Optimistic on the Middle East

The Middle East and North Africa continue to be home to upheaval and change, but the region’s largest private capital firm continues to be optimistic about “a perfect scenario for private equity. . . is strong fundamentals and a lack of capital chasing those opportunities,” according to Tom Speechley, Senior Partner of Abraaj Capital and Chief Executive Officer of Riyada Enterprise Development (RED), Abraaj’s small and medium enterprise (SME) investment platform.

In an in-depth interview with Privcap, Speechley discusses the effect that the region’s disruptions have had on Abraaj’s investment opportunities and portfolio companies, the need for capital among job-producing SMEs, and Abraaj’s expansion to Asia.