Alkhabeer Capital closes second PE transaction

Alkhabeer Capital has acquired a majority shareholding in Express Publishing and Investment Limited. The acquisition marks Alkhabeer Capital Private Equity’s second transaction in the UAE’s industrial sector.

PRESS RELEASE

Alkhabeer Capital has successfully acquired a majority shareholding in Express Publishing and Investment Limited (‘Express Group’ or ‘the Company’). The acquisition marks Alkhabeer Capital Private Equity’s second transaction in the UAE’s vibrant industrial sector. As one of the leading asset management and investment banks in Saudi Arabia, Alkhabeer Capital aims to expand the value of its private equity investments through facilitating and leading the growth of its portfolio companies in Saudi Arabia.

Express Group was founded in the UAE in 1990 and has a 20 year track record as a leading provider of corrugated and flexible packaging products. The Company consists of two businesses; the first is Express Pack Print, a leading manufacturer of corrugated packaging products for industrial use and consumer products and is the second largest corrugated packaging company in the UAE. The second is Express Flexi Pack, which manufactures a broad range of flexible packaging materials including plastic OPP labels for beverage bottles and aluminum foil lids for single-serve food products.

Express Group has grown steadily since inception over two decades ago and today exports to more than 25 countries and serves a range of sectors including kitchenware, water & beverages, packaged and fresh foods, household and personal care. The Company is well positioned to serve significant demand for its products across the GCC and MENA regions, which are driven by strong economic growth, an expanding population base and accelerating growth in the global packaging markets.

“Our business has witnessed solid growth over the past two decades, Express Group is well-positioned to capitalize on the significant market opportunities that exist for our group in the coming years underpinned by the significant economic growth projected post winning Expo 2020.” said EPIL’s joint founders and owners, Abdulla Zubair Mylanchikkal and Abdul Qadir Mohamed Theruvath, “We are therefore delighted to partner with Alkhabeer Capital and we are confident that this shall be a unique lever for growing our business in the coming years.”

Commenting on the acquisition, Ammar Shata, Alkhabeer’s Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer said:

“Our investment in Express Group demonstrates once again the expertise of our private equity business in terms of creating mutually attractive partnerships with ambitious business owners that have a solid track record in the Gulf. I look forward to working with Express Group’s shareholders and management team in the coming years and I am confident that our partnership will deliver significant value for all parties involved as we continue to grow the business”.

SHUAA Capital psc acted as the sell side advisor for Express Group on the transaction. Vinson and Elkins LLP acted as legal advisor to Alkhabeer Capital and DLA Piper Middle East LLP acted as legal advisor to the Company.

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About Alkhabeer Capital

Alkhabeer Capital is a leading investment & asset management firm providing world-class financial products and services that help institutions, family groups and qualified investors access to and/or allocate capital in ways that deliver real and enduring economic value.

It is licensed by Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority (CMA) license # 07074-37. The asset management area provides investment opportunities through a large and growing portfolio of public and private funds in the areas of real estate, private equity and capital markets, while the advisory area helps clients improve their capital structure with a wide range of innovative investment and corporate finance services and solutions.

Alkhabeer Capital has offices in Jeddah and Riyadh.

For more details on Alkhabeer Capital, please visit www.alkhabeer.com

Contacts

Tariq Hayat
Alkhabeer Capital
Tel: +966 2 612 9394
Email: t.hayat@alkhabeer.com

Shane Dolan or Racha Mhanna
FTI Consulting
Tel: +971 (0)4 437 2100