Dubai International Capital

Dubai International Capital

Type	Subsidiary (International investment arm)
Industry	Diversified Investments
Founded	October 2004
Founder(s)	Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Headquarters	Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Key people	David Smoot (CEO)
Website	www.dubaiic.com

Dubai International Capital (DIC) is the international investment arm of Dubai Holding, a holding company and sovereign wealth fund of the government of Dubai and its ruling family and has been over-leveraged to the point whereby the company is not able to service its interest payments in a normal fashion.^[1] DIC invests private funds on behalf of Dubai Holding and several large third-party investors around the world with a mandate to build a portfolio of internationally diversified assets.^{[citation needed]}

DIC, which was founded in 2004, invests in public and private equity through three divisions:

• Private Equity: Invests in mid-cap companies in Europe and North America with a focus on secondary buy-outs that include Travelodge,^[2], Merlin Entertainments^[3], Doncasters^[4], Mauser^[5], Alliance Medical^[6] and Almatis^[7].
• Emerging Markets: Manages a broad investment program across the Middle East and North Africa region, including LBOs, funds and co-investments, infrastructure, growth and development capital
• Public Equities: Focused on investment in Fortune 500 companies through its DFSA regulated US$ 1.5 billion Global Strategic Equities Fund. The fund has invested in global leaders such as Sony^[8] and EADS^[9].

Holdings

DIC's investments across its divisions include:

Private Equity:

• The Tussauds Group - purchased in 2005 from Charterhouse Capital Partners for £800 million pounds ($1.5 billion). Subsequently sold in March 2007 to Merlin Entertainments for £1.025bn, though DIC now has 18% in the combined company^[10].
• Doncasters Group Ltd - In May 2006, DIC acquired Doncasters Group Ltd. for £700 million. Doncasters is a British precision-engineering company with plants in Connecticut and Georgia that make precision engineered components and systems for applications in a variety of industries.
• Travelodge - purchased the UK budget hotel group in 2006 for £675m (1.02bn euros). Travelodge is the fastest expanding hotel chain in Europe^[11]
• Merlin Entertainments Group - In March 2007 DIC merged The Tussauds Group with Blackstone’s Merlin Entertainments Group to create the second largest visitor attractions operator in the world after Disney. DIC received £1.025 bn cash and retained an 18 % stake in the combined company.
• Fastentech - In May 2007 DIC-owned Doncasters acquired FastenTech for US$500m in a bolt-on acquisition from Court Square Capital. FastenTech is a leading international manufacturer of industrial and aerospace-grade fasteners and has a strong presence in the US.
• Mauser Group - purchased the German industrial packaging company in June 2007 for €850m - one of the world's leading industrial packaging firms.

Emerging Markets:

• Jordan Dubai Capital: A US$300 million private equity fund dedicated to investments in Jordan, launched in 2005.
• Ishraq: A US$ 150 million investment company focused on delivering the budget hotel concept across the Middle East, established in 2005.
• MENA Infrastructure Fund: Launched the US$500 million MENA Infrastructure as co-Anchor with HSBC and Waha Capital in 2006. It targets investments in the infrastructure and energy sectors across the Middle East and North Africa.
• Rivoli Group: In 2007, DIC acquired a substantial stake in the UAE-based luxury goods retailer.
• KEF Holdings:DIC acquired a 45% stake in the leading UAE-based foundry in 2008, catering mainly to the oil and gas industry.

Public Equities:

• Daimler AG:acquired a 2% stake for $1 billion in German carmaker Daimler, making it the company's third largest shareholder in 2005^[12]. It was divested in 2007.
• EADS: acquired a 3.12% stake for $838 million in Europe's largest aircraft and defense manufacturer and Airbus parent company.^[13]
• Sony - acquired a 3% stake for $1.5 billion

Liverpool F.C.

On a number of occasions, DIC tried to buy into Liverpool F.C., in part because DIC chief Sameer al-Ansari is an LFC fan and season ticket holder:

• 3 December 2006: DIC and Liverpool revealed that DIC were in exclusive negotiations to potentially buy or invest in the football club^[14] Liverpool later accepted an offer made by American tycoons, George Gillett and Tom Hicks^[15][16][17]
• 22 December 2007: DIC looked to invest in the club alongside Gillett/Hicks, as the clubs owners suffered financial difficulties. However, Hicks later dismissed holding any talks with DIC and even DIC making a bid for his share.
• 14 February 2008: reported that DIC have 'the outline of an agreement to purchase the Reds from George Gillett and Tom Hicks, and a deal could go through by mid-March' for a sum of around £500M.^[18][19] Gillett then annaounced that he was willing to sell his 50% stake alone to DIC.^[20]
• 10 March 2008: Hicks announced via the Liverpool website that he has terminated further discussions with DIC. Hicks was apparently not willing to allow DIC to be involved in football decisions.^[21]
• 15 September, 2008: Premier League rivals Newcastle United linked with DIC. However, DIC have stated they are not planning a fresh bid for Liverpool, nor were they in talks with any other side from England's top flight.^[22]

References

1. ^ BBC News " Dubai fund hits back at criticism". BBC News. 4 April 2008.
2. ^ BBC News "Dubai Firm Buys Travelodge Hotels"
3. ^ BBC News "Dubai Firm Buys Tussauds"
4. ^ Times Online "Dubai Bags Doncasters for £700 million"
5. ^ Zawya Online "Dubai International Capital acquires Mauser for Dh4.25bn in major move"
6. ^ Reuters "Dubai fund buys UK's Alliance Medical"
7. ^ Forbes "Dubai International Capital buys German chemical maker Almatis"
8. ^ BBC News "Dubai-run fund buys Sony shares"
9. ^ BBC News "Dubai-run fund takes EADS stake"
10. ^ "Tussauds firm bought in £1bn deal". BBC News. 2007-03-05. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6419019.stm. Retrieved 2010-05-01. 
11. ^ "Dubai firm buys Travelodge hotels". BBC News. 2006-08-18. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5265438.stm. Retrieved 2010-05-01. 
12. ^ AME Info "Dubai Holding entity becomes third largest shareholder in DaimlerChrysler"
13. ^ John, Isaac. "Dubai Int'l Capital buys 3.12pc stake in EADS" , Khaleej Times Online , 2007-07-06.
14. ^ "Reds revel in £450m takeover talk". BBC News. 2006-12-04. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/6205386.stm. Retrieved 2010-05-01. 
15. ^ "Dubai International Capital ends takeover talks with Liverpool FC". 2007-01-31. http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2007/01/31/afx3380852.html. Retrieved 2008-03-10. 
16. ^ "DIC pulls out of Liverpool deal". The Guardian (London). 2007-01-31. http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2002949,00.html. Retrieved 2008-03-10. 
17. ^ "Consortium pulls out of Reds bid". BBC News. 2007-01-31. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/6318091.stm. Retrieved 2008-03-10. 
18. ^ "Hicks plots total control of Reds". BBC News. 2008-03-04. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/7276383.stm. Retrieved 2008-03-10. 
19. ^ "Reports - Reds reject DIC bid". Sky Sports. 2008-03-04. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3238199,00.html. Retrieved 2008-03-10. 
20. ^ "DIC deal not dead yet". Sky Sports. 2008-03-05. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_3243260,00.html. Retrieved 2008-03-10. 
21. ^ "Hicks ends talks with Dubai group". BBC News. 2008-03-10. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/7287737.stm. Retrieved 2008-03-10. 
22. ^ "DIC not in fresh talks". Sky Sports. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_4149556,00.html. 

External links

• Dubai International Capital - Official Website