EFG Hermes, the leading investment bank in the Arab world, together with the London Stock Exchange (LSE) announced today the start of the second annual Saudi Arabia Capital Markets Day, an event that brings together global investors interested in learning how to directly invest in listed Saudi Arabian equities. The LSE Saudi Arabia Capital Markets Day allows London-based institutional investors, emerging market funds, analysts as well as members of the media the opportunity to meet one-on-one with top executives from some of the largest, well positioned and fastest growing companies in Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East. “Saudi Arabia presents investors with a unique opportunity,” said Sherif Cararah, EFG Hermes Securities Brokerage Managing Director. “The country is home to remarkable resource wealth, a young demographic profile that remains highly underserved and a government committed to developing world-class infrastructure." Saudi Arabia has made significant steps in recent years to open its public market, the Tadawul, to international investors. In late 2008, the country allowed international investors to directly buy into the market for the first time through swap agreements and participation notes. The KSA ranked 13 out of 183 countries in the 2010 World Bank Doing Business report — a jump of 18 spots from 31 in the 2009 report. “The Saudi Arabia Capital Markets Day is a wonderful forum to acquaint the international investment community with top management at some of the Kingdom’s most compelling companies. The breadth and depth of the modern Saudi economy has accelerated rapidly in recent years and the diversity of the companies represented here today reflects these advances,” added Cararah. This year presenting companies are Al Marai Company, Etihad Etisalat Company/Mobily, The Company for Cooperative Insurance/ NCCI /Tawuniya, Saudi Arabian Mining Company/Ma’aden and Saudi Telecom Company. The Tadawul is the largest market in the Middle East with a current market capitalization of US$ 328.6 billion and accounted for 11 of 28 IPOs executed in the Middle East and North Africa in 2009. The Arab world, and Saudi Arabia particularly, have proved to be one of the top destinations for global capital in 2009. The LSE Saudi Arabia Capital Markets Day is an opportunity to build relationships with the international investment community that is so critical to the future success of the Saudi business and economic landscape.