His Excellency Essa Kazim:
- DFM’s diversified and lucrative investment opportunities are increasingly attracting international investors
- Foreign investors share of total trading value jumped to 47.7% year-to date compared to 42% in 2014
- The total value of foreign investors’ ownership in listed companies has reached AED 56 billion, equivalent to 17% of Market Cap
- Arshad Ghafur: The DFM remains a focal point for global investors looking to gain access to markets across the Middle East
- Talal Ghandour: We continue to see increased demand from our institutional clients to meet with corporates from the region
Dubai Financial Market (DFM) is holding its International Roadshow on Monday and Tuesday 19– 20October 2015 in New York with co-sponsorship from Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofAML). The roadshow enables listed companies to inform international fund managers about growth strategies and recent developments.
The return of DFM’s roadshow to New York will further strengthen links with international investors. Senior executives of 13 companies listed on DFM and Nasdaq Dubai are participating as companies are keeping a keen eye on this efficient platform, which has achieved continuous success yearly since DFM launched its series of international roadshows in New York and London in 2007 in a pioneering step amongst regional exchanges.
The high-level delegation of 18 CEOs, CFOs and investor relations managers of listed companies, led by His Excellency Essa Kazim, Chairman of DFM Company, will have the opportunity to update investors in the USA on the recent successes and prospects of their respective companies. Companies participating include; Damac Properties, DP World, Drake and Scull, Dubai Investment Company, Dubai Islamic Bank, Dubai Parks Resorts, Emaar Properties, Emaar Malls, Emirates NBD, Emirates REIT, Mashreq Bank, Union Properties and DFM Company.
His Excellency Essa Kazim, Chairman of DFM Company said, “Foreign investors’ constant and significant participation on DFM provides a strong indication of the quality and diversification of investment opportunities that the market offers, as well as its ability to achieve sustainable growth. Foreign investors’ share of DFM trading value has increased to 47.7% year-to-date compared to 42% during the same period of 2014, with net in-flow of AED 629 million. We are regularly organizing such events in order to further strengthen foreign and institutional investments on our market and attract more liquidity. The roadshow offers listed companies the opportunity to deepen links with key international fund managers, and this drive gains further impetus with MSCI’s classification of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as an Emerging Market.”
“Similar to previous events, we firmly believe that the upcoming roadshow will attract a significant presence from international fund managers in the USA, as a result of our national economy maintaining its strong performance with almost 5% annual growth, as well as DFM’s world class infrastructure and the available opportunities through companies operating in diversified and rapid growing sectors. With recent listings, we have successfully further diversified these opportunities, as new issuers are joining us alongside leading issuers who have frequently participated in this important event. In fact, our commitment to regularly organize the roadshow stems from the listed companies’ willingness to attend such events as managements clearly realize its pivotal role in strengthening their relations with investing community globally. This is coupled with similar enthusiasm from international investors. Over the coming period we will expand in organizing such events as well as consider diversifying their geographical outreach including other financial hubs in addition to New York and London,” H.E. Essa Kazim added.
Arshad Ghafur, President Middle East and North Africa of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, said: “The DFM remains a focal point for global investors that are looking to gain access to markets across the Middle East. Bank of America Merrill Lynch remains committed to both the DFM primary and secondary markets, as evidenced by our leading market position in the region.”
Talal Ghandour, Head of Equities, Middle East and North Africa, at Bank of America Merrill Lynch said: “The Dubai equity markets continue to attract international investor interest. We continue to see increased demand from our institutional clients to meet with corporates from the region, in spite of the recent turmoil in Emerging Markets broadly.”
Foreign investors own 17% of the market capitalization of companies listed on DFM with a total value exceeding AED 56 billion.