A sixth straight number-one ranking in this year’s Euromoney Research Survey underscores the resilience and ingenuity of the top-notch research team at EFG Hermes; sustained commitment to providing clients with the insight they require to navigate the changing markets of the MENA region has placed the firm well ahead of its global and regional competitors. Egypt — The hallmark of success for EFG Hermes Research is clear: Providing thorough, timely, and prescient coverage of the MENA region’s most promising markets and businesses in a manner that highlights value. The award-winning research arm of EFG Hermes, the leading investment bank in the Arab world, has once again proven itself to be head and shoulders above its peers with a number-one ranking on the Euromoney 2013 Research Survey. For the sixth time in the last seven years, the EFG Hermes Research has been selected “Best Research House in the Middle East” by global portfolio and fund managers who participated in the Euromoney survey. The distinction is even more pertinent given the changes that the markets have weathered during the past seven years. From the global financial crisis in 2008 to the Arab Spring and two revolutions in Egypt, providing clients with a bouquet of added-value research products in a general climate of change has required skill and a constant realignment of strategy. “The first Euromoney award that we received was in 2006. This is around the time that we were ramping up our coverage of the Middle East and North Africa. Since then, a lot has changed politically in our region and strategically for us as a firm.   Unchanged, however, is our commitment to building a quality research department that helps investors explore compelling investment opportunities in the MENA region,” said Wael Ziada, Head of EFG Hermes Research.   A client-driven organization, EFG Hermes Research covers 121 regional companies representing 55% of the MENA world’s aggregate market cap. The division also provides macro coverage of 11 countries and regular strategy notes on eight.   In addition to “Best Research Provider Overall,” EFG Hermes Research also received number-one rankings for its exceptional work on seven sectors, including strategy, airlines and aviation, banking and finance, transportation and shipping, pharmaceuticals and telecoms.   “Euromoney would like to congratulate EFG Hermes on being voted the ‘best research provider overall in the Middle East’ for the last 3 years by end users of research products globally,” said Tim Moxon, Euromoney Group Head for Research / Market Data. “EFG Hermes has also won the most categories across the Middle East Research survey for the past seven years, which demonstrates how highly EFG Hermes’s research continues to be regarded by investors and the consistent standards EFG Hermes have maintained with their research coverage.”   “We believe that our ability to distribute and present research has improved tremendously over the years. Last year, the launch of ‘Research Online,’ our research portal, was a major milestone for the division because it has enhanced interaction between the clients and our analysts on the ground,” said Ziada.   In 2013, EFG Hermes Research began placing more emphasis on strategy / economic calls with an increase in thematic products and more of a push towards stock calls rather than moves to expand coverage diversity.   “We believe that this top-down approach gives investors a good look at the big picture and is very important in catching changing trends, which improves the return from investments ,” said Ziada. “With this approach in mind we hope to continue developing new products that meet upcoming market trends and growing investor interest in the MENA region.”