Swicorp launches Emerge Invest, an open-ended private equity fund

Swicorp, a premier private equity and investment banking firm in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, has partnered with leading GCC-based companies, to launch Swicorp Emerge Invest, an open-ended private equity fund focusing on Iran, Algeria and Sudan. Swicorp will assume the role of fund manager. Investors in Swicorp Emerge Invest, who have already committed US$ 100 million to the fund, will have special co-investment rights.

The fund intends to focus on Iran, Algeria and Sudan in order to reap the benefits of those three countries' stabilizing political outlook and booming economies and capitalize on their emerging and promising private equity industry. Swicorp Emerge Invest will invest in a diversified portfolio of companies with significant growth prospects and operating in pre-selected growth sectors such as oil & gas, petrochemicals, consumer goods, communications, financial services, and infrastructure. In carrying out its activities, Swicorp Emerge Invest will seek to partner with companies and institutions which have an interest in investing in these three emerging economies.

Mr. Kamal Lazaar, President and Managing Director of Swicorp, said

"the launch of Swicorp Emerge Invest is an important step for Swicorp and it reflects our commitment to the development and growth of private equity in the MENA region."

He added: "Investors in Swicorp Emerge Invest will be able to benefit from Swicorp longstanding expertise in the Iranian and
Algerian markets. Among other assignments, Swicorp advised Henkel on the first successful privatization in Algeria outside the energy sector and advised Savola on the complex structuring of the first successful acquisition by a foreign entity of a listed company in Iran. We are delighted to be engaging in this new venture with some of our closest clients with whom we have a longstanding relationship and a quality track record".

Swicorp Emerge Invest will leverage Swicorp's longstanding market knowledge and expertise to create value and achieve superior returns by enhancing the operational and financial performance of portfolio companies and executing timely exits.

Swicorp is a Swiss-headquartered investment firm with a unique track record of corporate finance transactions in the MENA region, counting among others, the first leverage buy-out in Saudi Arabia as well as the first corporate venture fund in the MENA region. Swicorp Emerge Invest is Swicorp's third private equity investment vehicle in the region following Intaj Capital, which was launched mid-2005.