In Collaboration With The Central Bank of Bahrain

2023 MEIRA Annual Conference and Awards - Bahrain

MEIRA 2023: FROM ESG TO SUSTAINABLE CAPITAL MARKETS

Manama, Bahrain
Monday, 13 November 2023

Sponsors

The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) launched Tabadul Hub in July 2022 with Bahrain Bourse (BHB). The platform is the first digital exchange center in the region, and is based on the mutual market access model. It provides a digital exchange network for trading between member exchanges at the regional and global levels. In its entirety, Tabadul aims to improve cooperation and increase liquidity in the participating markets, by enabling trading across the markets.

Tabadul paves the way for a sustainable future economy for the region and beyond. The platform also provides a wide range of trading opportunities for investors in all participating markets in a direct and easy manner, as well as connecting investors through local brokers with those markets, allowing all participants to develop and achieve their interests, which is crucial in accelerating the process of economic growth in the financial markets in member countries.

The financial markets that are currently members of the platform include the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), Bahrain Bourse (BHB), and Muscat Securities Market (MSX). Several other exchanges also are in the process of being onboarded. As a result, the securities listed on the member markets are available for trading, which enhances liquidity and facilitates trading mechanisms for investors.

Bahrain Bourse Company B S C C is a self-regulated multi-asset marketplace. Bahrain Bourse aims to offer to its investors, issuers, and intermediaries a comprehensive suite of exchange-related facilities including offering listing, trading, settlement, and depositary services for various financial instruments.

We aim to offer our stakeholders with the best investment and trading solutions, and pair it with creative insights and problem solving skills to provide our investors, issuers, and intermediaries with valuable resources to meet their every expectation. Our key growth pillars underpins our way of conducting business and how we interact with our stakeholders: Origination, Innovation, Collaboration, and Pioneering Spirit, and all of them working together is what enables us to offer you with an “Oasis of Investment Opportunities”.

Our history extends back to 1987, which marked the establishment of “Bahrain Stock Exchange (BSE)”, the predecessor of “Bahrain Bourse (BHB)”. Since then, Bahrain Stock Exchange has achieved milestone successes, largely attributed to the support of the Government of Kingdom of Bahrain and the collaboration provided by its stakeholders. In 2010, Bahrain Bourse was established as a shareholding company to replace Bahrain Stock Exchange.

Since its establishment, BHB has joined several regional and international organizations such as the Union of Arab Stock Exchanges, World Federation of Exchanges “WFE”, Africa & Middle East Depositories Association “AMEDA”, and Association of National Numbering Agencies “ANNA”, which enables Bahrain Bourse to bolster its position within the global capital markets.

Bank ABC (incorporated as Arab Banking Corporation BSC), MENA’s international banking group, is headquartered in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain. Founded in 1980, its impressive global network spans 15 countries across the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, the Americas and Asia, actively covering 25 markets.

The Bank offers a host of innovative wholesale banking solutions, which includetransaction banking, specialised finance, real estate finance, treasury and financial markets products and Shari’a compliant banking services through Bank ABCIslamic. It also serves individuals through a vast network of retail branches in Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia and Jordan and its exclusively digital, mobile-only ila Bank in Bahrain. With innovation at the core of its strategy, Bank ABC has embarked on a comprehensive digital transformation journey to build the ‘bank of the future’. It proudly pioneers new technologies to create a new kind of banking experience catered to evolving client needs. Listed on the Bahrain Bourse, the Bank’s principal shareholders are the Central Bank of Libya and the Kuwait Investment Authority.

To know more visit: https://www.bank-abc.com/en

 

Riyad Bank is one of the largest financial institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the
Middle East. Established in 1957, with a paid-up capital of SAR 30 billion. The Bank’s professional
and dedicated staff base has mainly driven its success throughout the years. With more than
5,900 employees, Riyad Bank takes pride in being among the Saudi organizations with the highest
national employment rate of 94%.

