Trade & Forfaiting Review magazine archive

Volume 10 Issue 10

TFR Awards 2007

Our August 2007 issue was devoted entirely to the TFR Awards 2007. Why? Because they are so eagerly awaited, so well-respected and provide such a great snapshot of the state of the industry. Above all, because it is your votes that separate the winners from the rest – so a big thank you, of course, to everyone who took the time and trouble to vote.

This year, there were a total of 24 different categories, including two new classes: Best Global Supply Chain Finance Bank and Best Technology Solutions Provider – a reflection of the rising importance of IT in delivering the increasingly sophisticated products on offer today.

Overall, JPMorgan Chase can boast the highest award-count, winning in three categories and coming close in a number of others. Meanwhile, Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas, Calyon and ING also performed particularly well. In the Best Trade Bank in Latin America Award, the result was so close that we made a joint award to ABN Amro and BBVA.

ABN Amro, Fortis, Standard Chartered, Société Générale, Citigroup, HSBC and Royal Bank of Scotland also enjoyed strong support, too. Finally, special recognition must go to Surecomp, Finnvera, Falcon Trade Corporation, UniCredit and Trade Bank of Iraq.

Congratulations to all our winners, all of whom are listed below. Click on the company names to read about what it took to make them winners:

Best Structured Commodity Finance Bank: Deutsche Bank

Highly Commended: BNP Paribas

Most Innovative Bank in Trade: BNP Paribas

Highly Commended: Calyon

Best Trade Bank in Africa: Calyon

Highly Commended: Standard Chartered

Best Multilateral/Development Bank in Trade: EBRD

Highly Commended: International Finance Corporation

Best Trade Bank in Russia & CIS: Standard Bank

Highly Commended: VTB Bank

Best Trade Bank in Metals: ING

Highly Commended: Natixis

Best Trade Services Provider: JPMorgan Chase

Highly Commended: Royal Bank of Scotland

Best Private Export Credit Insurer: Coface

Highly Commended: Zurich

Best International Trade Finance Bank: Deutsche Bank

Highly Commended: Citigroup

Best Structured Trade Finance Bank: ING

Highly Commended: Deutsche Bank

Best Forfaiting Institution: London Forfaiting Company

Highly Commended: Intesa Soditic Trade Finance Ltd

Best Soft Commoditiy Finance Bank: Fortis

Highly Commended: Rabobank

Best Sovereign Export Credit Agency: Finnvera

Highly Commended: ONDD (Belgium)

Best Trade Bank in the Middle East: Trade Bank of Iraq

Highly Commended: Europe Arab Bank

Best Trade Finance Law Firm: Denton Wilde Sapte

Highly Commended: Norton Rose

Best Trade Platform/Online Trade Provider: JPMorgan Chase

Highly Commended: ABN Amro

Best Global Supply Chain Finance Bank: JPMorgan Chase

Highly Commended: ABN Amro

Best Trade Bank in Oil/Energy: BNP Paribas

Highly Commended: Royal Bank of Scotland

Best Technology Solutions Provider: Surecomp

Highly Commended: China Systems

Best Trade Bank in Asia: ANZ Bank

Highly Commended: Mizuho Corporate Bank; HSBC

Best Trade Bank in Central and Eastern Europe: UniCredit

Highly Commended: Commerzbank

Best Trade Finance Boutique: Falcon Trade Corporation

Highly Commended: Trade Finance Corporation

Best Export Finance Bank: Société Générale CIB

Highly Commended: HSBC, Citigroup

Best Trade Bank in Latin America: ABN Amro and BBVA

Highly Commended: Santander

Please address all correspondence to the editor, Graeme Burton: gburton@ark-group.com

Features

Research: Under pressure This article is for subscribers only
As organisations face increased financial stakeholder pressure to improve working practices and free up collatarel for new business initiatives, they are being driven to re-evaluate their working capital management procedures, as Aberdeen Group demonstrates in analysis of its recent study on the subject.

UCP 600: You can lead a horse to water… This article is for subscribers only
Following the introduction of the UCP 600 rules governing documentary letters of credit in July, Angela Potter, head of international trade and cash solutions at Barclays examines what they mean for companies – and asks whether they will have a major impact on the trading community.

Bridging the gap This article is for subscribers only
As the growth of financial supply-chain management continues apace, the supplier finance service is bridging the divide between theory and practice, says Friedrich Philipps, director of supply-chain finance at Deutsche Bank.

Newcomer to the international market with firm intentions Free
BELARUSBANK is the largest and oldest financial institution in Belarus. From year to year it has continued strengthening its positions in the local and international markets building lasting relationships with clients and partners.

On the prowl This article is for subscribers only
Despite the worsening sub-prime crisis, those who predicted forfaiting's demise are being silenced, as forfaiters target and hunt down new assets and market opportunities, as Erika Morphy reports.

Sponsored statement: A growth imperative Free
Against the backdrop of growing membership of the IFA and emerging regions, UniCredit examines change in the forfaiting industry and provides an insight of its expansion of the Global Financial Services product line in the European market and beyond.

Coming home This article is for subscribers only
Having spent 11 years in London Atilla Bogárú has found himself returning to his Hungarian roots, traveling to and from Budapest, as OTP Bank looks to expand its trade finance presence. And, as Erika Morphy reports, he is very much looking forward to the challenges that the volatile marketplace may offer up.

Regulars

Omni Bridgeway Commentary, September 2007: Kazakhstan status and outlook Free
As of its independency, Kazakhstan has developed into the most important country in Central Asia since a major portion of the world’s untapped sources of oil and gas are located at the western region of the Republic. The country’s oil and gas revenues have led to a flourishing economy with a real GDP growth of over 10 per cent each year for the past decade.

60-second interview: This article is for subscribers only
With IFA fast approaching, Edmondo de Picciotto, general manager, Intesa Soditic Trade Finance Limited, speaks to TFR about hot topics and future challenges in the world of forfaiting.

Letter from Hong Kong This article is for subscribers only
TFC Financial Group does a lot of things but let’s talk about the loan arrangement business of Trade Finance Corporation Limited. Some people ask why would anybody need TFC to arrange a loan? Contrary to the belief in some circles, not all our clients are ‘wackos’ or ‘psychopaths’; in fact, these days most of them are buried deep down somewhere in the bank’s target list.