HSBC hosts four days of equity presentations for emerging market investors

The companies presented over four days to more than 100 individuals from investment managers, fund managers, hedge funds and pension funds from around the world, in what is believed to be the largest event of its kind ever to be held in the MENA region.

HSBC, which arranged the event, is the leading equities house in the region, with operations covering sales, trading, brokerage, custody, funds, and investment operations across the Middle East and North Africa.

"We have been pleased but not surprised by the response from the investor and issuer communities."

said Paul Cooper, HSBC's Head of Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa Equities.

"Following the success of the inaugural Investor Forum in 2007, we knew there would be a strong demand from all parties."

The event comprises:
- Forty-seven companies from eight countries representing a geography that stretches from the Nile to the Gulf.

- Over a hundred investors who have gathered from every corner of the world to hear these companies tell their story.

- 672 one-to-one meetings have been arranged at the Forum - and to put this into perspective, if you were to hold 672 back to back meetings over the course of your normal working week, you would be tied up for more than four months.

HSBC has arranged for this to happen in four days.

Cooper continued:

"What is particularly satisfying is that investor appetite for the region has withstood the turmoil of the international markets of the past twelve months. The Middle East is recognized as a very attractive market. Well-managed companies, operating in a region of strong business growth, combined with a highly positive macro-economic background have combined to make these company stocks very attractive to international institutions."

The assets under management controlled by the participating investors run to over a trillion US dollars.

In addition to institutions from across the region, investors have travelled from Europe and the USA to attend the meetings.

"This is a great example of what HSBC can do in emerging markets: to use our unique franchise to act as a bridge between the Middle East and the rest of the world," added Cooper.