Riyadh – Sharikat Mubasher: The Egyptian investment bank Zilla Capital will establish an investment portfolio management firm in Saudi Arabia, in partnership with a Saudi financial institution,

 Zilla Capital’s CEO Wael Ziada said in an interview with Asharq Business that the new firm targets luring $300 million in investments to be managed via the portfolios by the end of the current year.

Ziada added that Zilla Capital already initiated the process of obtaining licenses which is expected to be finalized so that the company can commence operations by this October or November.

Ziada pointed out that Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest and most diverse markets in the region that Zilla Capital aims to penetrate driven by the company’s deep knowledge of this particular market and the volume of Saudi assets.

He added that the company is currently managing 12 merger and acquisition (M&A) deals in Egypt, UAE, and Saudi Arabia with a total value of $1 billion, expected to be closed in a timeframe of 12-18 months.

Moreover, Ziada disclosed that the company is mulling launching a new investment fund in Egypt by the next year, however, the final decision on this will be made within a period of a month.

Zilla Capital is a one-stop-shop for all financing and investment needs, offering an array of services including financial advisory, asset management, private equity, non-banking financing solutions, and management consulting.