Sponsorship / Exhibiting

The Bahrain Economic Development Board is a dynamic public agency with overall responsibility for formulating and overseeing the economic development strategy of Bahrain, and for creating the right climate to attract direct investment into the Kingdom. Bahrain Financial Services is a department of the EDB that is uniquely dedicated to the needs of the financial services industry. Our role is to increase the international profile of Bahrain as a leading financial and business destination and to provide a single point of contact for international financial services firms looking to build a base in the Kingdom.

Bahrain is the financial capital of the Middle East, and has been for more than 30 years. Playing the long game whilst moving with the times, staying a step ahead of the competition and adopting a pioneering spirit – without compromising integrity – is what has assured our business success.

We were the first jurisdiction in the region to introduce regulations for collective investment schemes over 15 years ago and have emerged as the leading centre in the Middle East for funds business. Following enhancements in 2007 enabling, amoungst other things, hedge funds we’ve seen significant growth and we now have more than 100 funds domiciled and over  2,600 funds registered.

The Heritage Foundation and Wall Street Journal have ranked us as the freest economy in the Arab World for 14 years running – and in the top 20 globally, ahead of Germany, France, and Sweden - and we were awarded  the FT FDi Magazine Award for Middle East City of the Future 2006-2007. 

Bahrain Financial Services is part of Bahrain’s commitment to providing not just the warmest of welcomes, but also the strongest of platforms on which successful businesses can be built.

The Ernst & Young Global Asset Management industry is evolving at a deceptively fast pace. Asset managers and service providers face challenges every single day whether it’s managing business growth, mitigating risk, providing transparency or embracing regulatory scrutiny. Ernst & Young’s Global Asset Management Center brings together a worldwide team of professionals to help you achieve your potential — a team with deep technical experience in providing assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Over 3,000 dedicated Ernst & Young asset management practitioners worldwide serve more than 14,000 pooled investment vehicles, including mutual funds, common trust funds, hedge funds, separate accounts/variable annuity products, unit investment trusts and business trusts. The Center works to anticipate market trends, identify the implications and develop points of view on relevant industry issues. Ultimately it enables us to help you meet your goals and compete more effectively. It’s how Ernst & Young makes a difference.

Citi is one of the most complete financial partners to corporations, financial institutions, intermediaries, investors and governments around the world. As a global leader in banking, capital markets and transaction services, with a presence in over 100 countries dating back more than 100 years, Citi enables clients for success today and growth tomorrow

Global Transaction Services, a business line of Citi, is a global leader in delivering integrated treasury and trade solutions, and securities and fund services. With more than USD1.9 trillion of assets under administration and over USD10 trillion of assets under custody and trust, Citi leads in delivering securities and fund services to the world’s top investment managers, including mutual funds, closed-end funds, hedge funds, offshore funds and separately managed accounts. Our modular approach, robust operational support and unmatched global presence – spanning 90 markets – provide clients with the uncommon combination of flexibility and scale.

By partnering with Citi, investors are uniquely positioned to draw on our 50 year relationship with the Middle East, state-of-the-art processing capabilities and responsive client service across the widest array of solutions in the industry – traditional and alternative fund services, managed account services, custody and securities finance, cash management and transition management.

For more information, please visit our website www.transactionservices.citi.com

iShares is the world's leading provider of exchange traded funds (ETFs), managed by BlackRock Advisors (UK) Ltd, with total assets under management of $489 billion* globally. Investors can use iShares ETFs to gain a diversified exposure into the performance of key benchmarks and asset classes including: equities, fixed income as well as emerging markets, property and alternatives. The extensive ETF offering allows investors to implement different investment strategies ranging from core / satellite, tactical allocation, risk management to cash equitisation.

For more information on all iShares ETFs, their performance and funds holdings, please visit www.ishares.com

BlackRock Advisors (UK) Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the United Kingdom. 

Please note that as with all stock market investments, the price of the investments may go up or down and the investor may not get back the amount invested.

*ETF Landscape, Industry Preview, Year End 2009

As one of the leading asset servicing providers, we offer the capabilities, information and level of service needed by today’s most sophisticated investors to enhance the management, administration and oversight of their investment process — and to allow them to make better decisions. Through our proactive and consultative partnership approach, we offer clients superior products, premium technology and a wealth of on and offshore services with a broad spectrum of specialised asset servicing capabilities, including global custody, fund administration and accounting, transfer agency, investment accounting and investment management outsourcing. These are complemented by a range of additional value-added products and services, including performance and risk analytics, derivatives servicing and securities lending.

