TMT Finance Middle East Awards Nominations Announced

London and Doha, 15 February 2009 – The shortlist for the TMT Finance and Investment Middle East Awards has been announced with the results taking place at the Sharq Resort Hotel, Doha on the evening of March 18th 2009.

1. Telecom Deal of the Year Middle East Shortlist
STC’s acquisition of a 35% stake in Oger Telecom
Value: US$2.36bn
Advisers: Goldman Sachs (STC), Citigroup (Saudi Oger)

Zain’s loan to finance acquisition of Iraqna
Value: US$1.2bn
MLA: National Bank of Kuwait

Qtel’s acquisition of a 40.8% stake in Indosat
Value: US$1.8bn
Advisers: JP Morgan, Credit Suisse (Qtel), Goldman Sachs, DF King & Co (Indosat)

Etisalat’s acquisition of a 45% stake in Swan Telecom
Value – US$900m
Advisers - Citi (Etisalat)

Zain KSA IPO
Value – SAR 7bn (US$1.9bn)
Advisers – Calyon, Calyon Saudi Fransi Limited (CSFL)

2. Telecom M&A Bank of the Year Middle East Nominations
Citigroup Global Markets
Goldman Sachs
JP Morgan
Credit Suisse

3. Fixed Line Operator of the Year Nominations
Qtel (Qatar Telecom)
Du (EMIRATES INTEGRATED TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY)
Batelco
STC
Etisalat
Telecom Egypt

4. Wireless Operator of the Year Nominations
Qtel (Qatar Telecom)
Zain
MTN
Etisalat
STC
Batelco

5. Islamic Financing Deal of the Year Nominations
Zain USD 1.2b Financing
Bookrunners and MLAs: BNP Paribas, Calyon and DBS

Sabafon US$20m financing
MLA: HSBC

6. Technology Provider of the Year Nominations
Huawei
Qualcomm
HP
IBM

7. Outstanding Leader of the Year (CEO) Nominations
Eng. Saud Al-Daweesh, Executive President, STC
Dr. Nasser Marafih, CEO, Qtel
Peter Kaliaropolous, CEO, Batelco
Phuthuma Nhleko, CEO, MTN

8. Special Award for Outstanding Leadership in Telecom Innovation and Development
An annual Award presented by the Judges Panel to be announced at the ceremony.

Full programme details at www.tmtfinance.com/me


Qatar Telecommunications (Qtel) is Patron of the event, which is researched and produced by consulting firm BroadGroup. Clifford Chance LLP is the M&A Advisors Panel Sponsor. Booz&Co is Conference Partner, and Orient Consulting is PR Partner. PwC is Industry Sponsor. Investors Group Kuwait is sponsoring the Islamic Financing Deal of the Year Award. Qatar Airways is Official Airline Partner. Capital MS&L is Investor Relations Partner. Media partners for the event include TradeArabia, theGulf, .commerce, AltAssets, Nooz, Telecommunications Insight and Middle East Monitor, and Broadcast partners are Al Jazeera TV and Al Arabia TV.

Contact Information

Philip Low

Marketing

BroadGroup

Contact via E-mail