Middle East Private Equity

Foursan Group, a Middle Eastern private equity firm, has invested in three new firms, Shamsuna Power, Nafith Logistics and the National Bank of Iraq.

With these investments, Foursan's portfolio includes six companies operating throughout the MENA region across diversified sectors including financial services; food manufacturing and processing; hospitality and restaurants; logistics; and renewable energy.

Foursan Group is listed in the Middle East Investors Directory with the code OR24.

More details follows

An unnamed Middle East investor has approached NBA commissioner last month to buy one of four NBA franchises - Financial Times is reporting.

No deal has been reached so far, but the NBA commissioner David Stern says the takeover of some of the 30 NBA franchises by overseas investors is inevitable. (It is estimated that LA Lakers and the New York Knicks are worth more than $1 billion, and the NBA is expected to generate $5.5 billion in revenues this season.)

To see listing and contact emails of investors from the Middle East, check our Middle East Investors Directory

More details from Financial Times here.

The issue of food security is bringing many Middle East investors to Canada, US and Mexico to buy farmland.

In an interesting article The Western Producer, an Alberta publication, is reporting the flow of Middle East investors to Alberta, Canada for farmland. Buyers are being advised to work with large Canadian farmers with knowledge of Canadian farming rather than buying large tracts of land and farming it with non-Canadian help.
 The buyers are looking at land in Canada, the United States and Mexico - the publication is reporting.

To see listing and contact emails of investors from the Middle East, check our Middle East Investors Directory

More details follows from The Western Producer

We love the international appetite of investors from the Middle East: after the collapse of former carrier of Hungary, Malev in 2012, now a new airline called Solyom is being formed with the help of two major investment firms from Oman and UAE.

The company mentions it all started "when an e-mail was sent to a potential investor on February 6, 2012". Now Solyom mentions "a tourism enterprise registered in Oman" and "a well-capitalized investor with extensive international relations registered in Dubai" as its two strategic investors. It is planning to fly to 31 destinations in 2013, 51 destinations in 2014, and 96 destinations by 2017.

To see listing and contact emails of investment firms from the Middle East check our Middle East Investors Directory.

More details follows:

Investcorp, a Bahrain-based investment firm, acquired Tyrrells, a UK manufacturer of premium crisps and snacks, for $140 million.

Founded in 2002, Tyrrells is recognized for its hand cooked potato and vegetable crisps as well as a range of premium snacks. The company employs 270 people and generates in excess of £100 million in retail sales value.

Investcorp is listed in the Middle East Investors Directory with the code OR30.

More details follows

MENA Infrastructure Fund, the Dubai-based private equity fund sponsored by HSBC, Waha Capital and Fajr Capital, has acquired 20% of Sohar Power Company.

The $300 million MENA Infrastructure Fund LP was launched in 2007. The Sohar Power acquisition marks the fund’s fourth major investment, having previously acquired stakes in Alexandria International Container Terminals in Egypt, United Power Company in Oman and Hajr Electricity Production Company in Saudi Arabia.

To see a list of investors from the Middle East similar to MENA Infrastructure Fund, check our Middle East Investors Directory.

More details follows:

Sedco, a Saudi private equity firm, has invested $45 million in 10 global companies in the past months - Reuters is reporting.

Sedco’s private equity fund which is launched a year ago has raised $113 million of which 40 percent is invested in 10 companies globally. Sedco has also invested globally in real estate and currently eyes Asian markets as well. The two-year old Jeddah-based firm manages about $3 billion in assets.

Sedco is listed in the Middle East Investors Directory with the code ORP18.

More details follows from Reuters

Investcorp, a Bahrain-based investment firm, acquired Scandinavia's luxury retailer Georg Jensen for $140 million.

With a history that spans over 100 years, Georg Jensen is a global luxury brand that designs, manufactures and distributes jewellery, watches, fine silverware and homeware.

Investcorp is listed in the Middle East Investors Directory with the code OR30.

More details follows