The unrelenting rise of sovereign wealth and a promising outlook for MENA private equity funds were among the key talking points at PEI’s Middle East Private Equity Forum in Dubai.
The investment bank is quietly drawing together professionals from within the firm to raise alternative investment funds for external clients.
CVC, led by chairman Michael Smith, has raised Europe’s largest-ever private equity fund in spite of credit market problems making larger buyouts difficult to achieve.
Chicago-based Baird has had a China team since 2003 to assist its US portfolio companies, but the firm has now added has seven professionals who will invest in small, high-growth Chinese companies.
The two Middle Eastern firms and regional bank Dubai Islamic Bank have raised a Shariah-compliant vehicle that will invest alongside Global Investment House’s planned $1.5 billion global fund.
The energy-focussed US firm has surpassed the target for its ninth buyout fund by $1 billion and launched a London office to support its investment activities.
The Middle Eastern firm is rolling out its regional presence with a new vehicle to target deals in Saudi Arabia. It is building a team now.
The Egyptian bank’s private equity arm has scaled up its fund size after making an internal rate of return of more than 70 percent over two years on realised investments from its previous fund.
Hollywood agency William Morris has partnered with venture capital firms Accel and Venrock to invest in web-based companies.
The institutional investor has approved fresh commitments to Bridgepoint, Carlyle and Platinum vehicles, the latter marking a new relationship for the trust fund council.