Sico's funds awarded new fund management ratings by Standard and Poor's

Notes and media contacts

Securities & Investment Company is a wholesale bank offering a selective range of investment banking services, including asset management, brokerage, corporate finance and market-making, on a regional basis and with a particular emphasis on Bahrain. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, SICO Fund Services Company (SFS), SICO also provides custody and fund administration services.

SICO was incorporated in Bahrain in 1995 and holds a banking license from the Central Bank of Bahrain.

As of December 31st , 2008, SICO reported total assets of BD109m, with shareholders' equity of BD49.9m. SICO's shares have been listed on the Bahrain Stock Exchange since May 2003. Securities & Investment Company was the first 'closed' company to list on the exchange.

About Standard & Poor's Fund Management Services ("S&P")

S&P Fund Services is one of the world's leading providers of qualitative, forward-looking fund management research reports. This includes providing fund management research reports on over 2,200 funds worldwide.
S&P fund research reports are based on in-depth analysis of the funds investment culture, due diligence approach, operational risk assessment, team's experience, skill, flair and stability, fund specifics etc. The research is also based on an evaluation of qualitative (management, investment process, and organisation) and quantitative (historic performance, portfolio construction, and volatility) factors, which may contribute to long-term performance. S&P is paid for fund management reports normally by the fund issuer.

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