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Kingdom Holding assets increase to $24.65 billion

JEDDAH — The total consolidated assets of the Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) have risen to approximately $24.65 billion (SR92.44 billion).

Following the audit of its 2006 accounts, KHC, Saudi Arabia's No.1 company and one of the world's most successful and diversified international investment groups, said that its portfolio has exceeded many international market indices and has delivered consistent high returns. The average return on investments over the last 16 years is 20 per cent — a staggering figure for long-term investment and one which has outperformed the MSCI and the Standard & Poor's (S&P) global indices by more than 10 per cent over the same period.

"Seeing KHC grow to what it has become has been exciting and rewarding, but all that is history. KHC is always looking to the future, looking to extend its horizons wider and further than ever before, produce even greater success, push our frontiers and deliver a business model that outperforms commercial and philanthropic levels," commented KHC Chairman Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.

"With the continued support of our excellent team, who share my passion for our future, we are looking forward to the next quarter century of success and continued leadership. As I have said before "if I'm going to do something, I do it spectacularly or I don't do it at all," he added.

KHC, founded in 1980, initially focused on construction activities, housing development and educational projects. Today, it is one of the world's most successful and diversified business organisations, highly respected in the field of investment and recognised as an elite player in the Arabian Gulf region and internationally.

KHC's portfolio is predominantly focused on three key growth value-added sectors — banking and financial services, real estate and hotels and hotel management. It also has interests in media, technology and telecommunications, retail, tourism, consumer and healthcare and industrial sectors. The portfolio comprises many famous brands including Citigroup, Samba, Savola, National Industrialisation Company (NIC), Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG), Fairmont Raffles Hotels, Four Seasons Hotels, Movenpick Hotels & Resorts, News Corporation, Time Warner, Songbird Estates (Canary Wharf, London), Apple, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Hewlett Packard, Motorola, Walt Disney Co. and Eastman Kodak. KHC is also active in the area of private equity in Saudi Arabia and developing markets in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

KHC's investment success has been driven largely by its bold, concentrated, perceptive investments in high-quality businesses with undervalued assets and a belief that long-term view is appropriate for most investments. KHC's dramatic growth and turnaround is a validation of its careful evaluation methods and investment decision-making process. It is also a reflection of the depth and expertise of its management team that operates under world-class corporate governance standards.

Moreover, KHC has domestic investments in health, education and social services in order to give something back to Saudi Arabia.

Alwaleed and Kingdom Foundation, the prince's philanthropic and humanitarian aid foundation, is one of the region's most generous supporter of health, humanitarian and educational causes of the Arab world.