Jenny Blinch

Asian GPs turning to the Middle East for funding may need to consider adopting an Islamic fund structure, writes Jenny Blinch.

PEI Asia’s inaugural ranking of the 30 largest private equity firms from the Middle East and the Asia Pacific.

An expected slump in returns and exit activity has done little to shake confidence in long term growth expectations for India, China, the MENA region and Latin America.

The economic crisis has eaten into short-term prospects for private equity in the MENA region, with many GPs putting investment activity on hold. But confidence in the region has merely been dimmed, not extinguished. Jenny Blinch reports.

Editor's Letter 2009-03-01 Jenny Blinch Fundraising figures for 2008 released recently by the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association (EMPEA) show a record-breaking year for the emerging markets (see page 14).<br /> <br /> Top pick was emerging Asia, which represented 60 percent of total fu

For MENA-based private equity funds, fundraising is no picnic, writes Jenny Blinch.

Dubai International Capital and Dubai Group have been placed into the same holding company, while the debt-laden emirate has also combined back office functions for its three real estate entities.

With many global banks cutting back on leveraged finance activities in the Asia-Pacific region, it would be easy to assume the buyout market is grinding to a halt. But in fact, while mega-buyouts are out of the question, the small- and mid-market segments are alive and well – or will be once purchase prices come down. Jenny Blinch reports.

The Switzerland-based firm was targeting $1bn for its second Asia-focused ‘programme’, a series of vehicles which will invest in primary funds and secondary transactions and also partner on direct investments.