History

Gefinor has a long tradition of successful entrepreneurial investing in the Middle East, Europe and the United States.

Gefinor was founded in 1960 in Beirut during the city's heyday as the commercial and financial center of the Middle East. In 1963, Gefinor obtained a Swiss finance company licence and established an office in Geneva to manage the assets of its shareholders and clients who wished to diversify internationally. Gefinor was the first company in the Middle East to offer sophisticated international investment management and advisory services.

Gefinor was based in Beirut until the mid-1970's, investing heavily in the local economy, creating a number of financial companies and establishing the region's first open-ended mutual fund. In addition, Gefinor sponsored several direct investment, and real estate development projects, including the Gefinor Center, which still dominates Beirut's business district.

In 1975, the company moved its base of operations to Europe and further developed its international investment activities. In 1986, Gefinor listed its shares on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and established a presence in the United States by opening its New York office.