> SEDCO: BEST SHARIAH-COMPLIANT REAL ESTATE FUND MANAGEMENT TEAM SAUDI ARABIA 2014
One of the premier private wealth management companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, SEDCO Holding can trace its origins to the remarkable life of Sheikh Salem Bin Mahfouz who founded the Saudi Economic and Development Company in 1976 while at the helm of the kingdom’s first domestic bank – the National Commercial Bank – he had helped form in 1953. The remarkable life story of Sheikh Salem Bin Mahfouz best serves to illustrate SEDCO’s unrelenting dedication to excellence and diligence. By sheer force of will, perseverance, and – for lack of a better expression – street smarts, Sheikh Salem Bin Mahfouz overcame the dire poverty and scant educational opportunities of his childhood to become one the kingdom’s premier bankers. Arriving penniless in Mecca with his brothers in 1912, the young Salem soon developed a knack for business. Moving to Jeddah and securing access to one of that city’s two only telephones, Salem became a moneychanger to the royal court securing Maria Theresa Thalers to buy army supplies. In 1951,
Salem co-founded a foreign exchange business which, at the suggestion of then-Finance Minister Sheikh Abdullah Sulayman, was turned into the country’s first commercial bank. The rest – as they say – is history. And that history is precisely why SEDCO – entrusted to four of Sheikh Salem Bin Mahfouz’ sons upon his passing away in 1994 and transformed into a holding two years later– is a most remarkable company: it is not only deeply rooted in history; it derives its strength and agility from it. SEDCO has grown into a large and diversified conglomerate with operations spanning the continents and with interests across a vast range of asset classes. Pursuing stability rather than risk, SEDCO has concluded a number of large-scale real estate projects such as the Jeddah Al Mahmal Centre, the Metro West master-planned community in Orlando, and the landmark JP Morgan Chase building in Houston – Texas’ tallest skyscraper. SEDCO Development remains firmly focused on the development, management, and
operation of real estate projects. Investments are structured in full compliance with Shariah Law and deliver yields of 7% to clients. Funds are invested alongside clients, rather than on behalf of them. SEDCO Capital had successfully executed real estate transactions in excess of $1 billion. The company successfully divested from 21 developments in France, Malaysia, Singapore, UK, and Mexico. SEDCO Capital now has acquired 19 investments in strategic markets such as USA, UK, and Saudi Arabia. Due to the company’s firm commitment to innovation grounded in history and custom, the CFI.co judging panel considers SEDCO an exemplary real estate fund manager: fads and fashions are shunned, while true innovation – the one that adds value to all stakeholders and respects their preferences – is given ample room to mature. Beyond any shadow of doubt, SEDCO fully merits the CFI.co 2014 Best Shariah-Compliant Real Estate Fund Management Team Saudi Arabia Award.
> SEMPER CONSTANTIA PRIVATBANK: BEST WEALTH MANAGER AUSTRIA 2015
A touch of class, a pinch of creativity, and a hint of tradition: the making of a private banker follows a well-trodden path, albeit along a rather fine line. Too much innovation may cause eyebrows to be raised, while an excessively conformist approach could possibly dampen returns. Exploring the synergies and correlations between asset classes has allowed Semper Constantia Privatbank of Vienna to reduce portfolio volatility – and risk – without sacrificing performance. This is but one of an impressive number of strategies developed in-house by this Austrian financial services provider. Semper Constantia Privatbank is both a private bank and an investment bank. As such, its clients – high-net-worth individuals, 70
private foundations, and institutional investors amongst others – may readily access, and benefit from, the wealth of accumulated knowledge and expertise available at this bank. Primarily focused on long-term investment horizons, Semper Constantia Privatbank is dedicated to providing a carefully balanced mix of continuity, reliability, and – indeed – creativity to its operations. In addition to its array of classic private banking services, the bank also offers a vast range of investment funds besides custodial and real estate services. Semper Constantia Privatbank eyes the long-term development of client portfolios, coupling strong momentum to agility and flexibility. Considering the individual risk profile of clients, the bank adheres to a bestCFI.co | Capital Finance International
in-class approach in order to ensure that only premier securities are selected for the allocation of assets. Semper Constantia Privatbank uses a non-traditional model to classify investments by risk factors – monitoring the outcome dynamically for possible changes. The CFI.co judges were quite intrigued by the procedural algorithms Semper Constantia Privatbank has developed in order to reduce volatility and risk. The judges commend the bank on the depth and strength of its commitment to providing customers with both services and products of unmatched quality. Thus, it is with great pleasure that the CFI.co judging panel unanimously declares Semper Constantia Privatbank winner of the 2015 Best Wealth Manager Austria Award.