Hanna: Transparency and commitment helped build NBK's successful communication model

KUWAIT: The National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) was awarded "Best Corporate for Investor Relations" in Kuwait for 2019 by the Middle East Investor Relations Association (MEIRA).

MEIRA also awarded Head of Investor Relations at NBK, Amir Hanna, and "Best Investor Relations Professional" in Kuwait. The awards were presented during MEIRA Annual Conference (11th Edition) held in Dubai, where leading companies and individuals who demonstrated best practices in the investor relations (IR) field across the Middle East were honored.

The awards are based on the votes of most prominent financial analysts and investment managers in the world's largest global and regional investment banks who took part in Extel's survey.

"We continuously seek to improve NBK's outreach to investors and shareholders. This is reflected in NBK's well-established position in the global investment community and the bank's distinguished relationship with investors," stated Amir Hanna, Head of Investor Relations at NBK.
"We are delighted with this award which reflects NBK's well-established institutional model, transparency and professionalism in the communication with the investment community," Hanna stated. The awards reflect NBK's adoption of the highest transparency and governance standards, in addition to its ongoing efforts to excel in outreaching and accommodating investors around the world, he added.
Hanna also indicated that NBK was amongst the leading institutions in the region to adopt full transparency policies in its external communications while adhering to the highest international corporate governance standards. Additionally, NBK also established one of the first fully dedicated Investor Relations functions in the region, which emphasizes the effective role of the executive management in establishing and promoting highest standards of transparency, in addition to the full commitment to both shareholders as well as the investment community.

MEIRA Annual Conference and Awards is the largest IR event in MENA. This benchmark event brings together participants from locally listed firms, international corporates, investors, research analysts and advisors, as well as representatives of the region's Regulatory bodies. The aim of the Conference is to provide delegates with a networking platform and to encourage dialogue around market challenges and best practice, while educating participants and stakeholders on the importance of Investor Relations, transparency and corporate governance. MEIRA is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the role of investor relations and industry standards in corporate governance. Its mission is to enhance the reputation, efficiency and attractiveness of capital markets in the ME and seeks to foster increased dialogue among its members. MEIRA also encourages its members to exchange and adopt best practices in the field of IR and in partnership with financial markets, regulatory bodies and other market participants.

The NBK has an extensive local and global presence. It has boosted its foothold in a number of international hubs in London, Paris, Geneva, New York, Singapore, and China (Shanghai), in addition to a number of MENA countries including Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Turkey.