Safaricom, East African Breweries Limited scoop top awards

East African Breweries Ltd Group Corporate Relations Director Julie Adell-Owino and Group Legal Director Wambui Kosgey receive an award of the best quoted company of the year from Think Business Founder Ochieng Oloo during the awards ceremony at Safari Park hotel, Nairobi. [PHOTO: WILBERFORCE OKWIRI/ STANDARD]

East African Breweries Limited was voted the Best Quoted Company of the Year, according to The Think Business 2015 Investment Awards held in Nairobi.

Safaricom took position two while British American Tobacco position three in the category of capital markets awards organised by Think Business on Thursday night.

Think Business Limited, a financial sector research and publishing firm, said despite the economic challenges facing the country, the capital markets is still vibrant.

“The industry performed well in the year under review, but it could have done better. In Kenya, the capital market plays a crucial role of connecting financial and non-financial sectors,’’ said Think Business founder Ochieng Oloo.

He urged the government and regulators to nurture an environment, which promotes the sector’s growth. “Government has to ensure conducive policies and regulations to facilitate growth of the markets,” he added.

“The bonds market has been active in the past since 2014, but it is now depressed, with treasury bonds yielding in single digits while the average returns for other markets averaged at 13-15 per cent.”

ICEA Lion Asset Management was named fund manager of the year of the 38 awards followed by Britam Asset Managers, Stanlib Kenya and Pinebridge Investments respectively.

Alexander Forbes was named Individual pension scheme of the year, Occupation scheme of the year, Pension administrator of the year while Outstanding Industry Contribution award went to Sundeep Raichuara, the CEO.

In collective investment schemes, Britam Asset Managers bagged the Unit Trust of the year and Best performing Equity Fund awards.

Genghis Capital won the Best Preforming other fund, and Most Innovative Trust, among other awards.

Stanlib Kenya won nine of the ten categories in first and second runners up positions. The Most Outstanding Industry Contribution went to StanLib’s E A Regional Director James Muratha. Investment bank, Dyer and Blair scooped the Best lead Transaction Advisor and Runners Up Equities Dealers of the Year awards.