Energy Risk Asia Awards - Categories

• Base metals house of the year

Submissions for this category should include case studies and notable deals that show how the entrant has outperformed over the past 12 months in this market segment, giving details of any new or innovative structures it has developed. The submission should demonstrate how the firm helped its clients through the major challenges of the last year. Case studies should set out what challenges the client(s) faced and how the dealer addressed these, discuss what risks the dealer took on as part of this solution and how these were managed, and sum up the results/performance so far. 

• Climate risk manager of the year

This category provides an opportunity for corporations or banks to showcase their excellence in climate risk management. Details should be provided of how the entrant is monitoring, measuring, mitigating and modelling climate risk in their own business and portfolios and/or those of their clients. Details of what has been learnt and the firm’s climate progress should be included. 

• Coal house of the year

Submissions for this category should include case studies and notable deals that show how the entrant has outperformed over the past 12 months in this market segment, giving details of any new or innovative structures it has developed. The submission should demonstrate how the firm helped its clients through the major challenges of the last year. Case studies should set out what challenges the client(s) faced and how the dealer addressed these, discuss what risks the dealer took on as part of this solution and how these were managed, and sum up the results/performance so far. 

• Commodities technology of the year

The Commodities technology category is for innovation in technology within the commodities sector. Entries could be from software firms specialising in, for example, enterprise software, logistics, operations and scheduling software, freight software etc. Or entries might be from corporates or banks that have shown innovation in technology by, for example, digitising particular processes, developing new platforms or analytics, clever use of blockchain or AI. Entries should show what the technology has achieved – the challenges addressed and the results, in terms of greater transparency or insight, time and money save etc. 

• Commodity and energy finance house of the year

This is for firms financing infrastructure deals in the commodities space. The winner of this category needs to demonstrate participation in a key role in a wide array of commodity deals over the last year. The submission should briefly explain the significance of each deal – why did it matter, has it changed anything? It should also show why the entrant’s role was key to the deal. The entry should clearly show what was unique about the deal – did it have an innovative structure, was it the first of its kind, a first for a region or country etc.

• Commodity broker of the year

This category is open to all brokers from the largest interdealers to the smallest boutique firms. Entrants should be able to demonstrate outperformance in the market segments in which they operate in terms of market knowledge, understanding of clients’ needs, speed of matching clients, technology offered etc. 

• Commodity exchange of the year

The Commodity exchange of the year should be able to boast a range of achievements – from volume growth to product or geographic expansion. Risk management and resilience will be key considerations. Submissions should include details of successful product launches and technology initiatives during the last year.

• Commodity trade finance house of the year

This category is for firms offering working capital and trade finance solutions to the commodities sector. The submission should demonstrate how the entrant helped its clients through the major challenges of the last year. Case studies should set out what challenges the firm’s client(s) faced and how the dealer addressed these through innovative financing solutions. The entry should discuss what risks the dealer took on in order to provide the financing, how these were managed, and what the result was for the client. 

• Corporate risk manager of the year

This award is for energy firms showing outstanding risk management capabilities. The award considers the firm’s internal risk management function and/or the external risk management they offer clients. It will consider the firm’s approach to market, counterparty, liquidity and other trading risks. Submissions should outline risk and capital management processes, policies and systems, and describe any improvements made to the risk and capital management functions at the firm over the last year. Particularly important is how teams have responded to market changes and how the risk function has contributed to overall strategy and performance. Ideally, the value of the risk function will be demonstrated in one or more case studies, showing how the firm has managed a particular source of exposure, or anticipated or responded to a market move.

• Deal of the year

The submission should focus on just one deal, giving a high level of detail including: the entrant’s role in the deal (why was it important, what USP did the entrant bring to the deal); a run-down of the structure of the deal (what markets and sorts of derivatives were involved, tenor, size etc); why is the deal a “Big Deal” (was it a first, has it changed anything etc). 

• Derivatives house of the year

Dealers nominating themselves for derivatives house of the year should be strong across a number of product classes. Submissions should include case studies detailing how the dealer has met the needs of clients over the last year and can include financing capabilities as well as trading and risk management. Investment product offerings will also be taken into consideration. Case studies should set out what challenges the client(s) faced and how the dealer addressed these, discuss what risks the dealer took on as part of this solution and how these were managed, and sum up the results/performance so far. 