Riyad Bank provides a comprehensive range of products and services fully compliant with the
Islamic Sharia’ to meet the needs of both retail and corporate customers, including small and
medium-size enterprises. It play a leading role in various areas of finance and investment around
Saudi Arabia, that is why Riyad Bank is distinguished as a leading financier and arranger of
syndicated loans in the oil, petrochemicals and most of the Kingdom’s notable infrastructure
projects.

Riyad Bank offers innovative and remarkable financing solutions through a network of 237
branches, and more than 53,580 POS, in addition to more than 2,542 ATMs well distributed in
strategic & carefully selected locations around the Kingdom, also the global expansion is
essential for some of Riyad Bank customers outside the Kingdom, a branch in London and offices
in Houston (USA) and Singapore launched to help and support the international banking needs of
our customers.

Riyad Bank digital banking services (web-based and mobile applications) use the latest
technologies to address the banking needs of our customers with utmost ease, convenience and
security.

Riyad Capital is a leading player in the IPO advisory business and asset management, having won
numerous investment awards in Saudi Arabia in categories ranging from “best mutual fund
performance” to “best fund manager”.

For more information please visit www.riyadbank.com

Wamid – part of Saudi Tadawul Group – is an innovation-focused company helping market players solve real-world challenges. Its unlimited potential will unlock the power of technology and data in the Saudi capital market, boost economic growth and contribute to the success of Vision 2030. Wamid adds depth and diversity to the Saudi Tadawul Group and its subsidiaries’ offerings, strengthening market infrastructure through innovative solutions and capturing inorganic expansion opportunities. It is focused on developing the Saudi capital market through innovation, disruptive ideas and bold new product, service and digitalization initiatives.

Ahli United Bank B.S.C. (“AUB” or the “Bank”) was established as a bank in Bahrain on 31 May 2000 following a merger between The United Bank of Kuwait PLC (“UBK”) and Al-Ahli Commercial Bank B.S.C. (“ACB”) pursuant to which UBK and ACB each became wholly owned subsidiaries of AUB. The Bank operates under a retail banking license issued by the Central Bank of Bahrain (“CBB”).

In addition to wholly owned operations of AUB (Bahrain), AUB (United Kingdom) and AUB (DIFC, UAE), AUB has an 95.7% stake in AUB (Egypt), a 74.9% stake in AUB (Kuwait), a 80.3% stake in Commercial Bank of Iraq, a 40% stake in United Bank of Commerce & Investment (Libya) and a 35% stake in Ahli Bank (Oman). AUB also has a 100% stake in Al Hilal Life which provides life and health insurance products.

AUB and its network of subsidiaries and associated companies form a banking group (“AUB Group”) providing (i) retail banking; (ii) corporate banking, (iii) treasury and investment services; (iv) private banking and wealth management services; and (v) Islamic banking products & services besides offering conventional and Takaful life insurance products.

Argaam Investment is a Saudi Arabian data and news company that covers GCC financial and a primary source to media & financial news as it provides real-time updates on financial markets as well as market data and analysis, interviews, and coverage of stock listed across the region. Was launched in 2005 and for 16 years, Argaam Investment has constantly provided GCC market with financial data solutions to shape the 360 financial data products. Also provides a wide vertical of society and sports news to its products family:

For more information, please visit https://www.argaam.com

Argaam Plus

Investor Relations

Business Solutions

Akhbaar24

Sports

Established in 1957, NBB is the Kingdom’s first locally owned bank. A proudly Bahrain brand, NBB continues to develop their capabilities every day, across the years, using its expertise to better serve those who put their trust in NBB. Regionally present and dedicated to the local community, NBB history is Bahrain’s.

Visible Alpha provides access to sell-side analyst models and deep consensus data to enable investor relations professionals to uncover and explore the market’s view of their company, competitors, and suppliers.

