NBK Capital Partners announced today it has completed the realization of its mezzanine investment in Study World Higher Education Services (“Study World”). Study World partnered with Heriot Watt University, a Scottish university, to offer UK education at their Dubai branch campus. Study World represents the seventh successful realization for NBK Capital Mezzanine Fund I, the MENA region’s first credit fund providing mezzanine financing to growing middle market companies.
Study World provides infrastructure and non-academic related services, including the provision of the building and campus infrastructure, marketing, student services, administration finance and logistics support. The mezzanine investment provided the necessary capital to expedite the construction of new academic facilities and support Study World’s growth plan.
“This investment is another example of a middle market company that benefited from our growth-oriented flexible financing solutions”, said Yaser Moustafa, Senior Managing Director of NBK Capital Partners. “We continue to see significant demand for growth capital from companies in our core sectors and geographies. This exit represents our 15th consecutive profitable exit across our platform since our inception in 2007.”
NBK Capital Mezzanine Fund I is a USD 157 million mezzanine fund that is fully invested, focused on providing mezzanine financing to companies in the MENA region. Mezzanine is a hybrid of debt and equity financing and primarily used to finance growth and expansion of companies. Mezzanine financing is relevant for a variety of transactions including leveraged buyouts, refinancing, recapitalization, growth and acquisition financing.