01 Apr, 2014Jafza creates platform for Free Zone companies to list on NASDAQ Dubai

Jafza is more than a physical location to set up business: Salma Hareb
NASDAQ Dubai can help companies raise capital for growth: Hamed Ali

Jafza, a pioneering Free Zone,announced today that Jafza-registered companies can now raise capital throughthe equity market to fund their growth, by listing on NASDAQ Dubai.

Jafza has created a new businessframework enabling companies in the Free Zone to apply to directly list shareson the exchange.

Salma Ali Saif bin Hareb, CEOEconomic Zones World, the parent company of Jafza, said: Businesses are alwaysin search for capital, and the equity market serves as an important source.Jafza is beyond just servicing customers or a physical location for businessset up. Jafza is an eco-system that nurtures its members, providing them withall the ingredients for success, to reduce cost and maximise revenue, by givingefficient access to markets, suppliers, and capital.

Hamed Ali, Chief Executive of NASDAQ Dubai, said:As the region 's international exchange, NASDAQ Dubai can offer Jafza companiesa high public profile globally as well as a platform for capital-raising. Theexchange welcomes listings of regional arms of international companies, as wellas regionally owned businesses, and we look forward to working with Jafzacompanies to explore listing opportunities.

Jafza hosts more than 7,300companies that are engaged in trade and manufacturing activities in diversesectors including electronics, chemicals and petroleum products, constructionmaterial, automotive, machinery and equipment, food, healthcare andpharmaceuticals among others.

Companies can carry out aninitial public offering (IPO) or other share listing on the exchange by listingas little as 25% of their shares, allowing owners to keep control of thebusiness. They need a market capitalisation of only 10 million US dollars ormore, allowing a wide range of businesses to utilise the exchange as a listingvenue.

A listing in Dubai enablescompanies to access regional and international investors from the Middle East 'smost dynamic economic and financial centre.

Jafza companies can apply fora primary or dual listing on NASDAQ Dubai. An application to list must be madeto the Dubai Financial Services Authority, the regulator of the exchange.

Jafza and NASDAQ Dubai willcontinue to work together to promote financing solutions for Jafza companiesthrough initial public offerings (IPOs) and other means of capital raising.