For more information visit: https://visiblealpha.com/

Smart Media The Annual Report Company has a track record spanning more than 25 years and over 2,000 annual reports. It is an accredited Training Partner of the IFRS Foundation for the International Integrated Reporting Framework with a license for 14 countries including UK, KSA, and some of the other GCC countries. Smart Media has guided over a hundred clients on their integrated reporting journeys. Smart Media is also a trailblazer in digital reporting. The Company prepared their first end-to-end online HTML annual report for a client in 1999. Driven by a business model built on three strategic pillars – SmartLabs (research and development), SmartAcademy (capacity building of report preparers) and SmartWorks (the core business of report preparation and production) – Smart Media offers a complete end to end service, including consultancy, training, design, writing, editing, preparation, and publication in any required format or medium.

For more information visit: https://www.smartannualreport.com/

Founded in 1977, Almarai Company is the world’s largest vertically integrated dairy company and the region’s largest food and beverage manufacturing and distribution company. Headquartered in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Almarai is ranked as the number one FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) brand in the MENA (Middle East & North Africa) region and is the market leader in most of its categories across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

After more than 40 years of sustainable growth, Almarai continues to provide nutritious and healthy products to consumers of all ages, with success derived from the bedrock principle of ‘Quality you can trust’. In addition to its high-quality dairy products, Almarai has diversified its product portfolio to include juices, bakery, poultry and infant formula under the brand names Almarai, L’usine, 7days and Alyoum. Meanwhile, the Company operates successful joint ventures with Chipita and PepsiCo.

As at 31st December 2020, Almarai’s paid up share capital amounted to SAR 10 billion, consisting of 1 billion fully paid and issued shares of SAR 10.00 each.

Vision:

To grow our leading position as the trusted choice for food and beverages in the region, delighting consumers with quality nutrition every day”

Mission:

To provide quality and nutritious food and beverages that enrich consumers’ lives every day.

Values:

Adaptable, Sharing, Passionate, Innovative, Respect, Excellence

 

www.almarai.com

Headquartered in Bahrain since 2006, Al Salam Bank has cemented its reputation as the fastest growing bank in the Kingdom and a highly influential force in the regional Islamic banking industry. Leveraging on its robust financial standing as the industry’s strongest in asset capital, the Bank has a proven track record in risk mitigation and effectively shifting to market dynamics through its agile and aggressive growth strategy.

Al Salam Bank’s competitive edge lies in its unrivaled approach to nurturing client relationships, fueled by a deeply-rooted ethos in humanizing the client journey and transforming traditional experiences through personalization, convenience, and efficiency. The Bank prides itself on its solution-oriented philosophy and digital-first mindset, delivering a curated portfolio of financial solutions to meet the modern-day needs of its clientele through its extended network of branches and ATMs, including Retail Banking, Corporate Banking, Private Banking, Asset Management, International Transaction Banking, and Treasury offerings.

For more information, please visit www.alsalambank.com

We provide Depositary Receipt (DR) services to the global capital markets, delivering customized and market-driven solutions for issuers, brokers and investors. We are a pioneer in the DR market and our execution and expertise have helped us achieve a leadership position in the industry. We offer a full range of buy side and sell side services to help facilitate financing in the global capital markets via DRs including, local custody arrangements, issuances and cancellation and structuring corporate actions.

BNY Mellon Depositary Receipts is independent from the influence of investment banking, trading, and research, allowing us to support our DR clients’ access to a wider range of market opportunities. We have specialists dedicated to helping issuers fully realize market access with investor relations and ESG advisory solutions, Market Connect services and analytical solutions.

Bahrain National Holding B.S.C. (BNH) is the premier Bahraini insurance group, offering a comprehensive range of insurance and risk management solutions. Established in 1998 through a merger between Bahrain Insurance Company and National Insurance Company, our heritage in the industry dates back to 1969.

Over the years, we have earned a formidable reputation for the quality and excellence of our services and are today a household name in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

A widely-held public company listed on Bahrain Bourse, our group operations are organized as four incorporated entities:

■ BNH, the parent company, which is the asset management and corporate arm of our Group.

■ Our wholly owned subsidiary, Bahrain National Insurance Company B.S.C. (c), which offers Commercial Insurance and Motor & Personal Lines Insurance under the bni brand.

