PRESS RELEASE
DFM launches iVESTOR card, the innovative solution for cash dividend
distribution, AGM voting and IPO subscriptions

Over 30,000 DFM company shareholders will be the first to receive
their cards free of charge

The card is a ‘first of its kind’ global service, developed in cooperation
with Network International, VISA and Emirates NBD
Dubai, March 30th 2010: Dubai Financial Market (DFM) launched today the
iVESTOR card, an innovative solution designed to be the financial link
between DFM and investors. DFM is the first exchange globally to pioneer
this flexible and effective solution.
A first of its kind globally, the iVESTOR card launched in cooperation with
Network International and VISA, the service providers and Emirates NBD,
the issuer of the card. The iVESTOR card will be issued at no cost to over
30,000 investors of DFM company shareholders for the financial year 2009
cash dividend.
The launch of this unique product commemorates a decade of innovation
and development throughout the short history of DFM as the leading
exchange in the region, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2010.
As an iVESTOR cardholder, investors will no longer have to wait for their
cash dividend cheques to be posted to them or have the hassle to cash the
dividend cheques into their bank accounts, as this new card will enable
DFM to credit cash dividends directly into the card balance in a flexible and
speedy manner. Additionally, investors can use this card for cash
withdrawals from the 650 strong Emirates NBD ATM network in the UAE or
from any VISA or PLUS marked ATM’s worldwide, as well as for
reservations, travel and shopping from millions of VISA accepting retail
outlets across 170 countries. Furthermore, cardholders will be able to top
up their balance through Emirates NBD cash deposit machines or over the
counter in any of the 110 branches in the UAE.
Introduced in three categories, Classic, Prestige and Platinum based on
ownership of DFM shares, the iVESTOR card not only can be used as a
normal debit card locally and internationally, but will also offer second to
none value added services in the near future, including the ability to
register and vote during Annual General Meetings and to subscribe to Initial
Public Offerings executed through DFM.
Commenting on this development, Essa Kazim, Executive Chairman, Dubai
Financial Market said: “We are thrilled to introduce the iVESTOR card, a
first of its kind global service from Dubai Financial Market (DFM). This
ground-breaking product is the most recent initiative from DFM, who has
always been committed to developing new and pioneering services that
meet the ever evolving needs of our enormous and expanding investor
base since its inception in the year 2000. Undoubtedly, being the first
exchange to develop an innovative solution for investors globally, reaffirms
DFM’s position as a center of excellence and innovation amongst the
leading exchanges.
“As we all know, cash dividend distribution was always a time consuming
process as investors have to wait for cheques to be issued and sent to them
by post and then also have to deposit them to their accounts, not to
mention the lost cheques and the hassle of issuing a replacement.
However, with this innovative solution, dividends of the DFM company will
be credited instantly to the card account for immediate access. This value
added service will be initially introduced to DFM company shareholders and
then extended to other listed companies who appoint DFM as the dividend
distribution agent.” Kazim added.
"Network is the leader in innovation and this product being the first of its
kind globally, we are proud to deliver as per the requirements of Dubai
Financial Market. With the launch of iVESTOR cards we will be extending to
them technical and operational support", said Mr. Abdulla Qassem, Group
Chief Operating Officer, Emirates NBD and Chairman of Network
International.
“We are extremely pleased to support Dubai Financial Market in launching
this new card,” said Mohammed Al Falasi, Senior Vice President, Head
Direct Sales Force & Alternative Channels at Emirates NBD. “Listed on the
Dubai Financial Market and a leader in providing innovative banking
solutions, Emirates NBD strongly believes that these cards will prove
extremely attractive to shareholders of all DFM-listed companies, who will
find accessing their dividend payments easier and more efficient than ever
before. We are confident that the response to the introduction of these
cards will be extremely positive.”
Key features of iVESTOR card:
 INSTANT access to DFM (PJSC) dividends credited directly into
iVESTOR card account
 FAST and EASY cash withdrawals of DFM ‘PJSC’ dividends from
millions of VISA or PLUS marked ATM machines located across 170
countries worldwide or ‘over the counter’ in any of Emirates NBD
branches, in addition to the banks’ ATM network in the UAE.
 Cash top-ups into your iVESTOR card from any Emirates NBD cash
deposit machine or branches.
 Purchases of goods/services using iVESTOR card over the counter in
millions of retail stores worldwide, online sites and mail order, in
addition to reservations and travel.
-EndsAbout Dubai Financial Market: Dubai Financial Market (DFM) was established as a public
institution with its own independent corporate body. DFM operates as a secondary market for
the trading of securities issued by public shareholding companies, bonds issued by the Federal
Government or any of the local Governments and public institutions in the country, units of
investment funds and any other financial instruments, local or foreign, which are accepted by
the market. The DFM commenced operations on March 26, 2000. Following its initial public
offering in November 2006, when DFM offered 1.6 billion shares, representing 20 per cent of its
paid-up capital of AED 8 billion, DFM became a public joint stock company. Following the IPO,
the Government of Dubai retained the remaining 80 per cent of DFM Company through Borse
Dubai Limited. www.dfm.ae
For further information, please contact:
Atef Fathy
Vice President - Public Relations
Dubai Financial Market
Tel: +971 (4) 3055334
Email: afathy@dfm.ae
About Network International: Established in 1994, Network International LLC is the leading
Third party processor in the Gulf and Middle East Region and geared to meet the needs of
Banks, Financial institutions, and large and individual retailers. It is a Principal Member of Visa
International and MasterCard International offering customers the most comprehensive range
of payment products and services in the Gulf and MENA region for both the Issuing and
Acquiring segment of the card payment industry. Offerings include credit and debit card
processing services, ATM management and monitoring, merchant acquiring plus consumer
finance applications. Network International provides consultancy services ranging from planning
and designing, to developing of new card and consumer finance products and services. Network
International is the first independent vendor certified by both Visa & MasterCard for card
payments in the Middle East. It is UAE’s largest payment acquirer for Credit & Debit Cards and
the largest third-party processing vendor which is capable of providing banks, the retail industry
and financial institutions with complete EMV certified solutions as they migrate to EMV Smart
Card technology.
Media contact for Network International:
Sana Al Lababidi
Media Relations Manager
Raee Public Relations
Cell: +971-50-1626565
Email: sana@raeepr.com
+971 4 341 5558
+971 4 341 5559
About Emirates NBD Group: Emirates NBD Group (DFM: Emirates NBD) is the biggest banking
group in the Middle East by assets. At 31st of December, 2009, total assets were AED 281.6
billion and a market share of 20.5%.The Group has a leading retail banking franchise in the UAE,
with 132 branches, 705 ATMs and SDMs. It is a major player in the UAE corporate banking
arena, with a market share of almost a fifth of corporate loans. It also has strong Islamic
banking, investment banking, private banking, asset management and brokerage operations.
The Group has operations in the UAE, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Kingdom
and Jersey (Channel Islands), and representative offices in India, Iran and Singapore. For more
information, please visit: www.emiratesnbd.com
For further information, please contact:
Hassan Al Khuwaildi
Public Relations Officer
Group Business Marketing
Emirates NBD
Tel: 971-4-2092263
Fax: 971-4-2329147
Email: HassanAl@emiratesnbd.com
Parisa Ansarian / Sudha Chandran
ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller
Dubai, UAE
Tel: 971-4-3355969
Fax: 971-4-3356080
Email: p.ansarian@asdaa.com / s.chandran@asdaa.com