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Arqaam Capital Plans Middle East Equity Research Division In Beirut

Arqaam Capital , the only investment bank in the Middle East selling equities futures, plans to start a research division based in Beirut that will provide coverage on the approximately 300 equities in the region with a market capitalization of $500 million and above.

Already the first regional bank to become a trading member on Nasdaq Dubai derivatives platform, Arqaam Capital today announced its intention to once again lead the way and set up a research centre in the Lebanese capital that will in time cover the entire range of equities in the territory known as MENAT - Middle East, North Africa and Turkey.

"Investors are hungry for information to support the advice they receive from advisers and the new research centre will add a new dimension to our equities offering,'' said Riad Meliti, chief executive officer of Arqaam Capital . ``It will enable us to cover the full spectrum of MENAT stocks and provide distribution to all regional markets, something that is lacking across the Middle East,'' he said.

Arqaam 's growth strategy is well under way as it approaches the end of its second year of trading, with offices in Dubai and London, and two more, including Beirut, being established in the coming months. Arqaam is now a full service investment bank meeting the full needs of its institutional clients from brokerage through to corporate finance and asset management.

The research centre will provide clients with up to date, market focused and incisive commentary that will support their overall investment strategy

``The opportunity to expand our team further, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of the Middle East's investment banking industry, is one that we are aggressively pursuing," said Meliti, who indicated that the firm may double its staff by end of the next year.

Arqaam has already made substantial progress with assembling an impressive team of Research Analysts with regional and international experience. This team will adopt a sector based approach initially focusing on the Banking, Construction & Real Estate and Energy sectors, which will be added to in due course.

In addition to the launch of the Beirut research centre, Arqaam Capital will be participating as the title Sponsor at the upcoming Dubai Beirut Forum, held at the Dubai International Finance Centre on 6^th June with Lebanon's former Prime Minister Fuad Siniora as the featured guest.

This unique knowledge forum will explore the question if the Middle East can support more than one business hub, and debate whether the Lebanese economic boom of the last 3 years makes Beirut a contender again.

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Editor's Notes:
Riad Meliti
CEO, Arqaam Capital
Riad Meliti is Chief Executive Officer of Arqaam Capital . He is an investment banker with over 14 years of experience. He began his career at Credit Suisse First Boston and then moved to UBS Warburg, before finally joining Barclays Capital. He was a Director and Head of the Middle East desk at Barclays Capital, with added responsibility for Central Bank relationships. Under his management, the Middle East business at Barclays Capital grew in terms of revenue base by eight-fold; with the Central Bank business showing an increase in revenue of 80% over the 18 months he was responsible. In 2004, Mr. Meliti left Barclays Capital to found the CiC Group, which subsequently re-branded to Arqaam Capital . Mr Meliti has a Bachelor's in Economics from University College, London.

Arqaam Capital
Arqaam Capital , a strong, fast-growing player in the investment banking world, bringing regional and international product offerings to the Middle East, has really begun to make an impact on the region's investment banking industry in the three years since its launch. Capitalized in 2007 with $140 million, Arqaam now has 65 staff and seven lines of business, covering asset management, brokerage, corporate finance, credit, custody, equity derivatives and treasury. The key for Arqaam is the ability to be flexible and adaptable to the needs of it growing client base and the markets. Arqaam Capital serves as a reliable conduit for institutional funds flowing three different ways--for the money of high-net worth Middle Eastern investors keen to invest in the region and internationally, and for the cash of international investors seeking opportunities in the Middle East.

For more information please contact:
Eleonora Ugge
Email: eleonora.ugge@arqaamcapital.com

For more information on the Dubai Beirut Forum, please visit www.thegulfintelligence.com

© Press Release 2010