Qatar bourse says foreign stake onus on companies

Qatar's bourse has done all it needs to secure an upgrade to emerging market status from index compiler MSCI and the onus is now on individual companies to address the main foreign ownership limit issue, its top executive said.
Andre Went also told Reuters in an interview that the exchange, home to the best-performing regional benchmark last year, aims to launch trade in bonds, introduce market makers and increase companies listed on the bourse.
The biggest issue facing investors in the tiny Gulf Arab state, the world's richest country per capita, is the low foreign ownership of Qatari companies, and this prompted a snub from MSCI during its review in December when it retained the country as frontier market.
"At this moment, there's not much the exchange needs to do. It's up to individual companies to take that decision to move forward," Went said. "The current foreign ownership rule stipulates a minimum of 25 per cent, not a maximum. It serves as a floor, rather than a cap. Today, any company can apply for higher foreign ownership limits." Analysts estimate that a promotion to emerging market could result in inflows of up to $1.5 billion.
The bourse increased memberships from 7 to 10 or 11 and issued multiple licenses for international custodians to comply with MSCI regulations. Qatar had eight or nine companies that ticked the boxes for emerging market status as against the MSCI stipulation of at least three companies for qualification, according to Went.
The executive said it was difficult to predict whether an upgrade would happen at MSCI's next review in June, adding that the exchange continued to hold roadshows with companies and investors on the topic. "MSCI wants to be comfortable that there is sufficient room available for foreign investors when it promotes a country from frontier to emerging," he said.
Qatari retail investors comprise 65 to 70 percent of trading on the country's exchange, but 20 to 25 percent of holdings, Went said. "Non-Qatari investors make up only six to seven percent of the bourse's market cap, so there is significant room still available."