Download Press release / 1 November 2011

Vontobel Group
Press release / 1 November 2011
Vontobel launches Private Banking activities in Dubai
Leading Swiss private bank will service clients across the MENA Region and
Indian Subcontinent from its new regional hub located in Dubai International
Financial Centre
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: The Vontobel Group is establishing a Private Banking presence in Dubai with
the aim of providing service and advice directly to wealthy private clients in the region. Through a team of
specialists, the independent wealth and asset manager and leading Swiss provider of financial products will
now also make its proven expertise in the field of structured products available to clients in the Middle East, in
addition to its offerings in Switzerland and Germany. Vontobel is thus expanding its wealth and asset
management activities in a dynamic growth market and is broadening its product range to include innovative
services from its Financial Products business. Its Private Banking operations in Dubai will be managed by
Ramzi Charaf, a seasoned private banker who, together with his team, joined Vontobel in summer 2011.
Vontobel's new presence in Dubai will enable private clients in the region to benefit directly from its expertise in
the fields of wealth management, asset management and financial products and to access the Group's firstclass specialist knowhow. Peter Fanconi, Head of Private Banking at the Vontobel Group, views the expansion
of the business into the Middle East as both a logical step forward and a response to the region's undiminished
growth potential. He explained: "Our activities in Dubai are based on a systematic cross-border strategy that is
designed to serve and advise wealthy private clients in international markets in compliance with local
regulations but using our powerful booking platform in Switzerland."
Roger Studer, Head of Investment Banking at the Vontobel Group, added: "Structured products should form an
integral part of the investment portfolios of wealthy private clients. As a leading Swiss issuer, we combine our
recognized expertise in the field of financial products with our competencies as a wealth and asset manager to
create clear added value for our clients. Furthermore, our modular architecture offers benefits such as allowing
third-party providers to structure their own derivatives using our sophisticated 'deritrade' distribution platform
(www.deritrade.com). Vontobel supplies an extensive range of underlyings, as well as a large number of
different product types with diverse risk/return profiles, to enable providers to design structured products.
Vontobel's Private Banking business is Dubai will be managed by Ramzi Charaf, a Swiss and Lebanese citizen
with many years of private banking experience. He joined Vontobel in summer 2011 as Regional Head for the
Private Clients business. Together with his team, he will ensure that Vontobel's first-class reputation as a solid,
independent Swiss wealth and asset manager becomes firmly established in Dubai.
Vontobel will conduct its Private Banking activities and distribute structured products in the region through its
own local bank. Bank Vontobel (Middle East) Ltd. holds a Category 3 licence from DFSA (Dubai Financial
Services Authority) and is domiciled in Liberty House in Dubai.
Vontobel Group
Gotthardstrasse 43
CH-8022 Zurich
Telephone +41 (0)58 283 59 00
Fax
+41 (0)58 283 75 00
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Vontobel Group
The Vontobel Group is an internationally-oriented Swiss private bank. The family-owned bank was first established in
Zurich in 1924. Vontobel specializes in wealth management for private clients and asset management for institutional
investors, as well as in investment banking. As of 30 June 2011, the Group held CHF 129 bn of assets. Around 1,400
employees worldwide provide first-rate, customized services for clients with an international focus. The registered shares
of Vontobel Holding AG are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. The Vontobel families and the Vontobel Foundation hold
the majority of shares and votes in the company. www.vontobel.com
Media Relations
Switzerland:
Dubai (Private Banking): Ramzi Charaf
Dubai (Investment Banking):
Vontobel Group
Gotthardstrasse 43
CH-8022 Zurich
Reto Giudicetti +41 (0)58 283 61 63
+971 4 703 85 70
Remigio Luongo
+971 4 703 85 55
Telephone +41 (0)58 283 59 00
Fax
+41 (0)58 283 75 00