| Kuwait Financial Centre K.P.S.C. "Markaz" | |
| Type: | Public Company |
| Foundation: | 1974 |
| Location City: | Kuwait, Sharq, Ahmad Al-Jaber Street, Universal Tower |
| Location Country: | Kuwait |
| Industry: | Financial Services |
| Homepage: | www.markaz.com |
Kuwait Financial Centre (K.P.S.C), a.k.a. “Markaz”, is an asset management and investment banking institution in the Middle East and North Africa (M.E.N.A.) region, based in Kuwait. As of December 31st, 2023, it has total assets under management of over KWD 1.21 billion (Kuwaiti Dinar),[1] which equates to about USD 3.93 billion. Markaz was listed on the national stock market of Kuwait, named (Boursa Kuwait), for the first time in 1997, 23 years after its foundation. The company provides several services, like asset management, investment banking, real estate investment, wealth management and investment-focused research.
Markaz has also created new investment channels like Mumtaz (the first domestic mutual fund in Kuwait), the Markaz Real Estate Fund (M.R.E.F.) and Forsa Financial Fund, an options market maker in the Gulf Cooperation Council. All are still managed by Markaz.
The major shareholders[2] (owning more than 5% of the issued shares) of the company directly or indirectly as of March 16, 2023, are as follows:
| Shareholder | % of issued shares | Underlying beneficiary owning more than 5% stake | Stake of underlying beneficiary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuwait Pillars for Financial Investment (KSC Closed) "formerly known as Strategia Investment Company" | 29.695 | None | 10.299% | |
| Al Mubader Co. | 5.133 | None | Not Applicable |
2016: Best Equity Manager in Kuwait Award from MENA Fund Managers[4]
2014: Global Investor’s Best Asset Manager Award[5]
2014: EMEA finance’s Best Asset Manager Award[6]
2014: Euromoney's Best Investment Bank Award[7]
2014: Global Finance’s Best Investment Bank Award[8]
1.MARKAZ official site2.www.e-marmore.com