Investing in volatile financial markets: Abu Dhabi to host global investors, fund managers, and business leaders at AVCJ’s 3rd Annual Middle East Private Equity and Venture Conference
The world’s stock markets are recovering from their earlier slump, but global credit markets have yet to thaw. Oil prices remain high, but other commodities are well off their peaks. How can GCC investors make sense of volatile financial markets—and, profit from the opportunities they present? And how can they better understand the role that private equity—a word frequently used but rarely explained—plays in achieving higher returns in the next 3-5 years?
Abu Dhabi will host the GCC’s top financial leaders and international experts at the world-renowned AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Forum. The forum, taking place on April 20-22, at Abu Dhabi’s iconic Emirates Palace, will include a series of keynote addresses and high-level panel discussions about the region’s indigenous private equity & venture capital market. Pressing world issues such as the US economy, the US dollar, the frailty of global financial services, the emergence of sovereign wealth funds and hedge funds and the impact of climate change will backdrop the discussions.
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority will be presenting at the forum, as will His Excellency Hussain Al Nowais, Member of the Board of the Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development (ADCED), and Chairman of Waha Capital, along with a number of other keynote private equity and investment professionals from the GCC and abroad. The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry are actively supporting the forum, which is considered a landmark summit for the development of the GCC region’s own private equity and venture capital community.
Among others speaking at the conference are: Wilbur Ross, Chairman and CEO, W.L. Ross & Co, one of the world’s experts in corporate consolidation and restructuring; Howard Marks, Chairman Oaktree Capital Management, a world leading authority in the alternative investment space, and Victor Chu, Chairman, First Eastern Investment Group, one of the pioneer investors in China. Top GCC financial leaders and investors speaking at the conference include Dr. Karim El Solh, CEO, Gulf Capital, Khaled Al Muhairy, CEO, Evolvence Capital, Muhammad Al Agil, Chairman, Jarir Group, Abdulmohsen Al Touq, General Manager, Al Touq Company; Georges Sudarskis, Senior Investment Controller, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority; and Adnan Soufi, Managing Director, SEDCO. Joe Bae, Partner, KKR; Nagi Hamiyeh, Managing Director, Temasek; and Ramzi Gedeon, Managing Director of TPG Capital, will also discuss the role and activity of large international firms in the region.
AVCJ expects over 300 senior delegates at the conference, which will also feature many social events, including a Monday night Gala Dinner at the Emirates Palace.
Forum topics include.
• Private equity as catalyst to growth in the Middle East
• Sovereign wealth funds and their growing role in global markets
• Family offices in the Middle East
• Private equity opportunities in energy and real estate
• Private equity and infrastructure investment in Saudi Arabia
• Growth capital and buyouts in the Middle East
• Venture capital in the Middle East
• Private equity across China, India and the Middle East. ‘CHIME’
• A look at international institutional investor interest in the Middle East
Detailed conference and registration details can be found at: www.avcjmiddleeast.com
