Action Group Holdings' primary investment focus is to ensure medium to long term growth through our participation in equity markets within the MENA region. We also seek opportunities to be founding shareholders in new business ventures in our region and to team up with performance oriented management who will ensure that these enterprises will make a difference both to society and shareholders.

Other areas of investment are on the alternative investment domain through real estate, either directly or through professionally managed funds and co-investment vehicles, regionally and internationally. We strongly believe in participation in private equity, predominantly in mature economies, thereby diversifying our portfolio and providing greater potential returns.

AGH's proprietary investment aim to meet the objectives of the group is summarized by an Investment Policy Statement which targets the following goals :

• Emphasis on a growth-oriented strategy

• Selection of investments with a favourable risk/return combination

• Match returns to forecast expenditures

• Active asset allocation of investments towards those capable of delivering the financial goals of the company

• Ensure available liquidity in order to fund any of the Group's operating companies' expansion, in accordance with its business plan

• Ensure efficient research capabilities in-house in order to analyse offered investment products

• Monitor, measure and compare returns of all markets and instruments

• Ensure adequate diversification to reduce overall risk

In meeting the above goals, AGH has developed major relations with financial institutions locally and internationally. Some of those relations and their nature are detailed below :

• Global Investment House (Kuwait): AGH is a founding shareholder and investor currently holding a minority stake in the company. In addition, AGH holds a large non-discretionary portfolio with Global managed by AGH in-house. GLOBAL is one of the region's leading companies providing investment banking products and services including corporate finance, portfolio management, equity research, brokerage service and investment funds.
  www.globalinv.net

• Kipco Asset Management Company (KAMCO) (Kuwait): AGH maintains a sizeable portfolio at KAMCO which is also managed in-house. KAMCO continues to be one of Kuwait's most active companies with operations in financial services, asset management, investments, consulting and private equity.
  www.kamconline.com

• Kuwait and Middle East Financial Investment Company (KMEFIC) : AGH holds a sizeable portfolio with this distinguished Kuwaiti investment house. KMEFIC's main areas of operation include investment and portfolio management, venture capital, hedge funds, real estate investment and advisory services.
  www.kmefic.com.kw

• INVESTCORP (Bahrain) : AGH is a shareholder and invests in most of the alternative investments offered by the investment house (such as private equity, real estate and hedge funds). AGH's vice-chairman is a member of Investcorp's Strategic Partners' Group. Investcorp continues to be one of the most respected investment banks both regionally and internationally.
  www.investcorp.com

• ARCAPITA Investment Bank (Bahrain) : AGH has a strategic relationship with the bank. It invests in most of the deals presented by the bank. AGH is also a founding shareholder in the bank.
  www.arcapita.com

• Local Banks : AGH maintains very active relations with all major banks in Kuwait. The majority of the relations are with Gulf Bank, National Bank of Kuwait and Burgan Bank.

• Kuwait Finance House Bahrain : AGH holds a portfolio with the investment house.
  www.kfh.bh

AGH is also a major founding shareholder in many other companies, some of which are not yet listed on any stock exchange. The following is a list of those major investments :

Listed :

• Housing Finance Company (ISKAN) (Kuwait) : a founding investor. AGH is also represented on the Board of ISKAN. (www.iskan.com.kw)
• Global Investment House (Kuwait, Bahrain, Dubai) : a founding investor and maintains a strategic relationship with the company. (www.globalinv.net)
• Gulf Franchising Company: listed 2006. Company offers good growth and high market penetration for its brands in the retail market
• Egypt Kuwait Holding Company (Egypt, Kuwait): a founding investor and is represented on the board. (www.ekholding.com)
• European Islamic Investment Bank (UK): founding stake. EIIB is the first bank of its kind in Europe as an independent Sharia'a compliant Islamic investment bank to be authorised by the FSA. EIIB intends to offer its customers Sharia'a compliant Treasury and Capital Markets, Asset Management (including Private Banking), Trade Finance and Correspondent Banking and Advisory and Corporate Finance services. (www.eiib.co.uk)