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The American university in cairo and abraaj capital announce the endowment of the "Abraaj capital professorship in private equity"

May 23 2012, Cairo, Egypt
The American University in Cairo (AUC) and Abraaj Capital , a leading private equity firm investing in global growth markets, today announced the creation of the " Abraaj Capital Professorship in Private Equity" at the School of Business at AUC .

" Abraaj Capital is one of the largest private equity firms in growth markets worldwide and we are delighted with its commitment to our business curriculum. This professorship enables AUC to attract a leading international scholar who will create innovative educational and research opportunities for our students seeking careers in the financial industry," said Lisa Anderson, University President.

"Having worked closely with the investment community in Egypt for a number of years, we are delighted to be able to endow the Abraaj Capital Professorship in Private Equity at one of the leading universities in the country. We are firmly committed to nurturing local talent in all the markets in which we operate and I am confident that the students will benefit enormously from the program," said Mustafa Abdel-Wadood, Chief Executive Officer of Abraaj Capital Limited, and a member of the AUC Business School Advisory Board.

The Abraaj Capital Professorship will be a cornerstone of the newly introduced Master of Science in Finance program that will be launched in Fall 2012. As part of the professorship, an endowment fund will be created to further strengthen academic research activities in the field of private equity, venture capital and investment management.

Professorships honor the best teacher scholars and make it possible for AUC to recruit and retain outstanding teachers and researchers. The presence of esteemed faculty members also helps attract the best students to the university, adding to an already thriving academic climate.

"The academic excellence of The American University in Cairo allied with the deep practical knowledge of Abraaj Capital will create an unparalleled learning experience for students and make a major contribution towards the development of the private equity industry in Egypt. We are particularly pleased that by participating in regular guest lectures, Abraaj executives will remain actively involved with the program throughout the academic year," said Ahmed Badreldin, Senior Partner, Abraaj Capital .

"Through Abraaj Capital 's generous gift, AUC 's School of Business will continue to realize its mission as a premier education institution focused on preparing future business leaders and entrepreneurs to make a difference. The newly introduced endowed professorship in private equity will undoubtedly contribute to the growing resources and facilities made available for the concentration in finance," said Sherif Kamel, Dean of the School of Business.

This initiative serves as a model of corporate and academic cooperation to better serve the communities, in addition to its significant impact, not only on AUC , but also on the field of finance in Egypt and the region.
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About The American University in Cairo
The American University in Cairo (AUC) was founded in 1919 and is a major contributor to the social, political and cultural life of the Arab Region. It is a vital bridge between East and West, linking Egypt and the region to the world through scholarly research, partnerships with academic and research institutions, and study abroad programs. An independent, nonprofit, apolitical, non-sectarian and equal opportunity institution, AUC is fully accredited in Egypt and the United States. For more information about the university news and events follow us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/aucegypt and Twitter @AUC_Newsroom

About Abraaj Capital
The Abraaj Capital group is a leading private equity manager investing in growth markets. Since inception in 2002, the group has raised over US$ 7 billion and distributed in excess of US$ 3 billion to investors. With over US$ 6 billion in assets under management, the group has helped accelerate and facilitate the growth of more than 50 companies in 15 countries in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region in sectors as diverse as healthcare, education, energy, aviation and logistics.

Employing over 95 investment professionals, the group is headquartered in Dubai and has a presence in Algiers, Amman, Beirut, Cairo, Casablanca, Istanbul, Karachi, London, Mumbai, Ramallah, Riyadh, Singapore and Tunis. Funds managed by the Abraaj Capital group have holdings in over 35 companies including Air Arabia, the Middle East's leading low cost carrier, Network International, the largest independent payment solutions provider in the Middle East and Africa, IHH Healthcare Berhad, one of the largest private healthcare groups in growth markets and Al Borg Laboratories, the Middle East's largest privately owned medical testing laboratory.

In 2012, Abraaj Capital was ranked the largest private equity firm in emerging markets worldwide by Private Equity International. In addition, Abraaj Capital has won many regional and international awards, including the 'Middle Eastern Private Equity Firm of the Year' for seven consecutive years, awarded by Private Equity International.

With the completion of the Aureos Capital acquisition in 2012, Abraaj Capital will have a presence in more than 30 countries across growth markets, over 150 investments managed by a dedicated team of investment professionals and approximately US$ 7.5 billion in assets under management.

Abraaj Capital Limited, a member of the Abraaj Capital group, is licensed by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA).

For further information about Abraaj Capital , please contact:
Mohamed Fathy
Media Relations Manager
Mfathy@oc.com.eg
Mobile: +201119898809

© Press Release 2012

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