Ace | Deal Makers - Journey Milestones

Milestones in Our Journey

Ace cumulative deal experience spans over USD 1 billion in private placement deals, over USD 3 billion for mega infrastructure projects covering Asia and the MENA region, and over USD 100 million in IPOs for GCC family businesses. Below is our cumulative deal experience spectrum and are some of our successful journeys that we embraced with our journey partners. The (anonymous) journeys cover different phases of growth for companies: early, medium, and late growth stages, IPOs, and mega-scale projects.

Cumulative Deal Experience Spectrum

Sectors Covered:

Healthcare, education, technology, manufacturing, food and beverage, real estate, infrastructure, consumer services, engineering services, mining, building materials, gold and jewelry, retail, petrochemicals, chemicals, insurance, and non-banking financial services — spanning a broad range of industries with diverse operating and capital structures.

Geographies:

United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, and the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA), with a network extending across more than 50 countries through both inbound and outbound cross-border activity.

Deal Designs:

Sell-side and buy-side mandates, mergers & acquisitions (M&A), joint ventures, growth capital raises, exits, private placements, IPOs, project finance, and strategic advisory — supporting clients across the full transaction lifecycle from origination to execution.

Capital Spectrum:

Extensive engagement with family businesses, private equity, mezzanine and venture capital investors, as well as strategic investors and other financial institutions — enabling alignment between capital sources and business owner interests.

Deal Sizes:

Ranging from early-stage growth capital to mid-market transactions, typically between USD 3 million and 50 million, alongside select major transactions exceeding USD 3 billion in aggregate value.

Successful journeys

Project M: Private Business, Late Stage: Cash Exit for Family Ownership and Capital for Expansion Plans

The Challenges

The first generation of family ownership for a healthcare group wishes for a cash exit of shares and new partners to finance expansion, add strategic value, and know how to enhance management practice.

A complex capital structure with one major family owner and over 400 individual shareholders.

Management performance was not optimal compared to benchmarks, and there was no strategy for growth.

The Solution

We designed a capital mix structure with a total valuation of USD 70 million that rewards current shareholders with a lucrative cash exit and also injects fresh capital for growth and expansion plans.

We connected global financial investors with interest and capital sufficient to buyout shares from existing shareholders and adopt a strategic growth plan through financial and management resources.

The family group ownership received a lucrative cash exit after 30 years plus of managing the business, creating significant wealth for the second generation. The family continues to co-manage with their new partners and have the chance to make another lucrative exit of their shares after their company has grown even quicker and with great talent.

IPO Projects: Exit of Shares for Family Owners and Access to Larger Capital for Expansion

(More than 4 projects in the GCC exceeding USD 100 million)

The Challenges

Family ownership wishes a cash exit of shares to reward for evolution of company growth since establishment.

The family run businesses was not prepared with business plans, legal structure and corporate governance.

The Solution

We extended Financial advice to the family run businesses to enhance their corporate structure, add corporate governance and develop a sound business plan.

We conducted a valuation of equity shares was prepared to reward current shareholders with the highest value and also remain within the acceptable range for new investors.

We proposed IPOs as the optimal path for these family businesses, granting them the highest premium for their shares and broadest capital base for funds.

We executed the documentation and roadshow successfully and the companies got listed on the public markets. The owners received cash exit for their shares, their shares became liquid for future sales and they received access to a larger equity and debt capital base, enhancing their growth journey and competitive position.

Retail Consumer Projects: Private, Mid Stage, Fresh capital for growth and a path to Exit of Shares

The Challenges

Ownership wishes for fresh capital for expansions to gain market share and a competitive edge.

Ownership wishes for a path for cash exits of shares to reward the evolution of company growth.

Not prepared for the stages, the companies required business plans and a value enhancement path.

The Solution

We dedicated Financial advice to develop a sound business plan focusing on the companies unique value proposition, especially against market competition.

We conducted private executive coaching sessions to enhance the managerial and strategic skills of decision-makers.

We executed strategic deals with real estate developers in key locations, consumer related financial institutions and strategic partners with competitive terms to enhance the business performance. We provided direct advisory support to put the business plan into action, and don't prefer to release business plans with no potential for execution.

We designed a capital structure design for each opportunity, enhancing equity share value at levels accepted by the investor markets.

The clients we took to market using our deal designs and documentation did not face scrutiny or valuation gaps which often make negotiations difficult or lead to rejections.

Some of our clients were not ready to go to market, hence we advised on a path with clear milestones to enhance their value levels and take them to market only when the time is right.

Project S: Mega-Scale Projects with Structured Finance

The Challenges

Over USD 2 billion is to be raised for a mega-scale commodities refinery plant based in North Africa with exports to global markets.

The fundraising timing went through several global and regional economic cycles between 2013 and 2019.

Sponsors invested capital was at risk of being eroded; sponsors included a HWNI from the GCC and a Ministry of Energy.

The Solution

We designed a capital mix structure that distributed the fund's size and risk across several financial sources.

We connected financial institutions with interest and commitments to the deal structure and amounts. The financial network spanned Asia, the GCC, Africa, and North Africa, as well as global insurance agencies and development financial institutions.

The equity value of Sponsors was enhanced, increasing options for expansions or exits.

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