EFG Hermes Securities Brokerage receives top honors once again for its outstanding performance in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait in 2012 Cairo, Egypt — EFG Hermes, the leading investment bank in the Arab world, and EFG Hermes IFA will be named Best Brokerage Firms in the UAE and Kuwait at the fifth annual 2012 Middle East Banking Awards. This marks a third consecutive win for EFG Hermes IFA, with the EFG Hermes UAE Brokerage team recognised for the second time in three years.   “We are extremely proud to have upheld our track record as the best broker in Kuwait. In 2012 we continued to expand on our achievements which have included providing an unparalleled diversity of value-added services to our institutional, high-net-worth and individual clients,” said Ahmed Waly, Co-Head of EFG Hermes Brokerage & CEO of EFG Hermes IFA in Kuwait.   Since entering the Kuwaiti market in late 2008, EFG Hermes IFA has rapidly expanded its share of total value of market executions, closing out 2012 with a second place ranking. With over a quarter of market executions by value going through EFG Hermes IFA’s trading desks, the firm has also proven its ability to attract and retain high-net-worth and institutional business in one of the largest stock markets in the region.   This year also saw the launch of EFG Hermes IFA’s in-house system, Broker-Mind. A front-to-back brokerage platform, Broker-Mind is accessible from anywhere, extending real-time trading and portfolio viewing to subscribed clients.   Meanwhile in the UAE, EFG Hermes remained the undisputed market leader when it comes to institutional clients with a significant market share of foreign executions and more than 350 new clients added in 2012. This year, EFG Hermes also acquired a license to carry out margin trading facilities on the UAE exchanges and made significant improvements to the online e-trading platform, including a soon-to-be-launched application for iPads and iPhones.   “The recognition we have received for our brokerage services in the UAE is a reflection of the hard work and excellence of our team,” said Mohamed Ebeid, Co-Head of EFG Hermes Brokerage. “The UAE has a dynamic financial market that requires the experienced approach of industry professionals to capitalize on the opportunities available,” he added.   EFG Hermes first launched its brokerage activities in the UAE in 2004, as a second regional hub after Egypt. By the end of 2012, EFG Hermes had solidified its position among the top- ranked brokers in both UAE markets combined with a diversified client base of more than 19,000 clients including retail, high net worth individuals, family offices and regional and foreign institutions. “In competitive financial markets like the UAE and Kuwait, we continue to distinguish ourselves from competitors by providing our clients with unrivaled service and industry-leading expertise to help them reach their investment goals,” said Ahmed Waly, Co-Head of EFG Hermes Brokerage and CEO of EFG Hermes IFA in Kuwait. Winners of the EMEA Finance Banking Awards 2012 will be announced at a Charity Dinner in Dubai’s Jumeirah Emirates Towers on Monday, April 22, 2013.