MAC Capital establishes HQ in DIFC

From their DIFC headquarters, MAC Capital will offer a full range of financial services, including mergers and acquisitions, listings, underwriting, corporate advisory and securities brokerage with a focus on cross border transactions.

Nasser Al Shaali, Chief Executive Officer of the DIFC Authority, said:

"As the world's fastest growing financial centre, the DIFC can offer MAC Capital a base for its headquarters to build on its success, and an ideal platform to continue the expansion of its regional offering. As we see the business links between the Middle East and Asia continue to strengthen, the role of financial experts in these regions, such as MAC Capital, will increase, adding further gravitas to the DIFC, which is already home to many of the world's leading financial institutions."

The MAC Group is the result of a global collaboration of financial institutions and prominent business people. It was established early in 2006 by Chairman, Robert W. McMillen, to provide best-of-breed international investment banking and brokerage expertise to and from the Middle East. It has already developed a reputation as a specialist advisor in mid-tier cross border transactions and as a leader in local equity research. Through its local brokerage affiliate, MAC Sharaf Securities (U.A.E.) LLC, it provides brokerage services on the Dubai Financial Market and the Abu Dhabi Stock Market.

Its DIFC company, MAC Capital, is to be the flagship of the Group. MAC Capital is now fully operational with a strong multi-national team and is positioned as a leading, independent investment bank based in the DIFC with global reach.

"There are tremendous prospects for us to bridge the geographic and information divide between clients. There are also abundant opportunities here, as identified by our worldwide network, and as such it was a natural decision to establish MAC Capital's international headquarters in the DIFC. We are witness to the fact that, through the growth and success of the DIFC, Dubai has become the financial services hub of the Middle East. Investors and investees are both justifiably drawn to this market, and we will strive to ensure that our clients here receive unrivalled service," stated MAC Group Founder and Chairman, Robert W. McMillen.

"One of our aims at MAC Capital is to introduce foreign investors to the public and private markets in the region. Over the past few months, we have conducted road shows on the U.A.E. markets in London, New York and Asia and these were received very well indeed. Our team provided compelling reasons why decision makers should be looking towards the Middle East - not just as a source of capital, but also as a venue for excellent investment opportunities," believes Gerhard Hametner, MAC's Director of Business Development.