2017 INFINZ Awards Winners

Press Release
EMBARGOED UNTIL 11pm THURSDAY 18th MAY 2017

INFINZ INDUSTRY AWARDS RECOGNISES EXCELLENCE IN CAPITAL MARKETS

The 2017 INFINZ Industry Awards were celebrated on Thursday 18 May at a gala black-tie dinner at The Langham Hotel in Auckland. A record 820 guests enjoyed an evening to celebrate excellence in the capital markets industry in New Zealand.

The Hon. Steven Joyce, Minister of Finance and Minister of Infrastructure, delivered the keynote address.

In 2016, INFINZ inducted the first Distinguished Fellow, Sir John Anderson. For 2017, the INFINZ Board is conferring a Distinguished fellowship on current Fellow, Rob Cameron. Rob has had an outstanding career in the financial services industry and the wider community. His leadership of the Capital Markets Development Task Force and the resultant legislation and institutional framework, including establishment of the Financial Markets Authority and Financial Markets Conduct Act have provided strong foundations and pillars of excellence for the industry as a whole.

A Fellowship was presented to Mary-Jane Daly, Scott St John and Maree Webster. Mary-Jane Daly’s career began in banking before she moved into the corporate treasury roles. Following her role as Chief Financial Officer at IAG New Zealand Mary-Jane has become an Independent Director at Kiwi Property Group, Cigna New Zealand, and Auckland Transport. She is Deputy Chair of Airways Corporation, and Chair of the New Zealand Green Building Council.

Scott St John became First NZ Capital’s first chief executive in 2002, the same year the company was formed through an employee buyout of Credit Suisse Group's New Zealand operations. Scott stepped down from this role in April, but remains a non-executive Director. Scott is Chancellor of the University of Auckland and was on the Leadership Committee for the University’s $100 million fundraising campaign. He is currently a Director of Fonterra, The Fonterra Shareholders Fund, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare and has just been appointed to the Next Foundation.

Maree Webster was instrumental in a major tax reform to enable NZ to be internationally competitive (the conduit tax regime). Maree held the position of Group CFO of Tower limited where she established and lead the finance, legal, procurement and project functions for a newly restructured listed entity in the investments and insurance sector. Maree is currently CFO Core and Group Productivity with Westpac in Sydney.

14 Awards were presented to finance professionals and corporate leaders on the night to recognise excellence in their respective categories. The Awards are facilitated by the Institute of Finance Professionals in New Zealand Inc (INFINZ) an association representing over 1350 professionals operating in the capital markets in New Zealand.

Rod Duke was awarded the Caldwell Partners Leadership Award. Rod has spent all his working life in the retail sector. After leaving school in Adelaide, he commenced work with retailers in South Australia eventually becoming Managing Director of Norman Ross. Joining Briscoes in 1988 Rod acquired the business in 1990. Acknowledged as a retail and business leader Rod has led Briscoes to consistently perform in a tough sector. Adjusted net profit for the full year to 29 January 2017 was $56.70 million or 20% higher than the full year result reported for the previous year. Same store sales were up 5% and the share price has increased some 30% over the last 12 months. Briscoes is now the largest capitalised retailer on the NZX at some $880m.

“The INFINZ Awards are directed at raising standards in the capital markets in New Zealand, thereby enhancing the capacity for NZ businesses to raise debt and equity and grow the economy,” says Jim McElwain, Executive Director of INFINZ (the Institute of Finance Professionals New Zealand Inc.).

There were 14 awards delivered on the night, with many of the categories determined by judging nominations from the industry, with 31 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. Sixteen 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 share broking firms operating in New Zealand are polled for the Market Leaders Best Corporate Communicator Award.

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

The Award Winners are as follows:
First NZ Capital - Market Leaders Best Corporate Communicator
Z Energy

NZX - Emerging Leaders Best Corporate Communicator
Pushpay Holdings Ltd

The Business - Institutional Banking Innovation
ANZ - Liquidity Management Solution
EY - Debt Deal of the Year
Christchurch Adventure Park Funding
Borrower: Leisure Investments NZ Ltd Partnership (LINZ)
Lender: China Construction Bank (New Zealand) Ltd (CCBNZ)

Trustees Executors – NZ Debt Market Issue of the Year
Auckland International Airport NZD 225m 7 year fixed rate bonds
Issuer: Auckland International Airport Ltd
Joint Lead Managers: Bank of New Zealand, Westpac Banking Corporation (acting through its New Zealand branch)

PwC - NZ Equity Market Transaction of the Year
Investore Property NZ$185 million Initial Public Offering
Issuer: Stride Property Ltd
Sole Lead Manager, Bookrunner and Underwriter: Goldman Sachs New Zealand Ltd

Craigs Investment Partners - Excellence in Treasury
Fletcher Building
Chapman Tripp - Fund Manager of the Year – Equities
Nikko Asset Management

Milford Asset Management - Sharebroking Firm of the Year
First NZ Capital

Massey University College of Business - Fund Manager of the Year – Bonds
AMP Capital Investors

Chapman Tripp - M&A Transaction of the Year
Z Energy's acquisition of Chevron NZ for NZ$785 m
Acquiror: Z Energy
Financial Adviser: Goldman Sachs New Zealand Ltd

AUT Business School - Research Analyst of the Year
Arie Dekker - First NZ Capital

University of Auckland Business School - Emerging Leader
Richard Milsom - Principal at Elevation Capital

Caldwell Partners - Leadership Award
Rod Duke, Group Managing Director and Deputy Chairman, Briscoe Group Ltd

INFINZ Fellows announced at the INFINZ Awards Dinner
Maree Webster
Scott St John
Mary-Jane Daly

INFINZ Distinguished Fellow announced at the INFINZ Awards Dinner
Rob Cameron

The Auckland Centre for Financial Research, AUT Business School - Sharebroking Sector Research and Service Area Awards in twenty sectors/service areas, will be advised in the Business Herald on the 19 May 2017.

About INFINZ
INFINZ is the leading industry body for capital markets professionals in New Zealand. INFINZ has a membership of 1350 individuals drawn from across the capital markets and includes treasury professionals, investment analysts, fund managers, bankers, lawyers and students. www.infinz.com

About the INFINZ Industry Awards
2017 is the fifteenth year of the INFINZ Industry Awards. Their purpose is to recognise excellence in the NZ capital markets and to raise standards in the marketplace. Each Award has its own criteria and judging process.

INFINZ wishes to acknowledge NZME as the INFINZ Industry Awards Media Sponsor in 2017.

© Scoop Media