■ Our 75% owned subsidiary, Bahrain National Life Assurance Company B.S.C. (c), which offers Life & Medical Insurance under the bnl brand.

■ iAssist Middle East W.L.L. a wholly-owned subsidiary, offering a full range of smash repairs services.

BNHʼs associates includes United Insurance Company, National Finance House, Arabian Shield Cooperative Insurance Company, Al Kindi Specialized Hospital, & Health 360° Ancillary Services W.L.L.

Euroland IR has been assisting companies in improving their Investor Relations by providing Best Practice tools and outstanding 24/7 service for years. Rather than embracing an approach that settles for being a Jack of all trades, we believe in being the master of one.

In niching ourselves and focusing on improving the web-based IR communication of our customers, we are able to provide the most technologically advanced and user-friendly solutions in the industry. Our services are second to none.

Intuitive design enables comprehensive understanding of your equity story. It is the blueprint to our tools. Making them accessible and interactive encourages users to engage further with your financial history. This is how we engage investors.

Striving always to stay ahead of the curve, we work tirelessly to reinvent and improve the way you communicate with your investors and build relationships with your stakeholders.

www.euroland.com

About First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)

FAB is the UAE’s largest bank and one of the world’s largest and safest financial institutions. FAB’s vision is to create value for its employees, clients, customers, shareholders and communities to grow stronger through differentiation, agility and innovation.

Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, the bank’s international network spans five continents, providing global relationships, expertise and financial strength to support local, regional and international businesses seeking to do business at home and abroad. FAB is a trusted adviser and regional partner to major institutions, emerging companies and individuals seeking to do business in the UAE, the MENA region and beyond. As an engine of growth for the region, it helps clients to thrive and grow stronger by managing risk, providing access to capital and facilitating trade flows across developed and emerging markets.

FAB continuously anticipates evolving requirements, develops innovative solutions and moves in tandem with customers to offer an extensive range of tailor-made products via its market-leading Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) and Personal Banking Group (PBG) franchises.

Aligned to the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision, inspired by global standards and guided by the expectations of stakeholders, FAB takes a leading role in fostering development and driving change towards a more sustainable future. FAB sees beyond traditional banking and embraces a challenger mindset. Its ambition is to contribute to social and human development which creates a dynamic, inclusive and tolerant society.

With total assets of AED 866 Billion (USD 236 Billion) as of June-end 2020, FAB is rated Aa3/AA-/AA- by Moody’s, S&P and Fitch, respectively, the strongest combined ratings of any bank in the MENA region. The Bank has been ranked by Global Finance as the safest bank in the UAE and the Middle East and the best bank in the UAE. The Banker’s Top 1000 World Banks 2020 list, measured by Tier 1 capital, ranked FAB as number one in the UAE, second in the Middle East and 85th across the globe – in addition to ranking the bank #109 by assets in the same list.  FAB was also ranked first in the UAE, 4th in the Arab world and 303rd globally in Forbes annual ranking of the world’s 2000 largest public companies.

For further information, visit: www.bankfab.com

Instinctif Partners is an EMEA business communications consultancy, experts in reputation, influence and communication. We help our clients to engage complex audiences, offering a comprehensive suite of communications solutions, including insight-led board level consultancy executed with creative flair. Our work delivers tangible commercial value, while communicating societal purpose. We work across borders and jurisdictions focused on delivering measurable outcomes, not producing outputs. We are big enough to deliver multi-stakeholder, co-ordinated solutions but small enough to be partners with all our clients.

We employ 300 people in 10 offices across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

For more information, please visit: instinctif.com

Morrow Sodali is a global corporate advisory firm that provides clients with comprehensive advice and services relating to corporate governance, ESG, sustainability, proxy solicitation, capital markets intelligence, shareholder and bondholder engagement, M&A, and activism and contested situations.

 

From headquarters in New York and London and offices in global capital markets, Morrow Sodali serves over 1,000 clients in more than 80 countries, including many of the world’s largest multinational corporations. Clients include listed and private companies, mutual fund groups, stock exchanges and membership associations.

