Shuaa Capital reports profit in Q4 after post-merger

DUBAI: Shuaa Capital, the Dfm-listed entity and leading asset management and investment banking platform in the region created by the merger of Shuaa Capital and Abu Dhabi Financial Group (ADFG), announced preliminary results for fiscal year 2019 with an EBITDA of Dhs181 million and a net profit to the shareholders of Shuaa Capital of Dhs45 million.

Shuaa Capital’s first post-merger annual results reflected ADFG’S positive contribution to the enlarged entity and the Group’s capacity to sustain revenue and capitalize on growth opportunities.

Following its return to profitability in Q3 2019, the Group maintained its strong performance during the fourth quarter of 2019, reporting a Q4 2019 net profit to the shareholders of Shuaa Capital of Dhs73 million, showing a significant increase in its profitability compared with Dhs22 million in Q3 2019. Shuaa Capital Q4 2019 revenues grew by 63% quarter-on-quarter to reach Dhs146 million during the period, driven by a number of significant transactions that closed in the final quarter. Group EBITDA for the quarter amounted to Dhs134 million compared with Dhs63 million in Q3 2019.

Focusing on core business in key markets With a clear focus on its two core business segments, Shuaa Capital now represents the region’s leading asset management and investment banking platform, accessing a wide range of revenue opportunities across different geographies with a particular focus on the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the UK.

Post-merger, the Group earmarked non-core assets for sale to realign Shuaa Capital’s efficient businesses, focus on managing down non-strategic assets, and strengthen the Group’s balance sheet. To that end, Shuaa Capital sold its brokerage arm, Shuaa Securities brokerage as well as its equity market-making business for a total deal value of Dhs100 million.

Strengthening its operating platform the group’ s asset management business is maintaining its growth trajectory. A recent deal to manage $400 million (Dhs1.47 billion) portfolio of assets helped increase the total Group assets under management (AUM) to $14 billion, up 15% year-on-year supporting the Group’s strategy of increasing its recurring revenue streams and strengthening its non-capital intensive asset management business.

Moreover, Shuaa Capital’s investment banking business continues to be one of the most active in the region, demonstrating its expertise in managing high-profile capital market transactions. During the past 12 months the Group has been mandated to lead over $500 million in sukuk issues, including GFH Financial Group’s recent $300 million fiveyear Sukuk, Jabal Omar Development Company’s $135 million five-year sukuk and The First Group’s $135 million Sukuk. Shuaa Capital has also played a strategic advisory role in several transactions, among them the reverse listing of PAL Holding and IHC on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.