Equipped with state-of-the-art technology to nurture best practice trading methods amongst business and finance major students

Kuwait -22nd May, 2012: Burgan Bank and KIPCO Asset Management Company (KAMCO) announced today the re-opening of the virtual dealing room at Kuwait University. The event was presided over by Mr. Sadoun Ali, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at KAMCO, Mr. Raed Al-Haqhaq, Chief Banking Officer - Senior General Manager at Burgan Bank, Dr. Abdulla Eisa Al-Salman, Founder and Head of Financial Trading Center at Kuwait University, as well as business and finance major students.

The attendees toured around the new virtual dealing room, which includes state-of-the-art technology and the latest software used for financial trading and office furniture, all combined in a dynamic and vibrant ambience that provides a flexible and interesting educational environment for students.  The dealing room also offers students a working virtual platform to explore all of the intricacies of trading, such as foreign exchange, derivatives, interest rate futures, fixed income instruments and equities. The initiative marks the transfer of knowledge between Burgan Bank, as well as KAMCO, where their technical and financial analysts will serve as instructors for specific modules at the dealing room.

Mr. Raed Al-Haqhaq, Chief Banking Officer - Senior General Manager at Burgan Bank, said: "The stock market in Kuwait and the financial markets of the region have witnessed unprecedented activity, which makes it necessary for the future investors to understand the fundamentals of the markets and sound trading and investment strategies."

"We are glad to become part of this unique project, which aims at providing students with the necessary know-how of trading in financial markets, a component that is considered the backbone of the country's economic activity," added Al-Haqhaq.

Mr. Sadoun Ali, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at KAMCO said: "The KAMCO-Burgan Bank Dealing Room aspires to educate the students with the fundamentals of trading in financial markets, which comes to represent a big part in the economic activity of a country and its welfare".

"The stock market in Kuwait and the financial markets of the region witnessed a fluctuating activity during the past few years, which makes it necessary for an investor to understand the fundamentals of the markets and sound investment strategies and we believe that this project will be a great corner stone for the students' educational process giving them an important tool to use in that field and preparing them for a suitable business environment after graduating,"  added Mr. Ali.

About Burgan Bank
Established in 1977, Burgan Bank is the youngest commercial Bank based in Kuwait, with a significant focus on the corporate and financial institutions sectors, as well as having a growing retail and private bank customer base.

Burgan Bank has four majority owned subsidiaries: Gulf Bank Algeria - AGB (Algeria), Bank of Baghdad - BOB (Iraq), Jordan Kuwait Bank - JKB (Jordan) and Tunis International Bank - TIB (Tunisia), (collectively known as the "Burgan Bank Group").

The Bank has continuously improved its performance over the years through an expanded revenue structure, diversified funding sources, and a strong capital base. The adoption of state-of-the-art services and technology has positioned it as a trendsetter in the domestic market and within the MENA region.

Burgan Bank's brand has been created on a foundation of real values - of trust, commitment, excellence and progression, to remind us of the high standards to which we aspire. 'People come first' is the foundation on which its products and services are developed. Earlier this year, 'Brand Finance' - the international brand valuation company- rated Burgan Bank brand as AA with positive outlook.  The rating places Burgan Bank Brand at 2nd amongst the most valuable banking brands in Kuwait.

Excellence is one of the Bank's four key values and Burgan Bank continually strives to maintain the highest standards in the industry. The Bank was re-certified in 2010 with the ISO 9001:2008 certification in all its banking businesses, making it the first bank in the GCC, and the only bank in Kuwait to receive such accreditation. The Bank also has to its credit the distinction of being the only Bank in Kuwait to have won the JP Morgan Chase Quality Recognition Award for twelve consecutive years.

Burgan Bank won the prestigious "Banking Web Awards" prize in the commercial and corporate Category for Kuwait. In 2010 Burgan Bank was awarded with the "Best Internet Banking Service award" from Banker Middle East Awards. Burgan Bank was recognized in 2011 as Kuwait's "Best Private Bank", by World Finance. The bank also won, in 2011, the coveted "International Platinum Star for Quality" award from Business Initiative Directions, and "The Best Technical Award" from Banking Web Awards. In 2012, Global Banking and Finance Review online magazine recognized Burgan Bank as the "Best Banking Group in the MENA" as well as the "Best Corporate Bank in Kuwait".

Burgan Bank, a subsidiary of KIPCO (Kuwait Projects Company), is a strongly positioned regional Bank in the MENA region.

About KAMCO:
Established in 1998 with the mission to significantly alter the local and regional investment landscape, KAMCO is a premier investment company based in Kuwait. A subsidiary of United Gulf Bank (UGB) - the investment banking subsidiary of Kuwait Projects (Holding) Company (KIPCO) - KAMCO was listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) in 2003.

After more than thirteen years of conducting business in Kuwait's dynamic investment industry, KAMCO has successfully established a robust reputation for solidity, characterized by its prudent, conservative investment philosophy which has consistently commanded the goodwill of a wide patron-base.

KAMCO's Asset Management Division specializes in customized portfolio management, access to IPOs, and local and international fund management. The Investment Advisory and Research Division tracks the latest directions and trends across regional and local economies as well as equity markets and offers a range of customized services that focus on maximizing returns, mitigating risks, and maintaining capital appreciation for individual and institutional clients. The Company's Financial Services and Investment Division offers a full range of advisory services on mergers and acquisitions, underwriting, private placements, debt issuance and restructuring, and private equity management.

The Company will further aggressively build upon its core competencies to offer MENA-wide investment management consultancy and services, backed by its proven track-record in stringent risk mitigation, investment product innovation, and a cautious investment approach towards local, regional and international capital markets.

© Press Release 2012