SICO launched digital investment account opening using eKey 2.0, Bahrain’s national digital identity framework. Clients can now verify their identity, apply for access to available markets and SICO funds, fund their accounts, and begin investing entirely online.
The service uses biometric authentication and electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) capabilities, strengthening security while accelerating verification. Available initially to eligible clients in Bahrain, the launch supports SICO’s digital infrastructure strategy and the Kingdom’s digital transformation agenda.
SICO acted as lead financial advisor on the acquisition of Truffle Hospitality Holding, the hospitality subsidiary of Dividend Gate Capital (DGC), by Bahrain Family Leisure Company (BFLC) in a 100% share swap valued at approximately BHD 3.7 million.
Following completion, DGC holds a 58% stake in BFLC, and Truffle is now a wholly owned BFLC subsidiary. The transaction creates one of the largest listed hospitality and food & beverage companies on the Bahrain Bourse, with more than 20 brands and over 50 outlets across four GCC countries.
SICO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sunni Waqf Directorate to manage a Shariah-compliant investment portfolio, supporting the Directorate’s efforts to enhance the management and long-term growth of its financial and endowment assets. The MoU was signed by H.E. Shaikh Dr. Rashid bin Mohammed bin Fetais Al Hajeri, Vice Chairman of the Sunni Waqf Council, and Najla Al Shirawi, Group Chief Executive Officer of SICO, in the presence of Ali Marshad, Group Deputy Chief Executive Officer – Buy-Side, alongside senior representatives from both organizations.
The partnership will leverage SICO’s asset management expertise to manage the portfolio in line with agreed investment objectives and risk parameters, with a focus on Shariah-compliant solutions, including Sukuk and fixed-income instruments. The collaboration reflects SICO’s commitment to delivering tailored investment solutions that support sustainable long-term value creation while maintaining robust standards of governance and transparency.
SICO Capital launched the SICO GCC Dividends Fund, its third equity fund and the sixth within SICO Group’s suite. The open-ended fund, domiciled in Saudi Arabia, offers investors exposure to dividend-paying GCC equities, targeting quarterly income and long-term capital growth.
The fund combines quantitative screening with fundamental analysis and offers two unit classes for institutional and individual investors. The launch reflects SICO’s commitment to expanding its investment solutions for investors in Saudi Arabia.
SICO marked the 10th anniversary of the Bahrain Liquidity Fund (BLF), which it has managed since the Fund’s inception in June 2016. Over the past decade, BLF has played an important role in supporting liquidity, market depth, and trading activity on Bahrain Bourse, providing two-way liquidity across listed securities while narrowing bid-ask spreads and improving trading efficiency.
Average daily trading value on Bahrain Bourse has risen 69% since the Fund’s launch, from BHD 638 thousand to BHD 1.08 million, with the Fund accounting for approximately 24% of the Bourse’s total trading activity over the period.
