Global Banking & Markets

⭐ The wait is over, it's time to announce the winners of the 2026 Global Banking & Markets: CEE, Central Asia & Türkiye Awards! With a record number of submissions, this year's awards prove the quality and depth of the regions financial activity. We are grateful to all issuers, banks, and service providers for their time, thoughtful input, and valuable contributions throughout the submissions process and subsequent market-sounding discussions. Congratulations to our winners! 🏆 View the full list of winners here: https://lnkd.in/eBV3_7eH/?utm_campaign=AGBMT26-Awardsannouncementpost&utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=paid&utm_id=1219905194&hsa_acc=512127352&hsa_cam=1219905194&hsa_grp=901705714&hsa_ad=1588451184&hsa_net=linkedin&hsa_ver=3 #GBMCEECATAwards #GlobalBankingMarkets #GBMCEECAT

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗕𝗠: 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 & 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻! 🏆 Recognising exceptional transactions and outstanding performance, the GBM LAC Awards exist to acknowledge and celebrate developments in the region’s financial markets. 💫 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 💫 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝙉𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙗𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚: https://lnkd.in/e5e7mZp3 All award categories and entry information can be found on the GBM LAC Awards website: 🌐 https://lnkd.in/edqyXw4Q All nominations must be 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲. Only submissions for deals and performance 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟯𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 will be considered. For any queries please contact: [email protected] Good luck! #GBM #GBMAwards #GBMAwardsLAC

Are you active in CEE, Central Asia & Türkiye's financial markets? Do you want to expand your business in this space? Progress deal flow across multiple markets with us in one location via three premium co-located events. Each event shares a networking arena so that you can access senior decision-makers from the entire Global Banking & Markets: CEE, Central Asia & Türkiye ecosystem at one time. Each event boasts separate topical agendas, industry insights and expert speakers. One GBM: CEECAT delegate ticket permits you access to all three events (we do not sell individual tickets).

ISLAMIC SYNDICATION DEAL OF THE YEAR⭐ Congratulations to EMICOOL on taking home the 2026 GBM Middle East Award for ISLAMIC SYNDICATION DEAL OF THE YEAR. Yousuf Akbar Ali Emicool's AED2.25bn 12-year Shari'a-compliant term ijara facility was a standout Islamic financing, combining scale, sustainability and structural sophistication in a single long-term platform. The facility was split into three tranches: AED1.65bn for refinancing existing debt, FSRA funding and green capital expenditure; AED300m for green growth and maintenance capex; and AED300m for general corporate purposes. This allowed Emicool to refinance its existing facilities while also securing funding for future sustainable expansion and strengthening overall liquidity. What made the transaction distinctive was its advanced dual Green Facility structure. Tranches 1 and 2 were subject to green eligibility requirements, annual Green Facility reporting and alignment with Green Loan Principles, creating clear traceability of green spending within a Shari'a-compliant framework. That combination of Islamic financing and rigorous sustainability governance set an important benchmark for UAE corporate and utility borrowers. The deal was also notable for its lender protections and financial engineering. It incorporated a comprehensive security package, including share pledges, movable and real estate security, account pledges, insurance assignments and guarantees from Emicool group entities. It also included disciplined covenants, controlled account flows, excess cash prepayment mechanics and a requirement to hedge at least 50% of profit-rate exposure on a Shari'a-compliant basis. By bringing together refinancing, green capex, long-tenor liquidity, Islamic structuring and institutional-grade governance, Emicool's facility redefined what sustainable Shari'a-compliant corporate funding can look like in the Gulf. Celebrating market-defining transactions and industry-leading performance, the Middle East Awards 2026 shine a spotlight on the institutions and deals shaping the future of regional capital markets. The awards ceremony brings together the international investment community to recognise excellence, elevate the profile of Middle Eastern financial markets, and inspire the next wave of landmark issuance across the region. To find out more visit: https://lnkd.in/eFxQSPAJ #GBMAwardsMiddleEast #GBMAwards #GlobalBankingMarkets

