Corporate
Including M&A, Private Equity, Funds and Venture Capital
There are no certainties when conducting a transaction. But having experience on your side definitely sets you up for success. Our team has an outstanding record of delivery and has handled some of the largest and most complex transactions in the market.
From set-up and early-stage funding to larger investments like private equity, we act on buy-side and sell-side deals of all shapes and sizes. Whether it's an IPO, public takeover or private M&A, national or international, our extensive commercial experience will help make your transaction a success.
Our work across M&A, private equity, venture capital and capital markets lets us identify potential challenges before they become issues, de-risk transactions and get you the best outcome possible.
We solve complicated issues and make your transaction a seamless experience.
Services
Our services
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M&A
Mergers and Acquisitions
Few law firms offer the holistic advice we provide for transformative and game-changing M&A transactions. We have acted on significant public and private M&A both regionally and internationally, on deals of all sizes across a range of sectors.
We are seasoned professionals who regularly work with key players in M&A across a wide range of industries. Our style reflects our adaptability to the differing dynamics that arise in transactions. We have one of, if not the, market-leading platforms for cross-jurisdictional M&A and have a particular expertise in acting for venture-backed businesses.
Advising some of the world's most innovative businesses means we're widely recognized for our deep expertise in technology, media and communications, life sciences and healthcare, real estate and energy, logistics and transport, consumer and retail, and private wealth.
We also have a strong background in cross-border M&A, capital markets and corporate restructuring for clients who are reshaping more traditional sectors such as telecommunications, financial services, consumer and industrials.
Our clients like our pragmatic approach. We seek to add value at each stage of a transaction with a high degree of efficiency while ensuring quality is maintained. We are always available to update you on progress so that you are confident we're making a difference to your business.
Experience
Advised APCO Worldwide, an independent global public affairs and strategic communications consultancy with headquarters in the US and operations in the UAE, on the acquisition of Dubai-based NGC International Advisory, a multinational agency based in Dubai specializing in public policy and government affairs.
Advised Nuwa Capital on the structuring and establishment of the NuwaGrowth Fund LP under the laws of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
Advised Assila Investments, a Saudi family investment platform on its sale of Assila, a Luxury Collection Hotel, located in Jeddah.
Advised Arab Jordan Investment Bank (AJIB), on its acquisition of Standard Chartered’s corporate, commercial, and institutional banking, consumer lending, and private banking businesses in Jordan. Arab Jordan Investment Bank is one of Jordan’s leading universal banks.
Advised Pharos Holding Company on the sale of 100% of its brokerage arm, Pharos Securities, to Al Ahly Capital Holding Company, the investment arm of the National Bank of Egypt.
Advised GEMS and EFG Hermes on the acquisition of 100% of Hayah International Academy, which has been added to the portfolio of internal schools of the Egypt Education Fund, an education investment platform backed by GEMS, EFG Hermes, and the Sovereign Fund of Egypt.
Advised Lorax Capital Partners on its acquisition of a significant minority stake in Dsquares, an end-to-end loyalty and rewards solutions provider serving over 45 local and international clients that have more than 100 million customers.
Advised Eventtus, an engagement events platform on its ‘acquihire’ acquisition by US-based enterprise events platform Bevy for an undisclosed sum.
Advised a European fund on its acquisition of the Address Sky View Hotel in Downtown Dubai from Emaar Properties which was structured as an acquisition of the property holding company for USD204 million.
Advised Al Mulla Group on its acquisition of the ‘Holiday Inn Express’ chain in Dubai from Dubai International Capital and Ishraq Hospitality.
Advised the founder of PH Real Estate on the disposal of his 50% stake in the business to new international owners.
Advised Lone Star Funds on the acquisition of SPX Flow, Inc. by way of a merger with a wholly owned subsidiary affiliate entity for an aggregate consideration of USD3.8 billion.
Advised EII Capital, an Emaar affiliate, on the divestment of its shares (constituting 49%) in AASA Group to CP Holding Limited.
Private Equity
Our Private Equity team is a prominent force in mid-market leveraged cross-border transactions.
We act for a large number of private equity sponsors, investee companies, management teams and debt providers, and work across a range of industries and deal sizes. Our team is complemented by all the specialist advisory services required for complex buy-out transactions, including leveraged finance experts.
With a team of dedicated Private Equity partners supported by associates, we have the resources and expertise needed to deliver transactions quickly, commercially and to the highest standards.
We are highly respected in the private equity market as seasoned, commercially minded and technically excellent professionals. We focus on creating successful outcomes for our clients, working constructively with all parties. We never lose sight of our clients’ commercial goals, while managing the risk profile of each transaction to protect their interests.
