London: Standard Bank has won EMEA Finance's 'Best Investment Bank in Africa' for a second consecutive year. The award is in recognition of its individual and team efforts and success in 2009.

In addition Stanbic IBTC Bank - part of the Standard Bank Group - won 'Best Investment Bank in Nigeria.'

Commenting on the awards, Chris Moore, editor, EMEA Finance said: "Our Best Investment Bank in Africa award is one of only two African banking awards that recognize capabilities on a Pan-African level. Standard Bank absolutely stands out in the increasingly crowded African banking market. Across 2009 when the global banking industry faced such serious and tremendously challenging times, Standard Bank's liquidity, strong risk management and reputation for excellence allowed it to support its clients through access to their significant balance sheet and by supplying investment banking services that range from plain vanilla to very complex."

He continued: "Stanbic IBTC Bank has established itself as Nigeria's pre-eminent investment banking institution, specialising in corporate transactions, project and structured finance and brokerage offerings. Stanbic IBTC Bank played a significant role in some of the largest capital markets deals in Nigeria including acting as joint arranger/issuing house and lead underwriter on the N18.5bn (US$120mn) fixed rate bond issue by Imo State under a N40bn medium-term note programme. The bank has also acted as joint arranger/issuing house to a N50bn fixed rate bond issue by Lagos State under a N275bn debt issuance programme, the largest state government debt issue in the Nigerian capital market."

Rupert Boyd, Managing Director, Global Head of Investor Coverage, Standard Bank said: "To win these two awards from EMEA Finance is recognition of the breadth and talent of Standard Bank's capabilities in Africa and of our involvement in some of the most innovative and unique deals in Nigeria and Africa as a whole."

"Ultimately, Standard Bank is a key link between investment opportunities in Africa and the rest of the world, and we remain committed to building our expertise not just in Africa, but throughout the world's emerging markets continued Rupert."

EMEA Finance is an information source for the finance industry in the EMEA region.