EXCHANGE OF THE YEAR⭐ Congratulations to London Stock Exchange on taking home the 2026 GBM Middle East Award for EXCHANGE OF THE YEAR. Zahi Bsaibes, Charlie Walker, Aude Rajonson, Shrey Kohli, Nina-Nevart Minassian London Stock Exchange Group reinforced its position as the leading international listing venue for Middle Eastern bonds and sukuk during the awards review period. Issuers from across the region raised US$129.5bn on its markets, while approximately 92% of GCC international issuance was listed on either the International Securities Market or the Main Market. The breadth of the issuer base was notable. Sovereigns and quasi-sovereigns included Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Abu Dhabi, PIF, Mubadala and the Islamic Development Bank. In a particularly active period for financial institution issuance, banks from across the GCC — including Al Rajhi Bank, Saudi National Bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Qatar Islamic Bank, Kuwait Finance House and National Bank of Kuwait — chose London as their listing venue. Several landmark transactions illustrated the Exchange’s reach. Kuwait’s US$11.25bn triple-tranche bond marked the sovereign’s return to international markets after eight years. AviLease’s debut bond established a new international credit for a Saudi aviation platform, while Ma’aden’s debut sukuk broadened the range of Saudi corporate Islamic issuers accessing global investors. London also remained the world’s largest sukuk listing venue, hosting 85 sukuk issuances worth US$56.3bn, including transactions from Qatar, Saudi Telecom Company and Ma’aden. Its Sustainable Bond Market supported regional green, blue and sustainability-labelled issuance from PIF, Qatar, IsDB and DP World. Beyond listing, LSEG supported issuers through SparkLive roadshows, market-opening events, treasury data services and direct engagement from teams with banking, treasury and capital markets experience. Celebrating market-defining transactions and industry-leading performance, the Middle East Awards 2026 shine a spotlight on the institutions and deals shaping the future of regional capital markets. The awards ceremony brings together the international investment community to recognise excellence, elevate the profile of Middle Eastern financial markets, and inspire the next wave of landmark issuance across the region. To find out more visit: https://lnkd.in/eFxQSPAJ #GBMAwardsMiddleEast #GBMAwards #GlobalBankingMarkets

EQUITY FUND OF THE YEAR⭐ Congratulations to SICO Capital on taking home the 2026 GBM Middle East Award for EQUITY FUND OF THE YEAR. Shakeel Sarwar Nishit Lakhotia, CFA, CAIA Hashem Alsada, CQF Nimita Nazer, ACCA, MCSI Nadeen Oweis The SICO Capital MENA Equity Fund delivered a strong relative performance in 2025 despite a difficult backdrop for regional equities. The fund generated a net return of 2.8%, outperforming its benchmark by approximately 600 basis points as the index declined by 3.2%. That result was particularly notable given that around 70% of the portfolio was invested in Saudi equities, while the Saudi market — the benchmark’s largest component — fell by approximately 11%. Performance was driven primarily by disciplined stock selection rather than broad macro or country positioning. Several holdings illustrate the quality of that research. Electrical Industries Company, Saudi Arabia’s only domestic power-transformer manufacturer, gained around 60% as rising electricity demand and grid investment created a favourable supply-demand dynamic. Rasan, a Saudi insurance technology platform, rose approximately 35%, benefiting from regulatory reforms and strong growth prospects even as the wider Saudi insurance index declined sharply. Amakalso gained around 35%, supported by exposure to gold, copper and zinc, higher commodity prices and additional production capacity. Among a peer group of 15 MENA and GCC Shariah-compliant equity funds, SICO ranked first for 2025. Its longer-term record was also strong, with returns of approximately 43% over three years and 110% over five years. Investor confidence followed performance. The fund’s assets under management grew by 57% during 2025, supported by new subscriptions and a US$10m discretionary mandate from a leading regional Islamic bank. The wider SICO platform reached US$8.4bn of AUM, up 40% over three years. Celebrating market-defining transactions and industry-leading performance, the Middle East Awards 2026 shine a spotlight on the institutions and deals shaping the future of regional capital markets. The awards ceremony brings together the international investment community to recognise excellence, elevate the profile of Middle Eastern financial markets, and inspire the next wave of landmark issuance across the region. To find out more visit: https://lnkd.in/eFxQSPAJ #GBMAwardsMiddleEast #GBMAwards #GlobalBankingMarkets