Private Equity Investment Firm : CEO Message

In the mid-1980s, when my family founded Starling Holding, investing in the private equity and venture capital asset class was practically non-existent and Starling remained, for many years, one of the only companies of its kind in the region.

Perhaps there was a risk for us in entering this new ground, but then taking calculated risks is an essential aspect of private equity investing.

The challenge was to be able to spot the right opportunities in this space, but we believed that we had identified an asset class that could provide significant risk adjusted returns to our portfolio.

Over the last two decades or so, Starling has gained a reputation for being a highly experienced, knowledgeable, thorough and insightful institutional investor in this asset class. The group has built up a diversified portfolio spanning the world, from America to Asia, Europe to Australia.

As large and successful as Starling gets, we are a family enterprise, and as such we are very much in tune with the human side of the business–we understand that while we may sign contracts with institutions, we work with individuals. This approach has helped us build a number of solid and trusting relationships with people across the world, relationships that have spanned decades.

Today, the private equity asset class has a much firmer foothold in the Middle East than when Starling was founded. It is gratifying for me to know that, having helped pave the way for this business back in the early 1980s, our company continues to set industry standards today.

Ahmed Jamal Jawa
CEO
Starling Holding

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