• Electricity house of the year

Submissions for this category should include case studies and notable deals that show how the entrant has outperformed over the past 12 months in this market segment, giving details of any new or innovative structures it has developed. The submission should demonstrate how the firm helped its clients through the major challenges of the last year. Case studies should set out what challenges the client(s) faced and how the dealer addressed these, discuss what risks the dealer took on as part of this solution and how these were managed, and sum up the results/performance so far. 

• Emissions house of the year

Submissions for this category should include case studies and notable deals that show how the entrant has outperformed over the past 12 months in this market segment, giving details of any new or innovative structures it has developed. The submission should demonstrate how the firm helped its clients through the major challenges of the last year. Case studies should set out what challenges the client(s) faced and how the dealer addressed these, discuss what risks the dealer took on as part of this solution and how these were managed, and sum up the results/performance so far. 

• Environmental products house of the year

The environmental products award covers green and sustainable initiatives such as: loans that incentivise green behaviour; green bonds; environmental and sustainable indices; use of environmental and ESG derivatives; carbon and ESG disclosure initiatives; renewable energy certificates; PPAs. Submissions for this category should include case studies showing how the products that the firm has developed are helping clients reduce their carbon footprint.

• Freight derivatives house of the year

Submissions for this category should include case studies and notable deals that show how the entrant has outperformed over the past 12 months in this market segment, giving details of any new or innovative structures it has developed. The submission should demonstrate how the firm helped its clients through the major challenges of the last year. Case studies should set out what challenges the client(s) faced and how the dealer addressed these, discuss what risks the dealer took on as part of this solution and how these were managed, and sum up the results/performance so far. 

• Iron ore house of the year

Submissions for this category should include case studies and notable deals that show how the entrant has outperformed over the past 12 months in this market segment, giving details of any new or innovative structures it has developed. The submission should demonstrate how the firm helped its clients through the major challenges of the last year. Case studies should set out what challenges the client(s) faced and how the dealer addressed these, discuss what risks the dealer took on as part of this solution and how these were managed, and sum up the results/performance so far. 

• Market maker of the year

This category recognises commodity derivatives trading firms that work directly with clients and/or through brokers, to make markets and provide liquidity across various commodity markets. Market access, volumes traded, response times, ticket sizes and reliability during periods of market stress will all be considered.  Details on how the firm manages risk also should be included. 

• Natural/LNG house of the year

Submissions for this category should include case studies and notable deals that show how the entrant has outperformed over the past 12 months in this market segment, giving details of any new or innovative structures it has developed. The submission should demonstrate how the firm helped its clients through the major challenges of the last year. Case studies should set out what challenges the client(s) faced and how the dealer addressed these, discuss what risks the dealer took on as part of this solution and how these were managed, and sum up the results/performance so far. 

• Oil & products house of the year

Submissions for this category should include case studies and notable deals that show how the entrant has outperformed over the past 12 months in this market segment, giving details of any new or innovative structures it has developed. The submission should demonstrate how the firm helped its clients through the major challenges of the last year. Case studies should set out what challenges the client(s) faced and how the dealer addressed these, discuss what risks the dealer took on as part of this solution and how these were managed, and sum up the results/performance so far. 

• Precious metals house of the year

Submissions for this category should include case studies and notable deals that show how the entrant has outperformed over the past 12 months in this market segment, giving details of any new or innovative structures it has developed. The submission should demonstrate how the firm helped its clients through the major challenges of the last year. Case studies should set out what challenges the client(s) faced and how the dealer addressed these, discuss what risks the dealer took on as part of this solution and how these were managed, and sum up the results/performance so far. 

• Renewables firm of the year

This award is open to any firm in Asia-Pacific that produces electricity from renewable sources such as solar, wind, wave or tidal. The submission should include details of the business, the markets operated in and the challenges and risks faced. The entry needs to make it clear what the firm achieved (for itself and/or its clients) and what was unique and innovative about its approach and performance.  

