Dubai - Abraaj CapitalAbraaj Capital today announced four senior appointments that will further strengthen the management of the premier investment firm specialising in private equity investment in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region.

In line with the organic growth and ongoing expansion of Abraaj CapitalAbraaj Capital, which currently employs more than 150 professionals, Pervez Akhtar, Hisham Ahmed Ashour, Ashish Dave and Matteo Stefanel have been appointed Executive Directors at the firm, collectively providing over 55 years of specialised industry experience.

"On behalf of Abraaj CapitalAbraaj Capital, it gives me immense pleasure to welcome these four new Executive Directors onboard," said Arif Naqvi, Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer, Abraaj CapitalAbraaj Capital. "We have worked with each one of them on several key transactions in the past, and are convinced that their vast experience and skills will further strengthen our ability to execute our strategic objectives for the ultimate benefit of our investors.

"Pervez, Hisham, Ashish and Matteo are recognised leaders in their own fields, and that they have joined our management team is testimony to the confidence we all share in the future of the private equity industry in the MENASA region," he added.

Pervez Akhtar will be joining the AbraajAbraaj investment management team from Allen & Overy LLP, where he has been serving as a Partner and head of the corporate practice. He brings over 15 years of extensive experience in private equity, corporate and corporate finance work. He has advised leading international clients, including FTSE 100 companies, NYSE/NASDAQ-listed corporates, and sovereign wealth funds.

Hisham Ahmed Ashour joins the portfolio management team at Abraaj CapitalAbraaj Capital. He was previously a partner and the regional practice leader for Alvarez & Marsal in the Middle East, Africa and Turkey, which specialises in corporate turnaround and restructurings, performance improvement and transactional advisory service. He brings with him 19 years of international operational performance improvement and turnaround experience spread across Europe and the Middle East across different sectors and industries.

Prior to joining the finance team at AbraajAbraaj, Ashish Dave worked as a Partner with KPMG based out of Dubai, where he led the firm's private equity advisory business for the Middle East and South Asia. He brings with him over 11 years of private equity experience advising clients within and outside the region.

Matteo Stefanel brings over 12 years of private equity and investment banking experience to the investment team at AbraajAbraaj, which he developed through more than 60 M&A transactions in Europe, the US and Middle East. Prior to joining AbraajAbraaj, Matteo Stefanel was with Marfin Investment Group where he was the Chairman of the Recommending Investment Committee, heading all transaction execution. Previously, he also served as Managing Director in the Financial Institutions Group at Deutsche Bank.

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About Abraaj CapitalAbraaj Capital:
Based in Dubai, Abraaj CapitalAbraaj Capital is the premier investment firm specialising in private equity investment in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region. The management team has brought together some of the most compelling and successful transactions in the history of leveraged acquisitions across the region.

With US$5 billion of assets currently under management, AbraajAbraaj has pioneered institutionalizing private equity practice in the region and is setting trends and benchmarks for others to follow.

Winner of industry awards including 'Middle Eastern Private Equity Firm of the Year' from Private Equity International (2005, 2006 & 2007), the Banker Middle East Award for 'Best Private Equity House' in 2006 and for 'Outstanding Contribution to Financial Services' in 2007 and 'Best Private Equity House' at the World Private Equity Awards, MENA in 2007. Arabian Business recognized AbraajAbraaj among the 50 Most Admired Companies in the GCC in 2007. AbraajAbraaj is also the first pure private equity firm to be registered by the Dubai Financial Services Authority to operate out of the Dubai International Financial Centre.

Apart from managing its five private equity funds, Abraaj CapitalAbraaj Capital Holdings Limited (ACHL) itself is extremely well capitalized, with an issued share capital of US$1 billion. Its 155 professionals come from 28 nationalities and achieve a coverage that spans the MENASA region. For more information please visit www.abraaj.com.

For more information, please contact:
Nicholas Nesson
ASDA'A Public Relations
Dubai, UAE
Tel: 971-4-3355969
Fax: 971-4-3356080
E-mail: n.nesson@asdaa.com

Nitin Nambiar
ASDA'A Public Relations
Dubai, UAE
Tel: 971-4-3355969
Fax: 971-4-3356080
Email: n.nambiar@asdaa.com

James Cordahi
AbraajAbraaj Capital
Tel: 971-4-3191500
Fax: 971-4-3191600
Email: James.Cordahi@abraaj.com

Jessica Karia
AbraajAbraaj Capital
Tel: 971-4-3191500
Fax: 971-4-3191600
Email: Jessica.Karia@abraaj.com

© Press Release 2008 from ASDA'A Public Relations

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