Description

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An insider's glimpse into the leveraged buyout of Inchcape Middle East (IME), a transaction that paved the way for private equity to emerge as a multi-billion dollar business in the Middle East region. The detailed background on the acquisition of IME. How US$ 5 million in equity was leveraged to acquire a major portfolio valued at US$ 150 million. Leverage in the Desert is an important study how the transaction was pulled off, what role the investment bank played and how the deficit helped in the negotiating process. The deal has gone down in history as a landmark transaction and one of the biggest upsets the Middle East has ever seen. The lessons are valuable to anybody with interest in the Middle East region.

About the Author

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Imtiaz Hydari studied Physics and Mathematics at University. He is a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and of the Chartered Institute of Management UK After a brief period in Internal Audit of Philips Electronic Industries in the UK, he moved to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where he served 22 years with the Olayan Group of Companies and its diverse business portfolio in positions of Finance and Administration, General Management and in the last five years as the Group President. He represented the Group on the Boards of several Joint Venture enterprises with major multinationals and played a major role in the expansion and development of its business activities during that period. He returned to the UK in 1996 where he was involved in business consultancy and advisory work. Imtiaz moved to the Middle East in 1998 when he led the acquisition of Inchcape's regional business portfolio, regarded as a land mark transaction in the region. Following the acquisition he was responsible for the development and ultimate exit of the portfolio giving birth to Private Equity in the Middle East. He was a senior partner at Rasmala private equity and a founder partner of Abraaj Capital. In 2004 he set up HBG a boutique private equity firm. He is currently the Executive Vice Chairman of HBG and Chairman of Rasmala Investment Bank. Imtiaz is married with three grown up children and resides in Dubai. He is a keen sportsman and spends much of his time promoting various charitable causes."Leverage in the Desert" is his editorial debut.