• Sustainable fuels firm of the year

Entrants for this award should be active in one or more sustainable fuels markets such as: biofuels, hydrogen, biogas, efuels etc. They may be producers, suppliers, traders, consumers, investors or financiers in Asia-Pacific. The submission should include details of the particular business being entered for the award along with some background on the technology and its place in the wider energy market. The entry should make it clear why the award entrant firm or business decided to enter this market and what it has achieved in the past 12-18 months.

• Voluntary carbon markets house of the year

Entrants for this award should be active in voluntary carbon markets (VCM) that have links to Asia-Pacific. The entrant should be active in the supply, broking, purchase or trading of offset certificates. The submission should describe the work the firm is conducting in the VCM, making it clear why it stands out, explaining what is unique and innovative about it, and what is being achieved for the firm or client, or, potentially, for the wider market.

• Weather house of the year

Submissions for this category should include case studies and notable deals that show how the entrant has outperformed over the past 12 months in this market segment, giving details of any new or innovative structures it has developed. The submission should demonstrate how the firm helped its clients through the major challenges of the last year. Case studies should set out what challenges the client(s) faced and how the dealer addressed these, discuss what risks the dealer took on as part of this solution and how these were managed, and sum up the results/performance so far. 

• Climate risk advisory firm of the year

This category is for firms that advise clients on climate risk, including how to assess and model transition risk and physical risk. Case studies should be given that show how the firm is working with clients to understand their climate exposures, mitigate climate risk and achieve carbon reduction goals.

• Commodity advisory firm of the year

Entries should focus on how the advisor has helped its clients, giving real-life examples. For the Commodity advisory, a spread of capabilities should be described, from work on hedging programmes, to deal pricing and structuring, portfolio valuations or restructuring.

• Commodity research house of the year

This is an award for bank research units or independent research houses. Pitches should focus on the quality, uniqueness and usefulness of the research, as well as talking about the organisation and marketing of the business. Examples of research should be included in the entry along with a focus on how the research is used by clients and an assessment of its impact.

• Hedging advisory firm of the year

The Hedging advisory firm of the year award is aimed at consultancies and specialist advisory firms that provide independent advice to commodity derivatives users. Entries need to demonstrate a spread of capabilities, from work on hedging programmes, to deal pricing and structuring, portfolio valuations or restructuring. They should provide several examples of how the firm has helped its clients during the past 12-18 months.

• Technology advisory firm of the year

Entries should focus on how the advisor has helped its clients, giving real-life examples. The Technology advisory entry should look across the entire IT process from software selection through to implementation and importantly, impact of the project. The main focus is on CTRM software, but other technologies that aid the risk function can also be discussed. Firms should talk about what they brought to each project and how they do things differently to other firms.

• Commodities tech product of the year

The Commodities tech product of the year award is open to commodity specialist software developers, but also to banks and commodity firms that have carried out outstanding work in the field of technology over the past 12 months. The category moves beyond CTRM software to consider, for example, enterprise software, logistics, operations and scheduling software, freight software, as well as analytics, algorithms and model development and the use of newer technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, machine learning, neural networking etc. 

• CTRM software house of the year

The CTRM software category recognises achievement, innovation and performance in this space over the past 12 months. Details of new products, new clients and repeat business should be included. 

• Data & analytics firm of the year

This category is for a data management firm that offers an array of commodity data sets and sources to traders as well as providing sophisticated analytics and analytics tools.

• Enterprise risk software of the year

The Enterprise risk software of the year award is open to software vendors that develop/sell enterprise risk software. The award acknowledges achievement, innovation and performance in this space over the past 12 months. Details of new products, updates and improvements, new clients and repeat business should be included in the entry.

• OTC trading platform of the year

This category encompasses all OTC derivatives platforms, single-dealer and multi-dealer. It can be a platform for trading standard products, or one that offers transparency in more complex products, such as physicals or bespoke products like PPAs. The entry should explain why the platform was necessary, what it set out to achieve and the difference the increased transparency is making to the market pace. Details on volume growth and the reliability of the technology should be included.

• Innovation of the year

This category is open to all firms operating in and for commodity markets and will highlight creativity in the energy risk management world. Submissions should focus on a single new product, service, technology or risk practice and explain how it has helped the firm, its clients or the market at large. The winners may also be selected from pitches in other categories.

• Newcomer of the year

This award recognises a company which has either started operations or entered the energy risk market in the past three years and is flourishing.