 

In 2022, Morrow Sodali is celebrating its 50th anniversary and also secured majority investment from TPG Growth, the middle market and growth equity platform of alternative asset firm TPG. This partnership will significantly advance the firm’s mission of providing clients worldwide with unrivaled strategic advice and comprehensive support, enabling them to maximize value and expertly manage stakeholder relations.

Global Financial Media (DIFC) GFM – previously known as DirectFN Mubasher DMCC, is a leading Financial information & Technology provider in the MENA region offering Investor Relations Solutions, Customized financial portals, Market Intelligence platforms, Media solutions, and Low latency Market Data Feed. GFM has built trust with exchanges and regulators and is successfully serving more than 250K+ subscribers supported by 400+ professionals across MENA.

GFM Investor Relations solutions is MENA’s most comprehensive and cost-effective solution assisting 80+ listed companies in enhancing their IR digital communications and transparency, by providing them easy to integrate IR tools, managed and updated consistently by GFM 24/7 technical and financial analysts, our goal is to establish a thriving community of institutional investors and listed companies to simplify and enhance investor relations via our new platform which is called Mubasher digital connect.

Zain Bahrain, a telecommunications industry innovator focused on enhancing customer experience, was awarded a mobile telecom license on 22 April 2003 and commenced commercial operations on 28 December 2003. The operation promptly placed the Kingdom of Bahrain on the world telecom map through the introduction of many mobile technology innovations that continue to this day with nationwide high-speed 4G LTE and 5G services being offered through the Kingdom’s most advanced mobile network along with an innovation complete end-to-end e-commerce offering customers the opportunity to buy products and services online anywhere, anytime. The operator was recognized as the network with the highest fixed wireless broadband download speeds in the Kingdom in 2018 by the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA).

Zain Bahrain, listed on the Bahrain Bourse (Ticker: ZAINBH), and considered a stakeholder in and contributor to Bahrain’s future prosperity, as outlined in the leadership’s Vision 2030. Empowering employees remains the heart of Zain Bahrain’s strategy; the operator achieved a Bahranization level of 93% in 2023.  It has demonstrated its commitment to the community by relaunching its youth empower program, under the new name ‘Zain Youth’.

Zain Bahrain is part of Zain Group, a leading telecommunications operator across the Middle East and Africa, which provides mobile voice and data services to over 53 million active customers as of 31 March 2023. With a commercial presence in eight countries, Zain operates in Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and South Sudan. In Morocco, Zain has a 15.5% stake in ‘INWI’, through a joint venture.

For more information visit: https://www.bh.zain.com/

 

Investis Digital (IDX), an Investcorp portfolio business, is the global market leader in digital IR solutions. Helping 3,000+ listed companies communicate and engage with institutional investor and capital market audiences online; providing website development and all associated digital solutions that listed companies require (including share price data, tools, stock exchange newsfeeds, and quarterly results webcasting). All delivered via an industry-leading, enterprise-grade cloud platform, and trusted by the world’s leading organisations including Accenture, Anglo-American and HSBC. IDX provides IR teams peace of mind and 24/7/365 support, guidance and technical assistance, with a 15-minute response time SLA.

Fanda is an international corporate reporting consultancy providing strategic insight and flawless execution for emerging market companies. Fanda has a highly successful track record in publishing compliant and best practice annual reports, integrated reports, sustainability reports, and ESG reports.

Over the last 22 years, our team of experts has published over 1,000 reports for corporates across sectors and borders.

Fanda has a flexible approach – clients can choose the precise level of support they need, from strategic consultancy to tactical production. Services include best practice consultancy, copywriting, translation (including Arabisation), design and production, online reporting, and XBRL tagging.