Business Bermuda is a business organization of Bermuda resident service providers and international businesses which provide quality banking, insurance, reinsurance, legal, accounting, financial, trust, management and e-commerce services and products. Business Bermuda works with the private sector and Government to develop and promote the island as one of the world’s foremost centers for international business.

 Linedata is a global solutions provider with 700 clients operating in 50 countries. With more than 840 employees across the globe, Linedata is dedicated to the investment management and credit community. Linedata has been at the service of the financial industry from day one, and applies its market and client insight to provide innovative and tailored mission-critical software and services that help its clients grow. As a pioneer for over 10 years with the set up of ASP infrastructure for the financial industry, Linedata has preached and spread this model throughout the global financial community, for its full range of products. Headquartered in France, Linedata achieved revenues of EUR 144.5 million in 2009. This company is listed on Euronext Paris FR0004156297-LIN - Reuters LDSV.LN - Bloomberg LIN:FP.

For more information, please visit www.linedata.com or contact Gary Dingwall at gary.dingwall@uk.linedata.com

Princeton Financial® Systems (PFS), a State Street company, is a leading provider of investment accounting, investment compliance, data management, performance measurement, and reporting solutions to the global investment industry.

Our solutions are used worldwide by over 430 leading investment managers, custodians, insurance companies, pension funds, hedge funds, and banks in more than 40 countries.

PFS’ PAM® family of systems are leading international investment accounting solutions that support the accounting needs of +370 clients around the globe.

MIG21®, PFS’ award-winning investment compliance and risk monitoring solution, optimizes and automates pre-trade and post-trade compliance checking, the administration of regulatory, prospectus, and internal investment guidelines along with the consequent resolution workflows.

PFS, headquartered in Princeton, NJ, has offices located throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Germany, and Switzerland.

For more information, visit Princeton Financial Systems’ website at www.pfs.com.

Qatar Financial Centre
The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) is a financial and business centre established by the Government of Qatar and located in Doha. It has been designed to attract international financial services institutions and major multi-national corporations and to encourage participation in the growing market for financial services in Qatar and elsewhere in the region. The QFC operates to international standards and provides a first class legal and business infrastructure for those operating within and from the QFC. It comprises the QFC Authority, the QFC Regulatory Authority, and an independent judiciary through the QFC Civil and Commercial Court and QFC Regulatory Tribunal. The QFC Authority is
the commercial, administrative and legislative body responsible for driving the commercial strategy of the QFC and for developing relationships with the global corporate community and other key institutions both within and outside of Qatar. The QFC Regulatory Authority is an independent regulatory body which has a broad range of regulatory powers to authorize, supervise and, when necessary, discipline firms and individuals. The QFC was created by Qatar Law No.(7) and has been open for business since 1 May 2005.

RBC Dexia Investor Services offers a complete range of investor services to institutions worldwide. Our unique offshore and onshore solutions, combined with the expertise of our 5,300 professionals in 16 markets, help clients grow their business and sustain enhanced performance through efficiency improvements and robust risk management practices.

Equally owned by RBC and Dexia, the company ranks among the world's top 10 global custodians with USD 2.5 trillion in client assets under administration.

Services offered
RBC Dexia’s innovative solutions include global custody, fund and pension administration, shareholder services, distribution support, securities lending and borrowing, reconciliation services, compliance monitoring and reporting, investment analytics, and treasury services.

