Tikehau Capital, the global alternative asset manager, today announced the expansion of its global footprint with the opening of its new office in Abu Dhabi, as a first step in establishing the group's presence in the GCC region.
Its 15th office around the world to date, Tikehau Capital said in the ADGM statement that it had established client relationships across the UAE over the past few years, and with the new permanent presence in Abu Dhabi, it would "serve the UAE's vibrant ecosystem of leading financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds, corporates and entrepreneurs, drawing on its expertise, resources, and global network across its various asset classes (private debt, real assets, private equity, and capital markets strategies)".
With a dedicated local team on the ground, the office opening was intended to strengthen Tikehau Capital's existing relationships with key local players and is in line with the Group's announcement in February 2021 of Hassan Karimi's appointment as a senior advisor in the region, it further said.
Gustave Laurent, who was part of Tikehau Capital's M&A strategy department based in Paris, relocated to Abu Dhabi to help coordinate business development and office operations. Laurent will work alongside the group's senior management team and its local senior partners to help develop long-term and collaborative relationships with local investors and promote the growth of its portfolio companies across the region.
Tikehau Capital also "aims to build strategic partnerships with local actors and leverage its investment expertise in the decarbonisation of our economies and strategic sectors such as food security and cybersecurity, among others in order to actively contribute to the development of Abu Dhabi's ecosystem".
Antoine Flamarion and Mathieu Chabran, co-founders of Tikehau Capital said: "We are thrilled to announce the opening of Tikehau Capital's first office in the Gulf Cooperation Council region, marking a significant milestone in our global expansion. This strategic move strengthens our presence in the United Arab Emirates and sets the foundation for further regional growth. Our commitment to building long-term relationships, fostering collaboration, and contributing to Abu Dhabi's ecosystem sets us apart. We are excited to embark on this journey and develop our trusted partnerships in the GCC region further."
Frédéric Giovansili, deputy CEO of Tikehau Investment Management said: "The opening of an office in Abu Dhabi Global Market is testament to Tikehau Capital's long-term and local commitment to each market it enters. We believe our differentiated value-added approach and entrepreneurial heritage will be highly relevant in the GCC region. Tikehau Capital is fortunate to have established existing trusted relationships which we look forward to developing further."
Arvind Ramamurthy, chief of market development at ADGM, said: "ADGM is pleased to welcome Tikehau Capital to ADGM's dynamic financial ecosystem as it secures its Financial Services Permission (FSP) from ADGM's Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA). Beginning this exciting journey within ADGM's progressive regulatory environment will help this well-established alternative asset management company cement its first foothold in the region.
"We are confident that Tikehau Capital's unique approach and commitment to delivering excellence will drive unprecedented growth and collaboration within ADGM, as well as Abu Dhabi and the wider region. With the addition of another major global asset management player, ADGM reiterates its commitment to evolving the thriving asset management landscape in the ‘capital of capital'."