Key differentiators:

  • Proprietary software enabling simultaneous publication of PDF and online versions
  • Knowledge of reporting frameworks and best practice standards
  • Significant resources to give every project the attention and care it merits
  • Creative flair to give reports distinctive and effective visual impact

Fanda operates from offices in Dubai, London, Estonia, Armenia and Kazakhstan. Until 2022, the company operated under the name Zebra Corporate communications.

www.Fanda.Report

Nasdaq’s Corporate Platforms business empowers business leaders with technology and intelligence to innovate, grow and stay ahead of changing markets. We offer an integrated suite of market intelligence, analytics, and collaboration solutions that support investor relations and corporate governance professionals around the globe. More than 50% of the Fortune 500 use Nasdaq’s solutions and services.

Our client base spans across all industries. Our client list includes New York Stock Exchange listed companies, Nasdaq listed companies, EMEA listed companies & Asia listed companies, large and small private companies, non-profit organizations, hospitals, colleges and universities.

For more information on Nasdaq’s Corporate Services, please visit: https://www.nasdaq.com/solutions/investor-relations-intelligence

J.P. Morgan is a global leader in financial services, offering solutions to the world’s most important corporations, governments and institutions in more than 100 countries.

We are committed to our business in the United Arab Emirates. We opened our first branch in Beirut, Lebanon in 1955, and today we operate across offices in Abu Dhabi, Beirut, Cairo, Doha, Dubai, Manama and Riyadh. The lines of business operating here include the Corporate and Investment Bank and Asset and Wealth Management, facilitating access to a global team of dedicated specialists.

Under the Corporate and Investment Bank, our Depositary Receipts (DR) business celebrates over 90 years of innovation.

J.P. Morgan has been a leading provider of customized DR solutions to the world’s largest issuers. With our strength as a global equities leader, we help our clients navigate the capital markets and attract high-quality investors.

For more information, visit jpmorgan.com

At S&P Global Market Intelligence, we understand the importance of accurate, deep and insightful information. S&P Global Market Intelligence is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), the world’s foremost provider of credit ratings, benchmarks and analytics in the global capital and commodity markets, offering ESG solutions, deep data and insights on critical business factors. S&P Global has been providing essential intelligence that unlocks opportunity, fosters growth and accelerates progress for more than 160 years. Investment professionals, government agencies, corporations and universities around the world use this essential intelligence to make business and financial decisions with conviction.  www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence

Headquartered in the UAE, Sustainable Square is a tech-driven global advisory firm that delivers impact through solutions in organizational sustainability, ESG transparency & disclosure, climate change, responsible investment and social impact. With a presence in 3 regions and 10 markets of operations, Sustainable Square works with leading brands across various industries and sectors, supporting them to identify Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) risks, empowering them to become more resilient and up-scale their impact, and assisting them in conducting their operations in a responsible and inclusive manner. A sustainability tech, climate tech pioneer, Sustainable Square offers innovative ESG reporting tools that automate complex processes and tasks, using technology to save time, reduce cost and enhance collaboration in meeting sustainability targets.

Teneo is the global CEO advisory firm. We partner with our clients globally to do great things for a better future.

Drawing upon our global team and expansive network of senior advisors, we provide advisory services across our five business segments on a stand-alone or fully integrated basis to help our clients solve complex business challenges. Our clients include a significant number of the Fortune 100 and FTSE 100, as well as other corporations, financial institutions and organizations.

Our full range of advisory services includes strategic communications, investor relations, financial transactions and restructuring, management consulting, physical and cyber risk, organizational design, board and executive search, geopolitics and government affairs, corporate governance, ESG and DE&I.

The firm has more than 1,500 employees located in 40 offices around the world.

For more information visit: www.teneo.com

CNBC Arabia is the Arab World’s preeminent and first 24-hour Arabic language financial and business information Channel, presenting in-depth & up-to-the-minute coverage of regional and international affairs from an Arab economic perspective. CNBC Arabia brings real-time information to the most influential, powerful and affluent audience in the Middle East and Northern Africa.

Broadcasting to the Middle East and North Africa, from Dubai, free – to – air on Nilesat and Arabsat, with bureaus in major MENA region. CNBC Arabia is supported by the global newsgathering resources of CNBC.

