- KIRDAR: “WE ARE INSPIRED BY ABU DHABI’S NATION-BUILDING DRIVE”
Bahrain, 20 October, 2009 - His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the
Crown Prince of
Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Force has received the members of the Board of Directors of Investcorp, on the occasion of its meeting in Abu Dhabi. The Board of Directors also attended a lunch hosted by His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
Twelve members of Investcorp’s Board of Directors met in Abu Dhabi this week, as the world-class alternative investment firm moves forward with its strategy to strengthen client relationships and exploit opportunities in the recovering global and regional economy. Investcorp Directors and management also successfully concluded a series of high level meetings in Abu Dhabi with UAE public figures, with current and prospect clients and with business partners, which have strengthened Investcorp’s historic relationships in the Emirate.
Nemir A Kirdar, Investcorp Executive Chairman & CEO, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the welcome we have received from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed and from many political and business leaders here, particularly as Investcorp has such significant historic ties with Abu Dhabi. We are inspired by Abu Dhabi’s nation-building drive, which will result in it performing a leading global role, thanks to the thorough and long-sighted policy planning and the visionary leadership of the late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan and of his sons Sheikh Khalifa and Sheikh Mohammed.
“Critical to Investcorp’s success has been the dynamic interplay between the accumulated Gulf business and government experience of our Board, and the global alternative investments expertise of our staff. It is in challenging times that the true value of a Board becomes clear, and I thank my fellow Directors for the valuable and constructive meeting we have had today.”
During the Board meeting, held at The Emirates Palace, Mr. Kirdar formally presented Investcorp’s new senior management team, including Mohammed Al-Shroogi formerly of Citigroup and now Investcorp’s President, Gulf Business.
Mohammed Al Shroogi, President Gulf Business, said: “Investcorp’s strong turnaround in the second half of 2009 fiscal year has set the stage for our new management team to harness Investcorp’s franchise to grow in the coming years, listening carefully to clients’ investment needs, managing risk well and seizing investment opportunities as economies recover. Investcorp has strong relationships with investors based in Abu Dhabi and looks forward to strengthening those ties and continuing to offer its unique investment platform to those investors.”
The Board heard presentations from each of Investcorp’s five lines of business and from Investcorp’s client-facing placement and relationship management team in the Gulf. In particular, the Board welcomed the strong performance of Investcorp’s hedge funds business, which in the first half of calendar year 2009 generated non-dollar weighted returns of 12.3% as a result of effective risk management, increased market liquidity and tactical portfolio positioning. From Gulf Growth Capital, the Board heard positive news about the performance of the first two investments of the Gulf Opportunity Fund, Redington Gulf and L’azurde. In private equity, the Board was briefed on continuing challenges in Western economies and financial markets, noting that Investcorp’s value enhancement model had resulted in Investcorp’s portfolio companies outperforming the marketplace during these challenging times.
As part of Investcorp’s meeting in Abu Dhabi, Mr. Abdullah Mohammed Mazrui, Investcorp Board Director and Chairman of Al Mazrui Holdings, one of the largest investment firms headquartered in the Emirate, hosted a gala dinner that was attended by many leading local figures and Investcorp clients.