With offices around the world, we are well placed to offer the holistic advice needed for transformative and game-changing investments. We’re proud of our full-service capability. We can support clients on their investment strategies and opportunities from the early investment stages, on portfolio matters, throughout the investment hold period and ultimately working to achieve successful exits.
Services
Our services
Equity arrangements (including shareholders agreements, articles of association and related matters)
Buy-ins and buy-outs
Structured PE funds
Acquisition finance
Tax planning
Leveraged transactions
Public to private transactions
Exit strategies
Trade sales or secondary buy-outs
Cross-border structurings for setting up new funds and investment vehicles
Experience
Advised Tanmiya Capital Ventures on the acquisition of a minority stake in Misr Food Investment, a leading provider of food additives to some of the top food and beverage companies in Egypt.
Advised the Carlyle Group on its acquisition of a significant minority stake in Jordanian food processing company Al Nabil Food Industries Company Ltd.
Advised Wadi Degla Holding on the sale of a majority stake in Gourmet, one of Egypt's leading food retailing and food manufacturing companies, to B Investments, an Egypt-based private equity firm.
Advised the founders of Misr Hytech Seed International, a leading developer and producer of proprietary agricultural seeds in Egypt, and one of the Middle East and Africa's largest independent seed companies, on the sale of their stake in Misr Hytech to Helios Investment Partners and the Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund.
Advised GEMS and EFG Hermes on the acquisition of 100% of Hayah International Academy, which has been added to the portfolio of internal schools of the Egypt Education Fund, an education investment platform backed by GEMS, EFG Hermes, and the Sovereign Fund of Egypt.
Advised Ell Capital, an Emaar affiliate, on the divestment of its shares (constituting 49%) in AASA Middle East Contracting Company LLC to CP Holding Limited.
Represented Priora Management Holdings in its acquisition of Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa, the leading mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) of mobile telephony services in the MENA region with operations in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait.
Advised Lorax Capital Partners on its acquisition of a significant minority stake in Dsquares, an end-to-end loyalty and rewards solutions provider serving over 45 local and international clients and with a reach of more than 100 million customers.
Advised Ezdehar Management on the acquisition of a significant minority stake in Egyptian solvent and resin manufacturer Eagle Chemicals from 8 Miles.
Advised the management team of Iglo Foods Group on the exit by Permira to Nomad Foods.
Advised Apparel Group, the owner of the Tim Hortons franchise comprising more than 130 outlets across the MENA region, on the divestment of a significant minority stake to Gateway Partners, a DIFC-based private equity firm.
Advised Lone Star Funds on the acquisition of SPX Flow, Inc. by way of a merger with a wholly owned subsidiary affiliate entity for an aggregate consideration of USD3.8 billion.
Venture Capital
Our Venture Capital team is recognized as one of the strongest globally, advising our clients across all stages of their life cycle from 'cradle to liquidity’.
We have one of the Middle East's most well-respected Venture Capital and Technology Transactions teams and can provide a comprehensive suite of value-added services directly relevant to emerging companies and the venture capital ecosystem.
Our lawyers are accomplished corporate finance practitioners with deep experience in the entire financing cycle of companies from ideation to exit. Our experience runs from pre-commercialization seed financing, through early-stage venture financing, later-stage growth financing and scale-building through to exits whether via M&A or IPOs.
Whether representing founders or investors, our experience in venture financing extends to the full range of instruments, whether deferred/convertible equity or priced equity alphabet rounds from early-stage seed, series A through to later priced growth rounds. Our experts also cover venture debt transactions either as stand-alone capital raising transactions or as part of a layered financing.
On the investments side, a key USP is the exceptional experience within our team of undertaking venture financing transactions in the US, Europe, Asia, UK and across the MENA region. We are familiar with all forms of documentation ranging from NVCA to BVCA models as well as the regionalized equivalents and more bespoke approaches. We understand the commonalities and the differences in the ways that deals are done on either side of the Atlantic.
A profound understanding of entrepreneurship, technology, innovation, and business-building lies at the heart of what we do.
Services
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Experience
Advised Oryx Fund, a MENA-focused investment fund run by UK-based Hambro Perks, on its convertible pre-seed financing of Saudi-based proptech company Ejari, along with Sanabil 500 MENA Seed Accelerator.
Advised Shukur, a UAE-based F&B start-up on its pre-seed convertible financing from numerous local family offices.
