Abu Dhabi Financial Group

History

Founded in 2011, the ADFG is headquartered in Abu Dhabi, with offices in Dubai, Eastern Europe, and London. Over the last five years, the company has evolved and expanded into an integrated financial services platform under the umbrella of ADFG, branching out into real estate investments and debt structuring and management. Since its establishment, ADFG has demonstrated a pioneering track record when it formed the Middle East's first dedicated secondaries-focused private equity fund – the ADCM Secondary Private Equity Fund - targeted towards acquiring interests in MENA-based funds.

A year later, in 2012, ADFG launched the listed private equity fund Qannas Investment Limited through a flotation on London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market. This was the first ‘cash shell’ arrangement by a Middle Eastern company.

Real Estate

ADFG owns 68.84% of Northacre, a developer of luxury apartments in London, via Spadille Limited, a registered investment vehicle in the tax haven of Jersey. ADFG bought New Scotland Yard, the former Metropolitan Police headquarters, for £370 million in December 2014, and Northacre has submitted plans to demolish the 1960s block in Victoria and build luxury apartments, whilst retaining the familiar rotating sign.

In February 2016, the redevelopment proposal, consisting of six residential-led buildings ranging from 14 to 20 storeys, was approved by Westminster City Council. In total, the development rebranded 'The Broadway' will consist of 246 super prime apartments. Work on the development commenced in November 2016 with the new properties scheduled to be completed in 2021.

In November 2015, the CEO, Jassim Alseddiqi, stated that there would be "major shopping" and that 2016 would be an "important year" for ADFG.

Eastern Europe

In September 2015, ADFG officially opened the landmark commercial and residential investment project in Montenegro, The Capital Plaza. Located in the heart of Podgorica, Montenegro’s capital city, The Capital Plaza is the largest mixed-use real estate development in the country, occupying over 100,000 square metres of prime retail, business, hospitality and residential space.

The opening ceremony was attended by a large number of high-ranking officials, dignitaries and diplomats, including H.E. Milo Đukanović, Prime Minister of Montenegro; H.E. Abdulhamid Saeed, Managing Director of Capital Investment; and H.E. Hafsa Al Ulama, UAE Ambassador to Montenegro.

Alternative Credit

ADFG’s credit financing platform, Integrated Alternative Finance (IAF), operates primarily in the UAE and London markets. With strong links to financial institutions and alternative lenders, including ADFG itself, the platforms have access to capital that can be structured to specific corporate or project circumstances. In addition, the platform also provides on-going monitoring and management of debt investments on behalf of investors.

IAF provides alternative financing and structuring solutions to asset owners and developers for acquisition, restructuring, refinancing or development projects. Regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority, IAF is primary focus is in the real estate sector.

To date, IAF has arranged finance totaling approximately US$2 billion, with a realised IRR on high yield debt of over 15%.

Capital Markets

Integrated Capital is a licensed investment company offering asset management advisory and research services. It co-led on the successful completion of the oversubscribed issue of a corporate bond for Etihad Airways Partners. The collaboration between ADFG and Etihad was not the first; in September 2015, Integrated Capital also participated in the $700 million note issued by Etihad. The issue of the Note got worldwide honor and won multiple awards from prominent company media outlets across the world.

In November 2016, ADFG completed the acquisition of a 48.36 per cent stake in Dubai-based financial services firm Shuaa Capital from Dubai Group.