Citigate Dewe Rogerson continues to expand business in Middle East

Recent significant appointments include:

- Barwa Real Estate Company, to advise on financial communications regarding its proposed merger with Alaqaria (Qatar Real Estate Investment Co.).

- Aamal Company, the leading diversified group, with regards to financial communications and investor relations strategy.

- Barwa Bank, Qatar's newest Islamic financial services group, for its initial launch and overall communications consultancy.

- HSBC Middle East, as sole consortium communications advisor for the potential merger of Qatar Navigation and Qatar Shipping.

Additional Investor Relations resource has also been strengthened by Director Nick Cox-Johnson increasing his responsibilities across the Middle East. A former fund manager, Nick's experience of working with some of the leading companies in Europe allows him to devise and introduce best practice IR programmes into the region.

Seb Hoyle, Head of Citigate Dewe Rogerson's Qatar office, said:

"Citigate Dewe Rogerson has had an extremely productive first year as an established, fully licensed business headquartered in Qatar. Building on our existing work with Qatari corporate and government entities, we anticipate further market activity in 2010 and expect Investor Relations to play an increasing role going forward for those companies listed on the Qatar Exchange and other major regional bourses."

Hoyle added, "Our Gulf network also covers the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which allows us to engage local knowledge and specialisation where necessary, as well as seamlessly lead large scale projects across the Gulf."

Headquartered in London, Citigate Dewe Rogerson is one of the world's largest financial communications consultancies and the recognised global leader in international share offer communications. With a 25 year track record of success, CDR has helped raise over $500bn in 250 major offerings for issuers, private equity sponsors and governments. CDR is also an award-winner in the areas of investor relations and corporate communications, being able to support companies in all their critical business decisions.