HBG Holdings RoundTable : GCChttp://www.hbgholdings.com/roundtable.phpFinancial Equity FeedGulf Firms eye London over local market for listingshttp://www.hbgholdings.com/rssfeed/207.htmlMay 12th, 2011 

Very interesting article on how GCC firms are increasingly listing in UK to access international capital and a higher profile. 

 

]]> GCC M A volumes expected to grow 20 in 2011http://www.hbgholdings.com/rssfeed/202.htmlFebruary 08th, 2011

M&A volumes in the GCC are expected to increase by 20% in 2011 over 2010, with Saudi Arabia set to witness the bulk of activity. This is according to a report titled “2011 Middle East M&A Barometer” released by M Communications. The survey polled 30 investment bankers across the region. Most were of the opinion that midmarket deals will continue to dominate the volumes while financial services sector is expected to see the most M&A activity owing to a need for consolidation. 

 

]]> GCC Education Sector gets attention of PE houseshttp://www.hbgholdings.com/rssfeed/193.htmlSeptember 01st, 2010

A recent report published by Alpen Capital highlights the growing trend of PE investment in the education sector. This is corroborated by evidence from Zawya: more than $242m invested in GCC education sector across 6 deals since 2006 (with a few more undisclosed). PE has helped these companies grow organically as well as through acquisitions. I see a rising trend of PE investment in both education and healthcare in GCC during the medium term. 

 

]]> PE focusing on Small and Mid-Market Companieshttp://www.hbgholdings.com/rssfeed/192.htmlAugust 02nd, 2010

This article by Simeon Kerr on FT last week gets it absolutely right in terms of current dynamics in GCC PE. As leverage disappears from the market, PE firms are increasingly concentrating on small and mid-market companies. The most telling quote in the article is from a PE practitioner: “Before people were making money without thinking, but now it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work”

 

]]> MidEast to favor emerging marketshttp://www.hbgholdings.com/rssfeed/184.htmlJuly 06th, 2010 MENA Private Equity Updatehttp://www.hbgholdings.com/rssfeed/177.htmlMay 27th, 2010 China and the Gulf take steps along a new silk roadhttp://www.hbgholdings.com/rssfeed/176.htmlMay 24th, 2010 Oman budget alerthttp://www.hbgholdings.com/rssfeed/153.htmlMarch 10th, 2010The Government of Oman has announced an expansionary budget of RO7.2bn. The total planned deficit is RO800mn or approximately 3% of GDP. The deficit will largely be financed from current reserves.

]]> Golden Dubai - June 6th 1970http://www.hbgholdings.com/rssfeed/105.htmlDecember 10th, 2009 Dubai Investor concern over debt repayment - Al Jazeerahttp://www.hbgholdings.com/rssfeed/104.htmlDecember 05th, 2009 Include Arabian Gulf in BRIChttp://www.hbgholdings.com/rssfeed/80.htmlSeptember 22nd, 2009The Arabian Gulf countries of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain should be added to the economic group referred to as BRIC's, to create a new group called ABRIC, according to Fawzi Jumean in The National.

]]> The Arab World waking from its sleephttp://www.hbgholdings.com/rssfeed/74.htmlSeptember 21st, 2009The Economist published a report on the Arab World in July 2009. It covered the same old issues of democracy, oil, war and palestine.

]]> Wastewater management in Middle East a multi-billion dollar industryhttp://www.hbgholdings.com/rssfeed/25.htmlAugust 24th, 2009A growing population in the Middle East has intensified the problems of water scarcity and wastewater management in the region. Regional governments are responding by speeding up reforms and involving the private sector which should create significant business opportunities, reported the Saudi Gazette in a special wastewater report.

]]> Central Bank dispute could delay GCC monetary unionhttp://www.hbgholdings.com/rssfeed/17.htmlMay 24th, 2009In a surprise move, Riyadh was selected as the location for the GCC Central Bank headquarters; the Saudi Gazette reported at the regional summit of GCC leaders in Riyadh.

]]> Top GCC Billionaires Net Worth Down 25http://www.hbgholdings.com/rssfeed/7.htmlMay 11th, 2009The wealthiest individuals in the Gulf have lost at least 25% of their wealth in the past one year due to the global economic crisis. The combined wealth of the top 20 billionaires is down from $115.4bn to $82.5bn.

]]> GCC Business Confidence Index slips for the second quarter in a rowhttp://www.hbgholdings.com/rssfeed/9.htmlApril 14th, 2009HSBC monitors business confidence in the GCC region with its Business Confidence Index. The quarterly index polls executives and professionals from across the GCC region and is a good barometer of business attitudes. The latest index, out in March 2009, indicates a worsening of business confidence, albeit at a decreasing rate.

]]> Education in Middle East Challenge or Opportunityhttp://www.hbgholdings.com/rssfeed/19.htmlFebruary 08th, 2009As the oil wealth of the region has increased, investing in human capital and sustainable educational development has become more important than ever for the GCC countries. NCB Capital's report on 'Shaping the Future', calls for increased government spending directed at building education infrastructure and ensuring long-term development far beyond an oil-based strategy.

]]> The Gulf emerging as a new financial services centrehttp://www.hbgholdings.com/rssfeed/6.htmlJuly 14th, 2008Chatham House has published a report on the Gulf Cooperation Council or “GCC”, as it is commonly known, and concluded that the economic bloc is fast emerging as a significant financial services centre. 

The GCC is made up of six oil producing countries including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The GCC is strategically located and has served as a hub for East-West trade for centuries but it was the discovery of oil that has enabled the GCC to modernize and develop at breakneck speed.

]]>