Middle East

GIP appoints oil and gas specialist

Joseph Blum, a senior project finance lawyer with substantial experience of advising oil and gas companies, has joined Global Infrastructure Partners as private equity’s interest in the sector shows no sign of drying up.

Investcorp buys €850m roofing company(2)

A consortium of five companies has sold Icopal to Bahrain-based buyout firm Investcorp. The deal comes three months after the buyout firm began targeting US and European investors for a €1 billion private equity fund.

Bain strikes twice in musical, nautical deals

Bain Capital is set to acquire US retailer Guitar Center for $2.1 billion. Meanwhile, the firm’s German arm has agreed to purchase yacht manufacturer Bavaria Yachtbau.

Three Delta ups stake in Sainsbury’s to 25%

The investment vehicle of Qatari property investment fund Three Delta has upped its stake in Sainsburys. The FTSE 100 listed UK supermarket’s shares leapt by nearly 5 percent, as speculation suggested a takeover bid was forthcoming.

Report predicts $25bn PE industry in the Gulf(2)

The prospects for private equity in the Middle East look good, as a report suggests that the asset class can become a key economic driver in the region in the coming years.

DIFC raises record $1.25 billion Islamic finance bond(2)

DIFC, the Dubai government-backed investment group which is a big investor in private equity, has launched a record-sized Islamic finance bond, with the majority of its investors coming from outside the MENA region.

Investcorp buys €850m roofing company

A consortium of five companies has sold Icopal to Bahrain-based buyout firm Investcorp. The deal comes three months after the buyout firm began targeting US and European investors for a €1 billion private equity fund.

DIFC raises record $1.25 billion Islamic finance bond

DIFC, the Dubai government-backed investment group which is a big investor in private equity, has launched a record-sized Islamic finance bond, with the majority of its investors coming from outside the MENA region.

Benchmark Europe spins out of US parent(3)

US venture firm Benchmark Capital’s European division is spinning out of its parent. The new firm, which has been operating largely independently for some time, will be called Balderton Capital.

Report predicts $25bn PE industry in the Gulf

The prospects for private equity in the Middle East look good, as a report suggests that the asset class can become a key economic driver in the region in the coming years.