rbcdexia.com

Securities & Investment Co.(SICO)
A leading Bahrain-based financial institution, Securities & Investment Company (SICO) provides clients across the GCC region with a selective range of investment banking services. These comprise asset management, brokerage, market-making, corporate finance, and custody and  fund administration, which are underpinned by an independent, value-added research capability. Established in 1995, and listed on the Bahrain Stock Exchange in 2003 as a closed Company , SICO operates under a wholesale banking licence from the Central Bank of Bahrain. The Firm has a wholly owned subsidiary - SICO Fund Services Company (SFS) - which is a specialized regional custody house. The core shareholders of SICO are major GCC financial institutions. They include Bahrain’s Social Insurance Organisation, and several prominent regional investment, merchant and commercial banks. SICO is the largest broker on the Bahrain Stock Exchange as well as the only active market-maker. The firm provides a pan GCC brokerage platform. SICO’s Asset Management unit manages over $420 million funds through a range of institutional products: SICO Funds, External Funds and Discretionary Portfolio Management Accounts (DPMAs).  SICO’s four equity funds have consistently outperformed indices and generated stellar returns . Khaleej Equity Fund won the Lipper Fund Award for 2008 and was rated AA by Standard & Poor’s in 2009 . SICO Gulf Equity Fund has an AA rating both SICO Selected Securities Fund and SICO Arab Financial Fund  received an A rating. SICO is also the leading provider of corporate finance services, having successfully concluded a number of high profile IPOs, private placements, debt and equity issues.

Securities & Investment Co.(SICO)
A leading Bahrain-based financial institution, Securities & Investment Company (SICO) provides clients across the GCC region with a selective range of investment banking services. These comprise asset management, brokerage, market-making, corporate finance, and custody and  fund administration, which are underpinned by an independent, value-added research capability. Established in 1995, and listed on the Bahrain Stock Exchange in 2003 as a closed Company , SICO operates under a wholesale banking licence from the Central Bank of Bahrain. The Firm has a wholly owned subsidiary - SICO Fund Services Company (SFS) - which is a specialized regional custody house. The core shareholders of SICO are major GCC financial institutions. They include Bahrain’s Social Insurance Organisation, and several prominent regional investment, merchant and commercial banks. SICO is the largest broker on the Bahrain Stock Exchange as well as the only active market-maker. The firm provides a pan GCC brokerage platform. SICO’s Asset Management unit manages over $420 million funds through a range of institutional products: SICO Funds, External Funds and Discretionary Portfolio Management Accounts (DPMAs).  SICO’s four equity funds have consistently outperformed indices and generated stellar returns . Khaleej Equity Fund won the Lipper Fund Award for 2008 and was rated AA by Standard & Poor’s in 2009 . SICO Gulf Equity Fund has an AA rating both SICO Selected Securities Fund and SICO Arab Financial Fund  received an A rating. SICO is also the leading provider of corporate finance services, having successfully concluded a number of high profile IPOs, private placements, debt and equity issues.

With over 130 years of commodity and financial derivatives experience, Bache provides skilful global execution and clearing, customised reporting and real-time risk management solutions to a broad range of clients -- from financial institutions to corporate end users, hedge funds, family offices and high net worth individuals. We offer expertise in over-the-counter and exchange-traded futures and options, structured products, base and precious metals, foreign exchange, carbon and emissions, equities, cash fixed income and asset management services.  With the flexibility of a boutique and the strength and resources of a leading financial organisation, we partner with our clients to understand their unique objectives and develop customised solutions to help them achieve their goals. To learn more about the benefits of partnering with Bache, please email our Middle East representative at ashraf.meleka@bache.com or visit www.bache.com

Fidessa group supplies multi-asset trading, portfolio analysis, compliance, market data and connectivity solutions for financial markets participants.

Fidessa’s products are used by over 85% of tier-one, global financial institutions, across both the buy-side and sell-side.

Fidessa’s network carries $600billion of flow a month between over 2,300 buy-sides and 400 brokers across 120 markets worldwide.

Headquartered in London and with operations across Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East, Fidessa supports over 24,000 users across 730 clients, serving major investment banks and asset managers through to niche brokers and hedge funds.

Fidessa group is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

The Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI), the representative body for the Luxembourg investment fund community, was founded in 1988. Today it represents over a thousand Luxembourg-domiciled investment funds, asset management companies and a wide variety of service providers including depositary banks, fund administrators, transfer agents, distributors, law firms, consultants, tax advisers, auditors and accountants, specialist IT providers and communications agencies.

Luxembourg is the largest fund domicile in Europe and its investment fund industry is a worldwide leader in cross-border fund distribution. Luxembourg-domiciled investment structures are distributed in more than 50 countries around the globe, with a particular focus on Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

ALFI defines its mission as to

“Lead industry efforts to make Luxembourg the most attractive international centre”.

Its main objectives are to:

•Help members capitalise on industry trends

ALFI’s many technical committees and working groups constantly review and analyse developments worldwide, as well as legal and regulatory changes in Luxembourg, the EU and beyond, to identify threats and opportunities for the Luxembourg fund industry.

