Dubai, UAE: 24 March, 2007 - Dubai International Capital LLC ('DIC') announced details of its plan for the current year as it seeks to add to its portfolio.  Sameer Al Ansari, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DIC, outlined his vision at the two-day 2007 Private Equity International Middle East Forum held recently in Dubai.  Al Ansari has been participating in the conference, alongside industry leaders David Rubenstein, Co-Founder & Managing Director, The Carlyle Group; Arif Naqvi, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive, Abraaj Capital; and Joseph L Rice, Chairman and Founder, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice among others.

Al Ansari's keynote address on 'The role of the Middle East on the international private equity stage', highlighted the economic growth and wider investment within the region, which has created demand for institutional private equity.  This, in turn, has created the foundation for DIC's unique global and regional expertise in the rapidly developing private equity market.

The region is expected to continue to enjoy excess liquidity on the back of an estimated $2 - $3 trillion oil windfall. This liquidity will be seeking a home, and the private equity industry will be welcoming it with open arms.

At the same time, foreign direct investment into the Gulf region has risen to more than $20 billion in 2005, helped by government deregulation, increasing openness to foreign investment and privatisations.  Against this background, the industry in the region continues to develop on the back of improved capital markets and the establishment of world class financial centres such as the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

DIC is blazing the trail for private equity in the Middle East.  At the end of 2006, DIC had more than $5.5bn of assets under management.  In 2007, DIC will continue to seek geographic diversity and is targeting expansion in the US and Asia focusing mainly on secondary buy-out investments and co-investments.

DIC's expanding portfolio already includes: the US$ 1.23 billion acquisition of Travelodge (UK), Britain's fastest growing hotel company; and the US$ 1.2 billion acquisition of Doncasters Group (UK), an industrial manufacturing firm that produces precision engineering components across various industrial sectors.

DIC's investment rationale is to invest across international borders in businesses with solid incumbent management teams and to grow the businesses it acquires through follow-on investment.  It will build an international portfolio of diverse business assets in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America through investment exposure to private equity and other asset classes.  DIC's primary investment objective is to achieve superior long-term returns for all its stakeholders, while reducing overall risk through diversification.

On the prominence of the role of the Middle East on the international stage, Al Ansari said that "the Middle East is becoming a key part of the future global growth story of Private Equity.  Businesses owned by International Private Equity firms trade with or in the region, and the growth in outbound M&A from the region provides exit opportunities." He also believes that many of the biggest international Private Equity firms are looking at the Middle East as a place to invest.

Already in 2007, DIC has overseen the merger of The Tussauds Group, which it acquired in 2005, with Blackstone's Merlin Entertainments Group. This high-profile merger brought together some of the biggest brand names in the global theme park and tourist attractions market and created the world's second biggest visitor attractions operator after Disney.  DIC retained a 20% stake in the merged group.

Al Ansari said: "For DIC, we see 2007 as a year to build on the success achieved to date.  Our focus will be on enhancing value in our portfolio investments.  Amongst other things, this means finding the right bolt-on deals, and also expanding in the US and Asia through Secondary Buy-Outs and Co-Investments.  In this business you are only as good as your last deal, and we are actively seeking to add to our portfolio.

"Looking forward, we are clear about our objectives and where we are going.  We see ourselves as a responsible investor and a preferred long-term business partner. Not least because of the current political and media debates around private equity, it is important for us all to demonstrate that Private Equity is a positive form of ownership and governance.  We need to show how we reinvigorate companies, strengthen their long-term prospects and create value for all stakeholders. This includes changing and aligning management incentives, improving productivity and making more efficient long-term investment decisions."

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About Dubai International Capital LLC
Established in 2004, Dubai International Capital LLC (DIC) is a Dubai-based international investment company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dubai Holding. DIC manages an international portfolio of diverse assets that provide its stakeholders with value growth, diversification, and strategic investments and relationships.

DIC's investments have included: US$ 1.23 billion acquisition of Travelodge (UK), Britain's fastest growing hotel company, US$ 1 billion stake in DaimlerChrysler, the world's second largest carmaker and the US$ 1.2 billion acquisition of Doncasters Group (UK), an industrial manufacturing firm that produces precision engineering components across various industrial sectors.

DIC is a substantial investor in the Middle East. Investments include Ishraq, a US$150 million investment company that was formed to bring the Holiday Inn Express brand of hotels to the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries; and MENA Infrastructure Fund, a US$500 million fund targeting investment opportunities in infrastructure projects in the Middle East and North Africa region. In 2005, DIC launched Jordan Dubai Capital, a $300 million investment company that targets private equity opportunities in the Jordanian economy.

For further information, please visit www.dubaiic.com, or contact:
Hazar Al-Zaki
Dubai International Capital LLC
Tel: (971) 4 362 1888

Reem Sadek
JiWin
The Public Relations arm of Dubai Press Club
+971 4 3616666
Email: Reem.sadek@jiwin.ae

© Press Release 2007