gulfnews : Middle East private equity players upbeat on prospects

Representatives of the global private equity industry, who are gathered in Dubai for the SuperReturn Middle East conference, yesterday said that despite a sharp slowdown in global deal flows, the Middle East region offers good opportunities for the industry.

Abraaj Capital, the Dubai-based regional private equity firm, is looking to close up to two deals before year-end and is working on around 40 deals in countries from North Africa to South East Asia, a senior executive said yesterday.

"We are working on approximately 40 deals," Matteo Stefanel, senior partner and member of the executive committee, told reporters on the sidelines of the private equity conference.

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