MFC sees a comeback of opportunities for regional equity investors

Keba Keinde, Chief Executive Officer of Millennium Finance Corporation (MFC) said: "Investors are starting to drive the product now rather than the other way around. In the past, greenfields and privatizations dominated. Now, investors are seeking to diversify risks through their equity investments in a breadth of businesses. As a result, we can expect future equity issues from growth plays in underexposed sectors and mature companies in well represented sectors."

Particularly in the UAE, according to MFC, the primary equity climate is already starting to align with this trend: The market witnessed the first airline floatation last month, for instance; soon investors will be able to subscribe to a regional real estate play, through Deyaar Development, which MFC is Co-Lead Managing. "Deyaar offers an example of an operating business with Islamic principles in the real estate sector, which our investors understand well," said Tasneem Mayet, Co-Head of Equity Capital Markets, MFC.

The corporate finance transactions that MFC has, and is involved in structuring and placing this year, are within its specialist sector coverage. Given its sector-focused, and matrix approach in conducting its financial advisory and equity capital market services, MFC's investment banking group has forged ahead with success in the midst of changing market dynamics and increasingly discerning investors in the region.