Dubai, February 3 2015

MENA PEA Annual Members' Dinner was hosted in the Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa-Downtown Dubai on Wednesday Jan 28th, supported by Thomson Reuters and TVM Capital Healthcare Partners.

The line-up of leading regional and international GPs like The Abraaj Group, Al Masah Capital, Amwal AlKhaleej, Capital Trust Group, CedarBridge Partners, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, EFG Hermes Private Equity, Gulf Capital, Growthgate Capital, Malaz Capital, Middle East Venture Partners, Qatar First Bank, ReAya Holding, Swicop, TVM Capital Healthcare Partners, WAHA CAPITAL, among others, advisors, consultants, lawyers and service providers in the MENA region like Colliers International, Eversheds, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, KPMG, Deloitte, Sanne Group, Morgan Lewis & Bockius, and Capital Concept demonstrated the continued commitment of a growing industry to their associations' objectives in a dynamic regional economy that offers plenty of exciting investment opportunities.

Dr. Helmut Schuehsler, CEO and Chairman of TVM Capital Healthcare Partners, inaugurated the event with a passionate address about the achievements made by the MENA PEA over the past years. He focused on the role of a private equity and venture capital association in a rapidly developing investment ecosystem, and its contribution towards industry advocacy, educating young professionals, providing a networking platform and facilitating debate, providing research and insight on the progression of the industry and its growing ability to attract Limited Partners to the region as well as ultimately produce guidelines for ethical behavior, corporate governance and the interaction between entrepreneurs, management teams, investors and limited partners.

Highlights of the evening also included a keynote address by Mr. Yasser Akkaoui on the role of institutional investors in reinforcing Corporate Governance. He emphasized the need for MENA PEA to engage in high-impact initiatives that promote the region as a safe investment destination and remove investment barriers that are obstructing entrepreneurship. The point was also made that while there isn't a lack of capital in the region but the application of Corporate Governance guidelines needs to gain momentum in order to achieve desired goals.

Ms. Lina El-Zein, Director of the MENA Private Equity Association presented 2014's achievements and set the tone for a determined and ambitious 2015. Beyond two flagships reports, the research, advocacy, education and exclusive roundtable events organized by the association, Ms. El-Zein announced the partnership between MENA PEA and Capital Concept to take on projects destined to allow the association while relying on its members to influence investment policies and regulations through advocacy and dialogue with decision makers across the region.

Mr. Blaine Connan, Investment Banking Specialist - Middle East and North Africa at Thomson Reuters delivered a presentation on key economic and financial trends in 2014 and shared the latest figures on M&A deals. Mr. Ali Arab, Product Manager - Financial Solutions at Thomson Reuters discussed the trends that have affected the Private Equity and Venture Capital industry and shared the latest updates on the PE and VC deals in the region.

-Ends-

About the MENA Private Equity Association
The MENA Private Equity Association is a non-profit entity committed to supporting and developing the private equity and venture capital industry in the Middle East and North Africa.

We aim to foster greater communication within the region's equity and venture capital network and facilitate knowledge sharing in order to encourage overall economic growth. We also develop statistics and information to enhance transparency.

The Association will actively promote the industry's successes to local stakeholders and build trust with investors and the public in the region and internationally.

© Press Release 2015