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Dubai International Capital acquires significant stake in UAE-based Rivoli Group

Dubai International Capital LLC ('DIC'), the international investment arm of Dubai Holding, today announced the acquisition of a significant stake in the Rivoli Group ('Rivoli'), one of the UAE's leading family-owned businesses.

  • United Arab Emirates: Monday, September 24 - 2007 at 12:15
  • PRESS RELEASE


Sameer Al Ansari, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DIC.
Sameer Al Ansari, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DIC.


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The investment will support the luxury retail group's ambitious regional expansion drive.

Based in Dubai, Rivoli is a private retail company with a diverse portfolio of international luxury brands and a vast retail network in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar. Established in 1988, Rivoli has built a strong reputation as a leading luxury retailer in the GCC and currently operates over 215 retail outlets. Rivoli imports, distributes and retails a wide range of luxury products including high-end watches, writing instruments, menswear, accessories, eyewear, gifts, and more.

DIC's investment philosophy is based on selecting market leaders with experienced and committed management teams with strong growth prospects. Rivoli's management team will continue to be led by Managing Partners Adel Al Zarouni and Ramesh Prabhakar. DIC's investment will support Rivoli's aggressive growth strategy and bring to fruition a series of value-creating initiatives including expansion into new retail markets, the development of innovative retail concepts and the addition of new luxury brands to the group's portfolio.

Sameer Al Ansari, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DIC said,

'This investment by DIC in Rivoli is a milestone in regional private equity transactions. DIC's regional strategy is focussed on supporting established family-owned businesses that have an excellent track record of successful expansion and which possess attractive growth potential. DIC is keen to tap into additional opportunities in family-owned businesses in order to support their future growth plans.'



'Over the years, Rivoli has built a strong brand name as a leading luxury retailer and the group's operating and financial performance have been outstanding. The regional luxury goods market is vibrant and continues to demonstrate favourable growth prospects, particularly for luxury watches, in which Rivoli commands a strong market share. Rivoli's reputation as a well-run enterprise with an experienced and well-respected management team is of fundamental importance to us; this investment is in line with DIC's strategy of supporting the growth strategies of successful management teams.'

DIC's investment in Rivoli will enable further growth of the group's operations throughout the region. Rivoli's Managing Partner, Ramesh Prabhakar commented on the transaction by saying, 'We are delighted to secure such a reputable investor as DIC in order to provide the right backing for Rivoli and to continue our heritage of robust growth. Partnering with DIC will enable us to build on our successful track record and take Rivoli to a new level of leadership in the luxury retail sector. We are excited to implement the key elements of our growth strategy and take advantage of growth opportunities that include the expansion of our retail network throughout the region and the broadening of our luxury brand portfolio with additional world-class brands.'

Rivoli's Managing Partner, Adel Zarouni, added, 'It gives us great pleasure to be partnering with DIC and we look forward to a rewarding long-term relationship. With DIC's support, we will reach our goals and will ensure Rivoli continues to be well-positioned to attain even greater success.'




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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: £800 million acquisition of The Tussauds Group (UK), one of the largest operators of visitor attractions in Europe and its subsequent partnership with Merlin Entertainments Group 'Merlin' which positioned the combined Group as the world's second biggest visitor attractions operator after Disney. DIC retained a 20% stake in the combined company. DIC's investments also included £675 million acquisition of Travelodge (UK), Britain's fastest growing budget hotel company, US$ 1 billion stake in DaimlerChrysler, one of the world's leading carmakers; £700 million acquisition of Doncasters Group (UK), an industrial manufacturing firm that produces precision engineering components across various industrial sectors; and €850 million acquisition of Mauser AG, a world market leader in industrial packaging with approximately 3,700 employees operating in more than 50 locations across Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia.

DIC is also 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 except Saudi Arabia; and the 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 US$300 million investment company that targets private equity opportunities in the Jordanian economy. DIC is also a founding shareholder of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, a company building a US$15 billion global aerospace corporation that encompasses aircraft leasing, manufacturing, services, airports and education; and has a joint venture with CBRE to provide a variety of real estate services in Dubai and the broader Middle East region.

DIC also invests in publicly listed equities through its US$2 billion Global Strategic Equities Fund ('GSEF'). The fund aims to make structured investments in Fortune 500 global companies and seeks to become a leading shareholder in pre-eminent large global capitalisation stocks. GSEF's investments to date include a substantial stake in HSBC and a 3.12% stake in EADS, the parent company of Airbus.

About Rivoli Group ('Rivoli'):

Since 1988, The Rivoli Group has been building its strong position in the fast growing retail environment in the UAE and the lower Gulf States. The Group has become one of the largest importers, distributors and retailers of luxury brands in the Middle East and offers a wide range of product categories from watches and writing instruments to menswear, accessories, gift items, eyewear and more. The Rivoli Group represents brands such as Blancpain, Omega, Glashutte Original, Longines, Montblanc, Dunhill, Vertu, JM Weston, Kenzo and more. The Rivoli Group currently owns and operates over 215 stores throughout the GCC.

For media queries, please contact:

Dubai International Capital LLC
Jehad Saleh

JiWin
Reem Sadek
Tel: +971 50 5505134
Anne-Birte Stensgaard Posted by Anne-Birte Stensgaard, Senior News Editor
Monday, September 24 - 2007 at 12:15 UAE local time (GMT+4)

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