JEDDAH — Investcorp, a global provider and manager of alternative investment products, maintained its profitability momentum with net income for the first half fiscal 2015 jumped 5 percent to $45.3 million (H1 FY2014: $43.3 million). Fee income increased to $156.7 million (H1 FY2014: $154.3 million), driven by sustained growth in investment and placement activity despite a challenging market backdrop. Total deal-by-deal fundraising in the Gulf was $490 million in H1 FY2015, an increase of 10 percent from the $446 million raised in H1 FY2014. The Firm's expanding regional office network in the Gulf is delivering positive results as new investors were added to the Investcorp client base during the period. Total realization proceeds and other distributions to Investcorp and its clients were $985 million in H1 FY2015, primarily due to the successful realization of Berlin Packaging. Nemir A. Kirdar, Executive Chairman & CEO, said: “Our stable growth trajectory continues to deliver results for our investors. We have experienced strong levels of client interest in our products, underscoring the importance investors place on Investcorp's ability to provide attractive internationally diversified investment opportunities. We continue to see good opportunities in the US as well as Europe as highlighted by our recent investments in Pro Unlimited and Dainese. Looking ahead, we will continue to seek to identify and secure a steady flow of investment opportunities worldwide, and provide the investment bridge between the Gulf and Western markets that our clients have come to rely on for more than 30 years.” Realization activity for the period included completion of the sale of SourceMedia, a diversified business-to-business media company, to Observer Capital; the sale of Berlin Packaging to Oak Hill Capital Partners for $1.43 billion; the partial realization of FishNet Security through a merger agreement with Accuvant, Inc.; and the partial realization of Asiakastieto, the leader in the Finnish credit information market. Aggregate equity deployed in new corporate investments during H1 FY2015 was $249 million across two deals: PRO Unlimited, the leading US-based provider of software and services for the contingent workforce market; and Dainese, a founder managed and globally renowned Italian brand for motorcycle and other dynamic sports markets. — SG