•Shape regulation

An up-to-date, innovative legal and fiscal environment is critical to defend and improve Luxembourg's competitive position as a centre for the domiciliation, administration and distribution of investment funds. Strong relationships with regulatory authorities, the government and the legislative body enable ALFI to make an effective contribution to decision-making through relevant input for changes to the regulatory framework, implementation of European directives and regulation of new products or services.

•Foster dedication to professional standards, integrity and quality

Investor trust is essential for success in collective investment services and ALFI thus does all it can to promote high professional standards, quality products and services, and integrity. Action in this area includes organizing training at all levels, defining codes of conduct, transparency and good corporate governance, and supporting initiatives to combat money laundering.

•Promote the Luxembourg investment fund industry

ALFI actively promotes the Luxembourg investment fund industry, its products and its services. It represents the sector in economic missions organised by the Luxembourg government around the world and takes an active part in meetings of the global fund industry.

For more information, visit our website at www.alfi.lu

The Irish Funds Industry Association (IFIA) is the representative body of the international investment funds community in Ireland, representing the custodian banks, administrators, managers, transfer agents and professional advisory firms involved in the international fund services industry. Its members are responsible for in excess of 7,000 funds with a net asset value of over Euro 1.4 trillion. The objective of the IFIA is to support and compliment the development of the international funds industry in Ireland, ensuring it continues to be a location of choice for the domiciling and servicing of investment funds.

AFG: the trade association of a world leading asset management industry
The French asset management industry is one of the largest in the world, with assets under management exceeding €2,600 billion at the end of December 2009.
France ranks 1st  in Europe and 2nd  in the world, after the USA, as a fund management center (1,560 bn€)
Over the past 10 years, the number of French asset management companies has almost doubled - from nearly 350 in 1999 up to nearly 600 today. 
The French industry has gradually built an efficient and competitive model based on:
• A long tradition in the field of asset management
• A remarkable development of innovation for several decades
• A regularly adapted regulation balancing investor protection and financial innovation
• A strong level of savings and diversified and efficient distribution channels
31 rue de Miromesnil 75008 Paris - 01 44 94 94 00 -  www.afg.asso.fr

Investment & Pensions Europe is a monthly magazine targeting those responsible for running pension funds in Europe. Since our first issue was published in February 1997, IPE has built an influential position within the European institutional investor marketplace. We now have a monthly circulation of 10,312 copies, of which more than 75% is among readers in continental Europe.

ICFA magazine has been providing in-depth and authoritative coverage of the investment back- and middle-office for over a decade. Our news, features, surveys and industry round tables are a key source of market intelligence for the financial services industry.

ICFA’s specialist editorial team travels the globe, mapping out the trends, profiling the markets and investigating the business processes that matter and ensuring our readers are fully aware of the key current and future issues.

A combination of unrivalled editorial excellence and unparalleled engagement with the industry makes ICFA magazine a must read for all serious investment professionals.

FTSE Global Markets offers the best in comment and analysis on the world’s equity, debt and alternative investment markets. In a market-place crowded by awards, league-tables, sponsored statements and advertorials there is a real demand for authoritative and independent information and analysis that can be valued and trusted by key decision makers. FTSE Global Markets is now the source that investment institutions and professionals active in the global equity, debt and alternative investments markets turn to, knowing that it provides objective coverage.

Link to: www.berlinguer.com

funds europe is the business strategy magazine for Europe's asset management professionals. It covers all areas of the asset management business - institutional and retail markets, traditional and alternative investments, front and back office - providing essential insight into the European opportunity. With unique research & analysis from top financial journalists and exclusive commentary from industry leaders, funds europe provides our readers with a roadmap to success in Europe's complex and fragmented asset management market. Our new division funds global – how offers in-depth regional reports in key global financial centres including – The Middle East, Asia and The Americas.

International Adviser is a monthly news magazine aimed at those who distribute international fund, life and banking products to high net worth individuals, families and trusts. Every month we cover all the latest news relevant to the offshore advisory community: product launches, investment trends and international tax and regulatory developments. The second half of the magazine is analysis and features: fund profiles, interviews with international intermediaries, business strategies articles and tax briefings from the IA panel of tax experts. Finally, there are two statistical sections, one listing the top-paying offshore bank accounts, the other being the IA Quality 250 - a list of offshore funds that have passed a bespoke series of qualitative and quantitative tests from Morningstar and Forsyth Partners.

