster - Tourism Holdings Limited

INFINZ Fellows
Carmel Fisher
Catherine Savage

INFINZ Distinguished Fellow
Linda Robertson

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