Gulf Capital, one of the largest and most active Private Equity firms investing from the Gulf Region to the broader Asian markets, has announced today that its Singaporean operation, Gulf Capital Asia Pte Ltd, has been granted a Capital Markets Services License (CMS) by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The license allows the company to conduct regulated activities of fund management, market its funds, and advise on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and other corporate finance transactions. This new milestone reaffirms Gulf Capital’s commitment to comply with global regulatory frameworks and its pledge to operate with integrity and transparency across all the jurisdictions where it is active in.
Gulf Capital is now subjected to regulatory oversight in three key international financial hubs: Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), where its global headquarters are based, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), and Singapore (MAS). The newly awarded CMS licence from MAS is vital for Gulf Capital to support its portfolio companies with their rapid expansion across Asia, as well as to advise them on potential bolt-on acquisitions and funding needs. Gulf Capital has closed 14 acquisitions and joint ventures across Asia over the last 16 years and has established a long track record of building global leaders operating across Emerging Markets. Using Singapore as a gateway, the Firm is now well positioned to capture the phenomenal growth across the West-East Asia corridor, focusing its investments in resilient, fast-growing sectors of the future, such as technology and fintech, healthcare, business services, consumer, and sustainability. Gulf Capital has closed 38 investments to date, with US$2.4 billion in assets under management (AuM). Gulf Capital was voted as the Best Private Equity Firm in MENA in 2022 by Private Equity International.
Dr Karim El Solh, Co-Founder and CEO of Gulf Capital, said: “Receiving this prestigious Capital Markets Services License from the Monetary Authority of Singapore opens a new chapter in Gulf Capital’s rapid expansion across Asia. The new CMS license from MAS will help us meet investors’ increasing demand for more regulated and transparent asset management activities by an established world-class finance centre. Gulf Capital remains steadfast about upholding the highest standards in our asset management operations, which are reflected in the international best practices that MAS has embedded in its standards and regulations. Gulf Capital has been operating across Asian markets through its portfolio companies for the last 16 years now. We expect that this new license, our local presence and our on the ground private equity team in Singapore will accelerate our expansion from the Gulf region into Asia, which forms today the highest growth corridor in the world.”
Shantanu Mukerji, Head of Gulf Capital’s Asian operations, added: “The new CMS license will further strengthen our activities in Singapore, and being regulated will boost our fund raising, sourcing, and investing efforts. It will also help us better manage, grow, and divest our portfolio companies seamlessly across the West-East Asia corridor. Receiving the CMS License from MAS is a significant achievement that will facilitate our investment activities in Singapore and into other neighbouring territories. Singapore is a great gateway for our ambitious pan-Asian expansion plans.”