Family-run businesses interested in learning from PE firms

Business intelligence provider MEED stated this yesterday saying that the region, whose surpluses are growing over Dh367.24 billion ($100 billion) a year, has suffered from a lack of investment opportunities mainly because of the reluctance of family-run businesses to sell private equity.

"This attitude is starting to shift however, with businesses increasingly considering the expertise that private equity firms can provide," said MEED, which is set to hold its first conference on private equity next month.

The statement said that MEED Private Equity Conference 2008 would be held on January 15-16. "The conference will explore the [development] in the regional private equity industry and its prospects for the year ahead through a series of insightful presentations, case study sessions and interactive workshops," it added. Edmund O'Sullivan, chairman of MEED Events, said the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council bloc is now one of the main sources of private equity for the world economy but its role is poorly understood. "Private equity has never been so topical or contentious," he stressed. "People are wondering why private equity is superior to public equity both for the firms and investors. The MEED conference will address this issue head-on in world-class presentation from leading private equity practitioners."