Shuaa Capital hosts first ever Saudi Arabia Investor Conference in London

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The conference, taking place at the Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park, London, will bring together blue-chip companies from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and premier international institutional investors. Shuaa Capital also announces today that the Saudi Capital Market Authority has granted a brokerage licence to its subsidiary Shuaa Capital Saudi Arabia.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia offers investors, at this time of unprecedented financial turmoil, one of the few emerging economies with a real and exciting opportunity for growth.

The Kingdom has a strong commitment to improve its social and economic infrastructure and has developed an expansionary fiscal policy made possible by surpluses generated from its hydro-carbon exports. Saudi Arabia will continue to see the development of major projects including; the King Abdullah Economic City, the 'Trans Saudi Railway' and a doubling of the Country's power capacity.

Mr. Omar Al Jaroudi, Chief Executive Officer of Shuaa Capital Saudi Arabia, said:

'Saudi Arabia's modernising agenda and strong fundamentals create opportunities for many listed companies especially after the Saudi Capital Markets Authority's decision to allow international investors access to the Saudi Stock Exchange. Our conference comes at the best time to reach out to leading international institutional investors and will give direct access to the senior management of the key Saudi Arabian companies while offering US and European investors a unique opportunity to make better and more informed decisions.'

Following receipt of the brokerage licence, Shuaa Capital Saudi Arabia will be authorised to commence offering its international clients access to companies listed on the Saudi's stock exchange (Tadawul). In August 2008, the Saudi's Capital Market Authority allowed non-resident foreign investors to conclude swap agreements with local authorised entities who would retain the legal ownership of the shares.

Mohammed Al Oraini, from Treasury at Maaden, one of the participating companies, commented, 'Saudi Arabia has an exciting story to tell as it revamps and grows its economy. This conference can only serve to increase international investors' understanding of the Country's macro economics as well as give a detailed insight into the fundamentals of a number of the Kingdom's leading companies all of which are positioned to make the most of this dynamic period.'

Companies attending include: Al Marai, Dar Al Arkan, Emaar Economic City, Mobily, Maaden, Red Sea Housing, Saudi Cables, SABB (Saudi British Bank), Saudi Research and Marketing Group, Saudi Telecom and Astra Industrial Group.

Shuaa Capital has a strong track record of offering regional access, research coverage and investment services as well as promoting the GCC as a destination of capital. Shuaa Capital Saudi Arabia is licensed to conduct all investment banking activities, including asset management, advisory, raising of capital, corporate finance, and private equity, underwriting as well as custody services and brokerage. The Company's head office is located in Riyadh and it expects to open additional offices in the Western and Eastern regions of the Kingdom. Shuaa Capital's Dubai-based equity research team covers 45% of the market capitalisation of the Saudi market and will increase its research coverage to 70% in the near future.