Opalesque Industry Update - Shareholders of Abraaj Capital, the largest private equity group in the MENASA region, today announced the launch of MENASA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT Limited (MCM), an independent asset management house specializing in identifying investment opportunities in the rapidly growing economies of the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia - the “MENASA” region. Based in Dubai, MCM Chief Executive Officer, Ahmed Nashaat, leads a dedicated team of 12 investment professionals with extensive financial-services experience in the region and globally. Most team members were formerly investment professionals in the public-markets division of Abraaj Capital. Prior to joining MCM, Ahmed was the Middle East regional director for the Permal Group. Ahmed Nashaat, Chief Executive of MCM, commented: “We believe the combination of our team’s pedigree, our depth of experience as investment managers in the MENASA region and our strong risk management, compliance and operational infrastructure provides us with a competitive advantage. MCM was founded by the same shareholder base as Abraaj Capital but the businesses are completely separate.” Menasa Capital Management currently manages one multi-strategy fund, as well as a number of segregated accounts. MCM’s flagship multi strategy fund was launched in the third quarter of 2009 and invests in both public equity and fixed-income related instruments in the MENASA region. The group’s current regional focus includes Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Turkey and the UAE and will also look at opportunities on a selective and opportunistic basis in Algeria, Bahrain, Lebanon, Libya, India, Iraq and Pakistan. MCM currently has $350 million in assets under management. MCM and Abraaj Capital Limited are regulated and authorised by the Dubai Financial Services Authority. Commenting on investment opportunities in the MENASA region, Ahmed Nashaat said: “MENASA is one the fastest growing regions after China and India. Its growth is driven by an expanding population, economic reform and hydrocarbon producing economies. The growing public equity and debt markets of the MENASA region offer investors potentially high investment returns and the different market drivers offer global asset allocators potentially good diversification benefits.” Founder and Group CEO of Abraaj Capital, Arif Naqvi said: “We are very excited about the launch of MCM and the opportunities it offers investors looking to invest in the fixed income and equity markets in the MENASA region. In compliance with global best-practices for corporate governance, MCM is structured as a completely independent entity from Abraaj Group, of which Abraaj Capital is a part.” (press release) Corporate Social Responsibility is an important part of MCM. The firm intends to contribute 5 per cent of its revenue from management fees to worthy causes in the MENASA region through a dedicated charitable program. www.menasacapital.com
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Industry Updates
Abraaj Capital shareholders launch Menasa Capital Management, to focus on MENASA region
Monday, October 25, 2010
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