The National Investor announces major sponsorship deal with Abu Dhabi-GCC Health and Development Investment Forum

The Forum will be held on 11th-12th May 2009 at the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research.

Being staged for the first time, this significant event will offer a high-level platform for exploring investment opportunities in the GCC in building and funding advanced and sustainable healthcare systems.

Participants include public and private sector decision-makers, service providers, investors, not-for-profit organizations and sovereign wealth funds.

Through presentations, panel discussions and open sessions they will have the opportunity to debate, learn and share best practices.

TNI is lead sponsoring this event with Santeum Partners and The Global Fund (to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

The event will look at the critical challenges of funding the growing demand for healthcare, and discuss avenues and opportunities for private sector investment.

The Health and Development Investment Forum 2009 offers cutting edge pre¬sentations, panel discussions, open sessions and social events.

It aims to achieve recognition as a top-tier platform for discussion on private equity investment needs in the healthcare sector, where public and private sector decision makers, service providers, investors, not-for-profits and sovereign wealth funds can debate, learn and share best-practice on building and funding best-in-class health systems.

Current healthcare spending in the MENA region as a percentage of GDP is at 4.6% just over half the global average of 8.0%. The value of the annual turnover in the healthcare sector in the countries of the GCC alone is approximately $12bn and is estimated to grow to about $60bn by 2025.

Orhan Osmansoy, CEO of TNI, said:

"In less than a generation, Abu Dhabi has developed an advanced system of high-quality healthcare, in which world-class establishments are fully operational. Moving forward, the UAE will address similar challenges to those faced by other advanced healthcare systems. Our healthcare services will be continually working to match the development of leading-edge facilities and technologies. In this, we are confident that the UAE will reinforce its standing as a regional center for joint ventures to meet the healthcare needs of the GCC and the wider Middle East, North Africa and South Asia."

Yahya Jalil, Director-Private Equity at TNI, said, "The Company's support for the Forum is a reflection of TNI's strong commitment to investment in healthcare and as a leading financial services firm in Abu Dhabi with a strong focus on investments in the healthcare sector, we are extremely pleased to align with regional and global leaders in an effort to identify high-quality investment opportunities to advance the local healthcare infrastructure. As we further our involvement in healthcare, we have a quality partner in Santeum."

TNI and Zurich-based healthcare advisory firm Santeum Partners are working together to pursue private equity investment opportunities across the MENA region in healthcare and related sectors. This unique alliance combines TNI's regional financial leadership with Santeum's depth of expertise and experience in the healthcare dynamics of the Region.

Healthcare sector development in the GCC has been boosted by recent positive changes in government regulations and the growth of insurance and reimbursement systems, including the introduction of statutory health insurance in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

TNI and its organizing partners have welcomed the decisive support given to the Forum by government, health authorities and other organizations in Abu Dhabi. These include the Department of Planning and Economy, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Tourism Authority.

The TNI private equity team currently manages the TNI Growth Capital Fund, a top quartile performing private equity fund in its class which has generated top quartile realized annual returns for its investors.

TNI's investment activities in the UAE healthcare sector started in 2001. Responding to rising healthcare costs in the region and an ageing population, the Company recognized the need for wider health insurance provision and ancillary businesses.

The result was the establishment of NAS Administration Services LLC (NAS), a Third Party Administrator, incorporated in Abu Dhabi and with its operating base in the UAE. In the past 8 years, NAS has built up a substantial network of providers and is now one of the most widely recognized Third Party Administrators of healthcare in the UAE.