11
Feb
Panel: Effective deployment strategies in the Middle East
Economic diversification, government initiatives, active sovereign wealth funds and a growing start-up ecosystem stand the Middle East in an advantageous position for private equity activity. However, there are also some challenges to consider including ongoing conflicts and instability in some parts of the region, oil price volatility, increased competition and local regulatory frameworks. This panel will discuss the growing opportunities for private equity deployment in the Middle East, particularly those aligned with economic diversification efforts and technological advancements.
- What are the deployment opportunities in key sectors such as tech, healthcare and consumer?
- Which regions are proving most active for investors, considering the UAE, KSA and beyond?
- What is the impact of international PE firms entering the market on domestic deployment?
- What opportunities exist as the government continues to privatise assets?
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SpeakersSerge L. Lépine Co-Founder & Managing Partner CABOT CAPITAL PARTNERS
Rishi Kapoor Vice Chairman, CIO INVESTCORP
Yaser Moustafa Head of Private Investments, Emerging Markets Private Investments JANUS HENDERSON
Michael J. Preston Partner CLEARY GOTTLIEB
Diana Estupinan Managing Director PROSEK
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Serge is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Cabot Capital Partners, bringing decades of experience in private equity and sovereign wealth fund management across the Middle East, Asia, and Canada, including senior roles at ADIA, ADIC, Mumtalakat and QADIC.
Before relocating to the Gulf in 2004, Serge had been based in Asia since 1996 establishing the initial private equity operations of the Caisse de Dépot et Placement du Québec (CDPQ).
Serge’s early career encompassed working in Montreal for CDPQ as well as other leading Canadian financial institutions, focused on direct investment, mergers and acquisitions advisory and corporate finance.
Rishi Kapoor is now Investcorp’s Vice Chairman and Chief Investment Officer (CIO). He has been with the firm for over 30 years, having served as Investcorp’s Co-Chief Executive Officer from 2015 to 2024, and as Chief Financial Officer from 2003 to 2015. Rishi joined Investcorp in 1992 from Citigroup.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Rishi is a member of Duke University’s Middle East Regional Advisory Board, the Oxford Energy Policy Club, and His Majesty King Charles’ Sustainable Markets Initiative. Additionally, he sits on the Board of Directors for the National Bank of Bahrain, where he chairs the Risk & Compliance Committee.
Rishi is a frequent speaker at industry events and conferences and has been recognized by Forbes Middle East as one of the top 10 Indian executives in the region. Top CEO Middle East also named him one of the top CEOs in the GCC in 2018.
Yaser Moustafa leads Janus Henderson Emerging Markets Private Investments, the successor entity to NBK Capital Partners. Formerly, he was CEO of NBK Capital Partners in Dubai. Yaser remains responsible for the investment activities of NBK Capital Partners predecessor funds, including the private equity, real estate and mezzanine investment vehicles.
Yaser has over 25 years of professional experience including transaction advisory, interim management, board roles and organizational change in both the U.S and Middle East. Previously, Yaser led Alvarez & Marsal’s Private Equity advisory practice for the Middle East as Managing Director. Yaser began his career at Lehman Brothers in Investment Banking in the U.S.
Michael J. Preston advises a broad range of financial sponsors and strategic investors on buy-outs, minority investments, joint ventures, restructurings and other transactions.
He has experience across a range of business sectors, with particular experience in healthcare, technology, infrastructure, real estate and energy.
Michael joined the firm in 2005 and became a partner in 2011. From 2005 to 2010, he was resident in the London office. From 2011 to 2015, he was resident in the Hong Kong office. Previously, he was an associate at Allen & Overy LLP in London and at Russell McVeagh in Wellington, New Zealand.
Notable Experience
Cascade Investment on its recommended $4.7 billion offer for Signature Aviation, as part of a consortium with Blackstone and Global Infrastructure Partners, which topped a prior $4.6 billion offer from Global Infrastructure Partners on a standalone basis.
TPG Capital and Growth funds in a range of transactions including its:
- equity investment in China International Capital Corporation, the first foreign private equity investment in a Chinese securities firm;
- investment in Moroccan schools operator Ecoles Yassamine, TPG’s debut investment in Africa;
- acquisition of a majority stake in Union Bank of Colombo, TPG’s first investment in Sri Lanka;
- equity investment in Indian microfinance company Janalakshmi Financial Services, Ltd.;
- equity investment in Indian healthcare group, Sutures India;
- investment in PT Delta Dunia Makmur, an Indonesian mining services company;
- acquisition of a majority stake in Indonesia’s PT Bank Tabungan Pensiunan Nasional, in the bank’s subsequent rights offering, and in the disposal of the investment;
- acquisition of approximately 45 percent of BFI Finance Indonesia, an Indonesia-listed consumer lender; and
- equity investment in PropertyGuru, the online real estate services group.
Diana is a Managing Director and heads Prosek’s Middle East and North Africa operations. She is responsible for serving local and international clients in the Middle East, as well as supporting business development, hiring and growth strategy in the region.
She holds a MEIRA certification as an Investor Relations Officer and boasts a decade of experience in Europe, the US, and the Middle East.
Before joining Prosek, Diana served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Client Officer for Instinctif Partners in the Middle East, and as a Senior Account Manager at Hill & Knowlton. Her expertise lies in crafting PR and IR programs for financial services and capital markets clients and spearheading operational growth, notably establishing Instinctif’s office in Saudi Arabia.
With a successful career spanning a decade, Diana has led award-winning campaigns for multinational companies, regional institutions, and government entities. She’s a trusted advisor on ESG matters, guiding management teams in identifying material issues, devising strategies, and integrating ESG and IR practices. Her contributions have earned recognition from esteemed industry bodies such as MEIRA, the Saudi Capital Markets Forum, PR Week, SABRE, and MEPRA.
Diana holds a B.Sc. Honours Degree in Government and Economics from the London School of Economics and is fluent in Spanish and English, with proficiency in French, Italian, and Arabic.