Barclays feted at M&A Awards 2019

Business Bureau, Gulf Today

Barclays has been named Middle East Financial Services Adviser of the Year 2019 in the prestigious Mergermarket M&A awards, in recognition of its leadership in the Financial Institutions space.

 According to Mergermarket, the award is based on a number of factors, including Barclays’ commitment to client service and excellence, the high profile of advisory and capital market transactions and the banks global reach and execution capabilities.

 Khaled ElDabag, Barclays Head of Banking, Middle East North Africa (Mena) and David Nataf, Barclays Head of Banking, Central Eastern Europe Middle East North Africa (CEEMENA) jointly commented: “This award by Mergermarket is a testament to our strong presence in the Middle East, one of Barclays’ priority markets. It recognises that our regional expertise, combined with senior advice and global reach, provides clients with unmatched advisory and execution services.

 “We’ll continue to work closely with our teams around the world to deliver seamless execution to our clients in the region.” The 2019 Mergermarket award can be credited to a series of transactions Barclays has been involved in, including a complex USD$17 billion three-way merger between ADCB, UNB and Al Hilal banks where Barclays acted as exclusive advisor to ADCB and the USD$300 million recapitalisation of Investbank by the Government of Sharjah where Barclays acted as exclusive advisor to Investbank.

 In Equity Capital Markets, Barclays successfully completed in April and May this year the landmark London Stock Exchange listings of Network International (GBP2.2bn IPO) and Finablr (GBP1.2bn IPO).

 Hazem Shish, Head of Financial Institutions Group, Middle East, Turkey and Africa added: “We are delighted to receive this award, which also reflects the quality of our people and the high profile of the transactions we’ve been involved in.