Latest news with #privateEquity
Reuters
10-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
BlueFive Capital raises $2 billion private equity fund for Gulf expansion
DUBAI, July 10 (Reuters) - BlueFive Capital has raised $2 billion for a new fund focused on private equity investments in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, the investment firm said on Thursday. The BlueFive Reef Private Equity Fund will target majority and minority stakes "in sizeable high-growth businesses and conglomerates" in the United Arab Emirates and broader GCC, which includes Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The fund is registered in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and will focus on healthcare, technology, hospitality, aviation and industrial sectors, the asset management firm said. Earlier this week, BlueFive Capital, launched in November last year by Hazem Ben-Gacem, the former co-CEO of alternative investment firm Investcorp ( opens new tab, said the firm is valued at $120 million and manages more than $650 million in assets. It has offices in Abu Dhabi and other cities, including London, Riyadh and Beijing. "The fund will play a pivotal role in expanding the private equity marketplace in the GCC and allow us to partner with exceptional founders and management teams to support establishing global leaders that are originating from the GCC," founder and chief executive Ben-Gacem said. The growing interest in GCC assets reflects how global investment firms, including major buyout groups, are increasingly turning to the region as governments there push to diversify their economies beyond oil. Several private equity groups, including BlackRock-owned (BLK.N), opens new tab GIP, Permira and General Atlantic, have recently set up base or strengthened their presence in the region.
Zawya
10-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
BlueFive Capital raises $2bln private equity fund for Gulf expansion
DUBAI - BlueFive Capital has raised $2 billion for a new fund focused on private equity investments in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, the investment firm said on Thursday. The BlueFive Reef Private Equity Fund will target majority and minority stakes "in sizeable high-growth businesses and conglomerates" in the United Arab Emirates and broader GCC, which includes Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The fund is registered in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and will focus on healthcare, technology, hospitality, aviation and industrial sectors, the asset management firm said. Earlier this week, BlueFive Capital, launched in November last year by Hazem Ben-Gacem, the former co-CEO of alternative investment firm Investcorp, said the firm is valued at $120 million and manages more than $650 million in assets. It has offices in Abu Dhabi and other cities, including London, Riyadh and Beijing. "The fund will play a pivotal role in expanding the private equity marketplace in the GCC and allow us to partner with exceptional founders and management teams to support establishing global leaders that are originating from the GCC," founder and chief executive Ben-Gacem said. The growing interest in GCC assets reflects how global investment firms, including major buyout groups, are increasingly turning to the region as governments there push to diversify their economies beyond oil. Several private equity groups, including BlackRock-owned GIP, Permira and General Atlantic, have recently set up base or strengthened their presence in the region. (Reporting by Federico Maccioni; Editing by Sumana Nandy)
Bloomberg
09-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Goldman Demands Junior Banker Fealty in PE Rivalry
Goldman Sachs is said to be planning to ask junior bankers to confirm their loyalty in a bid to limit advances from talent-hungry buyout firms, asking new analysts to certify every three months that they haven't lined up jobs elsewhere. The move is meant to thwart poaching by private equity firms that have been descending upon junior bankers near the start of their on-the-job training. Some buyout shops are even approaching rookies before they show up for their analyst programs. Such strict rules though run counter to efforts by banks to maintain long-term goodwill with employees who may go elsewhere on Wall Street or even come back someday. And previous attempts to tighten controls on analysts have backfired. In 2013, Morgan Stanley ditched a policy to block junior bankers from talking with recruiters for outside firms after some of them complained, Bloomberg News reported at the time.
France 24
09-07-2025
- Business
- France 24
Starbucks receives bids for stake in China business: US media
The coffee chain's China business, its second biggest after its US operation, drew non-binding offers from a mix of Chinese and foreign private equity firms valuing the enterprise at between $5 and $10 billion, CNBC reported, citing three people familiar with the matter. Under one possible outcome, Starbucks could retain a 30 percent stake with a group of buyers each holding less than this share, CNBC said. A note from TD Cowen said a valuation of between $2.6 billion and $4.7 billion is "more realistic" than one as potentially as high as $10 billion. Starbucks declined to comment directly on any offers received but said it would not exit China. "We are looking for a strategic partner with like-minded values, who shares our vision to provide a premium coffeehouse experience," a Starbucks spokesperson said. "We remain committed to China and want to retain a meaningful stake in the business. Any deal must make sense for Starbucks business and partners." The bidders include Centurium Capital, Hillhouse Capital and US private equity firms Carlyle Group and KKR, CNBC reported. As of the end of March, Starbucks had around 7,700 cafes in more than 250 cities in China, employing more than 60,000 people. Only the United Staets, with more than 17,000 cafes is bigger for the chain. Starbucks has been in turnaround mode, naming former Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol as CEO in August 2024 after the short tenure of Laxman Narasimhan failed to reignite growth. In its most recent quarter ending March 30, Starbucks had flat revenues in China compared with the year-ago period, with the number of transactions rising four percent but the average ticket falling four percent. In a conference call in late April, Niccol told analysts that Starbuck's China sales had benefited during the period from adding new sugar-free beverages and introducing options at different price points. Shares of Starbucks fell 0.2 percent in afternoon trading.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$1 Billion Vanishing Act: Asia's Wealth Giant Pulls the Plug on U.S. Private Equity
The Hong Kong Jockey Club is stepping back from its U.S. investments, possibly offloading up to $1 billion in private equity stakes held with major firms like Blackstone (NYSE:BX), Warburg Pincus, TA Associates, and Clayton Dubilier & Rice. This move comes as geopolitical tensions and trade concerns, particularly since Trump's presidency, are leading investors to reconsider their exposure to the world's largest economy. The Jockey Club, one of Hong Kong's largest asset owners, is reportedly selling some $700 million in U.S. assets via the secondary market, with Jefferies Financial Group steering the deal. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Signs with BX. This divestment is part of a wider shift among Asian investors, including sovereign wealth funds and family offices, dialing back on U.S. equities and Treasuries. Earlier this year, China Investment Corp. considered selling a $1 billion stake in U.S. assets, before halting the sale, according to Bloomberg. With concerns about future unpredictability in the U.S., these investors are opting to freeze or reduce their exposure in an environment marked by rising trade friction. Historically, the Jockey Club hasn't sold this much of its assets in secondary markets, where liquidity is often achieved ahead of fund maturities. The ongoing deal, which began in Q1, shows how a large-scale asset reallocation could impact the private equity space, possibly with discounts on the table. With HK$305 billion in annual betting volume, the Jockey Club is looking to position itself for flexibility amidst a shifting global landscape. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