For more information visit: www.cnbcarabia.com

FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations manage change, mitigate risk and resolve disputes: financial, legal, operational, political & regulatory, reputational and transactional. With more than 6,700 employees located in 30 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges and make the most of opportunities.

For more information, please visit fticonsulting.com

Asharq News, launched on 11.11.2020, is a 24/7, multiplatform Arabic news service reaching across the Arab world and beyond with a unique approach: news and in-depth analysis reported through the prism of the economy to empower people in their everyday lives.

The Asharq News experience is delivered through a dedicated television channel, as well as multiple digital platforms, offering continuous insights into the people, events, organisations and ideas that impact the MENA region and international markets.

An exclusive content agreement with Bloomberg Media, the business and financial information news leader, powers a key component, “Asharq Business with Bloomberg”, drawing on Bloomberg’s comprehensive coverage from more than 2,700 journalists and analysts globally.

“Asharq Business with Bloomberg” aims to become the premier Arabic-language business news provider, using multiple platforms to reach business leaders, as well as a younger generation that understands the importance of global economic, financial and corporate information. With this collaboration, Asharq Business teams (broadcast and digital) have access to Bloomberg’s extensive financial and economic content, analysis and market data, curating translated stories from Bloomberg to our platforms.

‘Connecting the Dots’ is Asharq News slogan that drives its journalistic work and sets its ultimate goal. The dots at Asharq News connects the news to its context, geographical setting, historical dimension, political depth, economic impact and social reality. Asharq News targets decision makers, businesspeople, entrepreneurs, and political and technology leaders through its economic content, as it addresses all aspects of political developments from an economic perspective.

Oxford Business Group (OBG) is a global research and advisory company with a presence in over 30 countries, spanning the Middle East, Africa, the Americas and Asia. It is recognised internationally as a distinctive and respected provider of on-the-ground intelligence on world’s fastest-growing markets, termed The Yellow Slice, in reference to OBG’s corporate colour.

Through its range of products – Economic News and Views; OBG CEO Surveys; OBG Events and Conferences; Global Platform, which hosts exclusive video interviews; and The Report publications – as well as its Advisory division, OBG offers comprehensive and accurate analysis of macroeconomic and sector-level developments for sound investment opportunities and business decisions.

OBG provides business intelligence to its subscribers through multiple platforms, including its direct 6 million verified subscribers, Dow Jones Factiva subscribers, the Bloomberg Professional Services subscribers, Refinitiv’s (previously Thomson Reuters) Eikon subscribers and more.
For more information, please visit www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com.

Lumi is the dominant player globally in the facilitation of Annual General Meetings for Companies (whether listed or non-listed), Associations, Legislative Bodies, Membership Organizations and Partnerships.

Based on proprietary, patented technology, Lumi provides software, hardware and services that assists registrars or event organizers to register delegates, provide live, secure polling, Q&A management services and relevant reporting – whether in a physical location, a virtual environment or a combination of the two.

Lumi is headquartered in Hampshire, UK where central functions including finance, product development and marketing are based, but has offices in 11 countries across EMEA, APAC and the Americas. Highly differentiated in the majority of markets where it is active, it benefits from extremely strong, experienced and renowned MDs who head up each in-country team.

Registrars play a pivotal role in facilitating the AGM process, by enabling issuers to obtain access to the Lumi platform. Lumi holds global relationships with multiple leading company registrars and has long-term licensing and service arrangements with all leading registrars across all operating territories.

Following a successful MBO in 2017, backed by Vespa Capital, Lumi has continued to consolidate their market leading positions across the globe, as well as expanding both organically and through acquisition.

Its mobile solution enabled Lumi to facilitate the UK’s first electronic AGM held by a listed company, Jimmy Choo, in June 2016. The onset of the COVID-19 global pandemic rapidly accelerated the adoption of the Lumi virtual meeting platform, expanding the number of countries in which Lumi operates to over 30.

www.lumiglobal.com