Dubai International Capital appoints David Smoot as Managing Director, Private Equity

David will be based in Dubai and report to Sylvain Denis Chief Executive Officer of DIC Private Equity.

David, aged 38, joins from Morgan Stanley Private Equity, where he was a member of the investment committee, led portfolio investments and helped to build a 35-person team located in New York and London.

Key transactions include the acquisition of Tops Markets from Royal Ahold and the firm's co-investment with JLL Partners in the acquisition of McKechnie Aerospace.

David has a 14-year track record in investment banking and private equity, of which 11 years were spent with Morgan Stanley.

Before co founding the Private Equity Group he was Managing Director, Financial Sponsors, at Morgan Stanley where he advised clients including Bain Capital, Blackstone, First Reserve and Warburg Pincus on M&A, IPOs, debt and equity financings.

Before joining Morgan Stanley, David spent three years at Salomon Brothers, where he specialised in energy and chemicals investment banking.

He is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Duke University and a member of the New York Bar.

Sylvain Denis, Chief Executive Officer of DIC Private Equity said, "David has exceptional experience and relationships in the private equity field as well as expertise in building a best-in- class team. I look forward to working with him on the development of our growth strategy for DIC's business in North America."

David Smoot, Managing Director, DIC Private Equity commented, "Since its launch in 2004, DIC has made outstanding progress in building a profitable business that manages combined assets in excess of $12bn. DIC's Private Equity division has established a strong reputation as a specialist in European secondary buyouts and I look forward to working with Sylvain to expand the portfolio in North America."