Advised Oryx Fund, a MENA-focused investment fund run by UK-based Hambro Perks, on its convertible pre-seed financing of the UAE-based healthtech Onex, along with Techstars, HVB, PAX, and US-based Aumet.
Advised Democrance on its series A priced equity round led by Weed Ventures, Aramco's venture capital fund designed to support the start-up ecosystem.
Advised Shorooq Partners on its seed priced equity investment in the Food Lab, a cloud kitchen operating in Egypt with a holding company in the Netherlands.
Advised Shorooq Partners on its seed priced equity investment in Dxwand, the market-leading conversational Al platform for businesses to build Arabic slang or dialects chatbots, operating in Egypt and the UAE with a holding company in the State of Delaware.
Advised Oryx Fund, a MENA-focused investment fund run by UK-based Hambro Perks, on its convertible seed financing of Saudi Arabia-based foodtech start-up Barakah, along with 500 Global, +VC, KAUST Innovation Ventures and Annex Investments.
Advised Sylndr, an Egypt-based, automotive-focused e-commerce marketplace, on its pre-series A bridge financing round led by Algebra Ventures.
Advised Global Ventures on its pre-series A priced equity investment in Ogram, a UAE-based gig economy solutions platform.
Advised Oryx Fund, a MENA-focused investment fund run by UK-based Hambro Perks, on its convertible pre-seed financing of fintech Fundbot, along with MEVP, Plus VC and Aditum Ventures.
Funds
We act for a range of private equity, venture capital and hedge fund sponsors and managers in the MENA region and globally. We have substantial experience of funds formation, carry structures and investment work, acting for both managers and investors in respect of fund launches and investments.
PE and VC funds, and secondary transactions
We represent the full range of private equity, venture capital and secondaries funds, as well as hybrid funds. Our capabilities cover all phases of a fund’s life cycle including the structuring and organization of upper-tier management entities, the structuring, marketing and maintenance of funds, downstream transactions, fund restructurings, exits and wind-downs.
Hedge funds
Members of the team have advised in relation to hedge funds and other offshore fund structures since the early 1990s and have an established reputation among other service providers in the sector such as prime brokers, brokers, administrators and custodians, as well as overseas legal counsel.
Property funds
We have a very active Real Estate Funds practice that works closely with the firm’s large Real Estate practice and established Hotels group. We work closely with the promoters and intended asset managers to structure funds for both single purpose and multiple asset projects.
Digital asset funds
We have experience in structuring digital assets funds, domiciled offshore and onshore, including cryptocurrency funds, token funds and funds investing in companies utilizing blockchain technology.
Islamic funds
We have specialist expertise in advising on Sharia-compliant private equity, venture capital and real estate funds. We have acted on a number of private equity and investment funds including those involved with Sharia-compliant hotels and also property development both in the UK and internationally.
Regulatory aspects
We have a recognized and dedicated financial services regulatory capability. Our financial services lawyers are also active members of the Investment Funds team and advise on regulatory matters affecting the structure, documentation, and marketing of funds, as well as DIFC DFSA, ADGM FSRA, and UK FCA authorization and compliance matters for fund managers, investment managers and advisors.
Services
Our services
Financial services regulatory PE and VC funds Hedge funds Property funds Secondary transactions Investment trusts Islamic funds
Experience
Advised Shorooq Partners in relation to the formation of its first two venture capital funds (equity and debt funds) domiciled in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).
Advised several UAE-based managers in relation to the formation of ADGM and Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) domiciled venture capital and private equity funds, including one of the MENA region's leading VC firms, Anamcara Capital, High Water Venture Partners and Synergy Management (DIFC) Limited.
Acted for Accelero Capital Investment Management in relation to the formation of its A15 Fund LP and ACDC Fund LP, domiciled in the Cayman Islands.
Advised Abu Dhabi Financial Group (now SHUAA Capital) in relation to the first MENA PE secondaries fund and structuring of numerous investments vehicles including for One Palace Street, Dubai Marina 101 and New Scotland Yard.
Advised Nuwa Capital in relation to the launch of the Nuwa Growth Fund I LP.
Advised Iceberg Capital, an ADGM fund manager, in relation to the launch of VC and hedge funds.
Advised Mayar Capital in respect on the launch of its first hedge fund in the Cayman Islands and the subsequent re-domiciliation of the fund to Ireland as a UCIT.
Advised EFG Hermes in relation to the operations of their Bermuda domiciled mutual funds.
Senior Counsel*, Corporate
Dubai | UAE
D +971 4 309 1000
*Consultant admitted to practice in England, Wales and Quebec (Canada) only
