Foundation Holdings to focus purely on fast-growing and impactful healthcare, education and consumer sectors

Dubai, UAE – November 1, 2016

A dynamic new investment firm consisting of leading international business figures has been launched to build sustainable, industry-defining companies in high growth sectors in the Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) and India.

Foundation Holdings, a strategic global investment firm, has been created to enhance operational value for companies and IPOs in the healthcare, education and consumer sectors. The firm aims to deploy AED 2 billion in these sectors over the next five years.

Heading the newly-created firm will be Founder and Chief Executive Officer Abhishek Sharma, who helped to lead IPOs for Amanat Holdings (listed at AED2.5 billion) and Al Noor Hospitals (voted best IPO transaction in the MENA region in 2013) on the Dubai Financial Market and London Stock Exchange respectively.

“We strongly believe the healthcare, education and consumer sectors will drive human capital, innovation and transformational opportunities for today’s youth across the GCC and India,” said Mr. Sharma, a former financial analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Lehman Brothers.

“The GCC and India are compelling markets for companies in these sectors, with exponential growth above par with the likes of the United States and Europe. Over one hundred merger and acquisition transactions, valued at US$ 27 billion, recently took place in these sectors in the GCC and India alone. Combined, the GCC and Indian markets offer a US$ 4 trillion ecosystem, providing tremendous investment opportunities.

“These are the largest and fastest growing sectors in the region, and we’re entering a golden age. We are looking for the brilliant and motivated entrepreneur or entrepreneurial team with a clear vision of what they want to build and how they will create and transform our key markets.”

Joining Mr. Sharma will be a heavyweight Board of Directors and a high profile, influential advisory board who will offer strategic insight and specific sector knowledge. Investors and board members also include several of the world’s leading healthcare, education and consumer companies, in addition to prestigious family offices.

Chairman of Foundation Holdings is His Excellency Murthada Sultan, a veteran businessman with four decades of experience in the region and a Board Director of W.J. Towell, the second oldest family office in the Middle East.

The Board of Directors includes Adel Ali, Founder and CEO, Air Arabia and five-time Airline CEO of the Year; Neelesh Bhatnagar, Managing Director of NB Ventures, owner of the UAE Royals (International Premier Tennis League), a former Board Member of Landmark Group and former CEO of Emax Electronics; Justin Connor, Managing Director of New York’s Rothschild Capital Partners; and Karim Merchant, CEO and Managing Director of Pure Gold Jewellers.

The advisory board will include Muna Al Gurg, Director, Retail, Easa Saleh Al Gurg; Dr. Sami Alom, Director of Kasamar Holdings, a UAE-based family office; Fares Bugshan, Chief Executive Officer of Bugshan Investments; and a host of senior executives from Julius Baer, AccorHotels and Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the sovereign wealth fund of the Government of Malaysia.

“By combining a team of industry leaders from both business and civil society to form an experienced, strong Board of Directors and advisory board, Foundation Holdings will bring operational excellence and value creation to both the firm and its partners,” said Mr. Sharma.

“Our vision is to transform companies into global champions by enhancing their service quality, growth trajectory and brand equity.”

Foundation Holdings has a global presence with a dynamic team working across Dubai, Mumbai and New York.

For further details about Foundation Holdings and to view an interview with the Founder and CEO visit http://foundationholdings.co/

-Ends-

About Foundation Holdings 
Foundation Holdings is a global investment firm focussed on building sustainable, industry defining companies in the GCC and India’s healthcare, education and consumer sectors.  The firm enhances operational value for companies and IPOs in these high growth sectors through its dynamic team across Dubai, New York and Mumbai. For further information visit http://foundationholdings.co

Media contacts:
Four Communications
Contact: Halima Islam
Email: FoundationHoldings@fourcommunications.com
Phone: +971 55 985 3382

© Press Release 2016