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Dubai Financial Market Kicks Off Second Annual London Roadshow

Date 22/05/2008

  • 14 DFM-listed companies to showcase growth strategies
  • More than 250 London-based institutional investors and fund managers to participate in May 21-22 roadshow
  • DFM to host roadshows at least twice every year following high demand

Following the huge success of its investor conferences in London and New York last year, Dubai Financial Market (DFM) is poised to host the second edition of its International Investor Conference in London, which takes place from May 21-22, 2008. The roadshow, a regular feature of DFM’s event calendar, will see representatives from DFM Company and 13 other listed firms meet international fund managers over the two-day event.

More than 250 London-based institutional investors and fund managers are expected to attend the conference, the third such international event organised by DFM over the past year. The conference is part of the bourse’s ongoing endeavour to extend its reach to global fund managers and institutional investors.

In response to the high level of demand witnessed at its roadshows last year, DFM announced that it will organise such conferences at least twice every year. While demand from the United States and United Kingdom continues to remain high, DFM will also tap on new markets and international investors from other parts of the world over the next 12 months.

Essa Kazim, Chairman of Dubai Financial Market, said: “The first edition of the International Investor Conference in London proved an enormous success. London is an important global financial centre, and institutional investors based in that city have a solid track record of long-term, stable investments. In this context, besides consolidating the bourse’s position in the global investor community, this annual conference also provides an opportunity for DFM-listed companies to secure further investment from outside the region.

“In line with the strong investor response witnessed at last year’s event, we have again received extremely favourable feedback from institutions this year. All appointments with representatives of the 14 listed companies have already been booked prior to the conference. This reflects the very high level of interest in DFM-listed companies among international fund managers,” he added.

Kazim added: “These initiatives offer international fund managers comprehensive insight into the opportunities for long-term investments in regional firms, and enable listed companies to share the benefits of the Gulf’s economic boom with the global investor community.”

In addition to group presentations to conference attendees, both days of the event will feature one-on-one meetings between representatives of the listed companies and fund managers and institutional investors. It is expected that more than 250 different attendees will come to the event, and as many as 400 meetings will occur between fund managers and investors and representatives of listed companies over the course of the conference.

DFM-listed companies that will take part in the conference include: Air Arabia, Amlak, Arabtec, Dubai Islamic Bank, Dubai Financial Market Company, Emaar, Tamweel, Tabreed, Global Investment House, International Financial Advisors, SALAMA (IAIC), UPP and Shuaa Capital. Gulf Navigation, which recently approved the amendment of its articles of association to allow foreign investment, will be participating in the event for the first time.