The 11th MENA Private Equity & Venture Capital report was launched on 15 June 2017, recording the highest number of transaction announcements in MENA since 2008. 244 transactions were announced in 2016, with the UAE leading investments by value and volume, and with Lebanon following second by volume.
The report noted a marked divergence between trends in private equity and venture capital, as venture capital investment levels increased the overall number of deals, but a decline in the total value of investments reduced the number of higher value private equity transactions.
Dr. Helmut M. Schuehsler, CEO of TVM Capital Healthcare, spoke at the launch of the report, which was developed by the MENA Private Equity Association in partnership with Deloitte Corporate Finance Limited (Deloitte) and Zawya – Thomson Reuters, and sponsored by Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Morgan Lewis.
Dr. Schuehsler commented: “This report demonstrates that a truly grass roots entrepreneurial movement is not only benefitted from governmental support in some countries, but is also attracting increasing amounts of venture capital. I firmly believe that this development will make the investment sector more active and vibrant, provides better diversification for investors, and will ultimately create exciting new companies in the region.”
Dr. Schuehsler is a member of the Steering Committee for the MENA Private Equity Association, a non-profit organisation supporting the development of the private equity and venture capital industry in the Middle East and North Africa.