Jabu Logistics was awarded the Best Capital Raisings award at the Namibia Top Companies Awards, having raised N$284 million last year.
In the highly competitive category, Jabu Logistics emerged as the deserving first-place winner, highlighting the company’s exceptional performance in areas such as deal size, economic impact, innovation, transformational aspects, execution complexity, and potential value creation.
Savanna Beef, with their commendable N$169 million equity raised through a private placement in 2022, secured second place in this category.
The third spot was claimed by Paratus Namibia, which achieved a deal size of N$130 million through their Namibian Stock Exchange-listed medium-term note programme.
The absence of significant public mergers and acquisition deals in the country last year shifted the spotlight towards capital raising and corporate finance for this year’s awards.
The winners were selected based on publicly available data and information, offering a glimpse into the achievements and accomplishments of the business community in the nation.
The awards ceremony also recognised excellence in several other categories, including the Best Locally Listed Company, Best Local Bank, and Best Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) categories.
FNB Namibia, Letshego Holdings, and Capricorn Group made remarkable strides in the Best Locally Listed Company category.
In the Best Local Bank category, FNB Namibia, Bank Windhoek, and Standard Bank Namibia were honoured for their achievements, securing the first, second, and third places, respectively.
The assessment focused on profitability, efficiency, credit quality, and bank charges/affordability, with the prerequisite that eligible banks had loans and advances exceeding N$1 billion.
The Best ESG category acknowledged companies that submitted their ESG entries, considering factors such as environmental aspects, social engagement, and governance practices.
Notable names in the ESG category included FirstRand Namibia, Bank Windhoek, and Erongo Marine, all of which made significant contributions to vital areas of business conduct, securing the first, second, and joint second places, respectively.
For the Best Cash Asset Manager, the awards recognised Standard Bank Namibia Money Market Fund, Old Mutual Namibia Money Market Fund, and M&G Namibian Money Market Fund, securing the third, second, and first places, respectively.
The judges examined factors like one-year return versus benchmark and the total expense ratio, emphasising the importance of efficient management for money market returns.
The Best Overall Asset Manager category considered funds in Namibia with a 3- and 5-year track record, awarding those with the best risk-adjusted returns.
This year, the top positions were secured by Sanlam Investment Management General Equity Fund, Hangala Capital Absolute Balanced Fund, and NAM Coronation Balanced Plus Fund, securing the third, second, and first places, respectively.
In the Best Balanced Asset Manager category, assessing funds that serve the pension fund industry, M&G Namibian Balanced Fund, NAM Coronation Balanced Plus Fund, and Hangala Capital Absolute Balance Fund earned well-deserved recognition, securing the third, second, and first places, respectively.
Acknowledging the vital role played by incubation managers in the business ecosystem, the Best Incubation Manager category rewarded Sisedi Investments and Mumi Investments for their accomplishments, securing the second and first places, respectively.
The judges examined factors like the 1- and 2-year return versus benchmark and assets under management, highlighting the significant role these managers play in nurturing emerging businesses.
The Best Start-Up category celebrated the spirit of innovation, with particular emphasis on the social impact of Namibian start-ups.
Sigmotec, GreenTeam Consultants, and Lynkwise received accolades for their outstanding contributions, securing the first, second, and third places, respectively.
Sigmotec’s signal monitoring technology empowers farmers to remotely manage their farms, while GreenTeam Consultants work towards providing clean drinking water in rural areas.
Lynkwise, a payroll deduction management platform, has already made a substantial impact on the employee base in Namibia.
The awards, hosted by The Brief and Cirrus Capital, are a testament to the dedication, innovation, and excellence that characterise Namibia’s vibrant business community.
The Top Companies Awards highlighted that the Namibian business landscape is no stranger to innovation and entrepreneurship.
