Abu Dhabi Financial Group holds first Annual Conference

Business

Abu Dhabi Financial Group holds first Annual Conference

Abu Dhabi, UAE; March 24, 2015: Abu Dhabi Financial Group (ADFG)has held its first Annual Conference, bringing together over one hundred investors and partners to learn about the firmshistorical performance and strategy for the coming five years. The attendance of industry leaders, institutional investors, ultra-high net worth individuals, and family offices cemented the level of exposure and interest that ADFG enjoys today.

Established in 2011, theAbu Dhabi-based multi-billion dollar alternative investment Grouptoday operates through fivedistinctplatforms focused on investment management, capital markets, securities, advisory and research, debt, and real estate.

During the conference it was revealed that ADFGs real estate platform has performed particularly strongly over the past 12 months and now has a pipeline of projects worth US$3 billion in Central London alone, including one of the worlds most significant recent property deals, Ten Broadway, currently New Scotland Yard, the home of Londons Metropolitan Police. Meanwhile, its debt platform, Integrated Alternative Finance, has structured over $1 billion in debt over the last 12 months as well.

In his address to delegates, Jassim Alseddiqi, CEO of ADFG, said: In just four years, Abu Dhabi Financial Group has emerged as leader locally, regionally and globally in all the areas we operate in. Our success is built on a straightforward philosophy: simplicity is beauty, and value is everything. We focus on the areas where we are strong and strive to source, create and extract value in each and every investment.

A significant factor in the Groups success over the last year has been its ability to source 90% of opportunities proprietarily and proactively, thereby reducing exposure to market uncertainties, and to actively manage investments to extract the maximum value. This approach has enabled ADFG to deliver an internal rate of return (IRR) of 26 per cent across all investments over the last four years.

While we are obviously pleased with the Groups rapid asset growth in recent years, we are prouder of being able to deliver exceptional double digit returns to our investors during that time, continued Alseddiqi. Being able to source proprietary deals and consistently unlock value has become the hallmark of ADFG, and that will remain the unrelenting focus of the Group as we move forward.

Setting out its five-year plan, ADFG emphasised that quality of deals and not size of assets would beits priority. The Group also intends to reinforce its regional leadership position while competing even more aggressively internationally.

ADFGs senior leadership team announced that the Groups real estate platform is currently assessing several opportunities in new cities around the world, including in Miami. Its debt platform plans to build on its proven track record to become a global leader for alternative credit, specifically in the real estate sector. Its private equity and asset management arm will continue to leverage its expertise as a turnaround specialist. Delegates were also informed to expect a major announcement from ADFGs securities arm later in 2015.