Portfolio Adviser is a monthly magazine for investment specialists. The publication aims to keep its readers up to date with the latest investment ideas, macroeconomic news and product launches to enable them to make better fund selection, portfolio construction and asset allocation decisions.

We cover all asset classes, from long-only equity and bond funds to hedge funds, ETFs, commodities, currency, private equity and investment trusts. The universe of funds in Portfolio Adviser is all UK-domiciled funds plus all offshore funds registered for sale here.

Expert Investor Europe (EIE) is a quarterly magazine focusing on key investment issues of interest to professional European investors. Topics covered include portfolio selection and asset allocation ideas, in-depth analysis of European economic issues of the day and interviews with top fund selectors and institutional investors from across Europe (Ex-UK) It is read by the top 3,000 pension fund trustees, fund of funds managers, wealth managers and private bankers across Spain, Italy, Scandinavia, Austria, Benelux and elsewhere.

globalcustody.net presents custody resources, all in one place. Leading industry participants have come together to
present the key information to you. Be sure to use globalcustody.net to check out service providers and service offerings, rankings and ratings, and news and events. Access is free. What's more, you can explore without registering. Visit us now at www.globalcustody.net

MENA Fund Manager is the only magazine dedicated to providing a cutting-edge insight to the MENA fund management space. Each issue includes the latest news, performance data, profiles, strategy, industry comments and insightful articles aimed specifically at fund managers, investors and service providers in the region.

ABOUT FAILAKA:

Failaka Advisors has become the recognized leader in the field of Islamic funds research. Its cornerstone product, Failaka Islamic Funds Database, was launched in March of 2008 and follows the success of their Failaka Islamic Fund Report, which was first published in 1997. The database is widely used by bankers, industry insiders, and others interested in the fast-developing world of Islamic fund management. Failaka also advises money managers on matters of Shariah compliance using their world-renowned Shariah Board and publishes the Shariah Report 2008, which is the 1st book for profile the world’s Shariah Scholars. The group also hosts the industry’s awards each March, the Failaka Islamic Fund Awards.

For more information visit www.failaka.com.

Global Islamic Finance Magazine (GIF)

Global Islamic Finance Magazine (GIF) was firmly established in 2007 as the leading Islamic Finance title for bankers, business professionals, brokers, insurers, corporate, advisors and providers of financial services. It focuses on rapidly growing Islamic Banking, Finance, Economy and Business.

Through close contact with those active in the Islamic finance sector, Global Islamic Finance magazine is able to bring you critical news not found elsewhere. Market intelligence which will assist you with your business and in depth independently-written feature articles provides potential leads and other resource information. Turn our news, knowledge and insight into your advantage, with essential information and details on the Islamic finance field.
Global Islamic Finance magazine delivers news, reviews, research, comment and analysis to financial intermediaries, bankers, lenders, insurers, brokers, corporate and SME decision makers and supports these finance professionals with timely, relevant and accurate market intelligence and sources of business funding.

Website: www.globalislamicfinancemagazine.com

About Noozz

Noozz is a leading provider of information focused upon the Middle East and other emerging markets. It is fast becoming the information service of choice for Governments, multinationals, banks, investors – and a range of other users – who require good quality, and reliable, information on these countries.
 
Noozz provides its subscribers with information updated on a minute-by-minute basis and across nine content sets on political, economic, financial, and business developments in these emerging markets. It is the most comprehensive service of its kind.
 
To find out more about Noozz and see the full list of countries covered, please visit http://www.noozz.com or contact us at info@noozz.com, to subscribe or to get your free trial.

EXECUTIVE MAGAZINE

Executive is a monthly business magazine that offers its readers in-depth and forward thinking analysis, solid reporting and punchy opinion on Middle East and North Africa’s commerce, economy and finance as well as regular industry surveys, regional market data and global economic trends.

Since its launch in 1998, Executive’s passion for business, its inside access and uncanny foresight has earned it the highest plaudits, where its readers choose it for its unbiased editorial line and comprehensive analysis.

From Morocco to Iraq, Executive has a solid network of the best business and economic analysts, experts, and reporters to provide what is arguably the most authoritative business writing in the Middle East.

For more information, please visit www.executive-magazine.com or call us on 00 961 1 611696