QInvest, leading investment group in Qatar, has reported net profit of $24.4 million (QR88.7 million) in the first half of 2015, compared to $13 million (QR47.6 million) in H1 2014, marking a rise of 86 per cent.

It also posted a revenue of  $53.7 million in the first half (H1) of 2015, up 40 per cent compared to $38.3 million in H1 2014.

Despite these strong results, QInvest continues to monitor its investments carefully, given the challenges that markets still represent going forward, said Tamim Hamad Al-Kawari, chief executive officer of QInvest.

“During the first half of 2015 we generated strong performance, despite the on-going volatility across global markets. Profits generated in the  past six months alone exceeded those in the year 2014,” said Al-Kawari.

“We continued to source new opportunities, strengthen our brand and deliver positive returns. We also remained absolutely focused on executing our exciting pipeline of deal flow, taking advantage of our unique market position to leverage opportunities and deliver value for clients and shareholders alike.”

During the first half of 2015, all three of QInvest’s revenue-generating business lines – Investment Banking, Principal Investments and Asset Management - continued to cultivate new business and develop existing relationships.

In the Investment Banking division, the structured finance business closed nine transactions, deploying approximately $260 million, of which approximately $50 million was syndicated. QInvest continued to actively work on mandates for both sovereign and corporate entities, which the team expects to execute in the second half of the year. Moreover, the mergers and acquisitions team remained active, most notably benefiting from international transaction flows.

During the first half of 2015 the Principal Investments unit secured and invested in a yielding equity opportunity in the German retail market, yielding assets leased to national government agencies and a hospitality value add opportunity as well as additional mezzanine debt transactions, all in the US. Additionally, the team continues to pursue residential development opportunities in London on a co-investment basis. Following exits in 2014, the historical portfolio of non-real estate Principal Investments has been reduced significantly, and this trend continues.

During the first half of the year, QInvest also made a select number of new equity investments; in aggregate deploying approximately $50 million in three transactions. The transactions took the form of both direct co-investments and fund investments; in all cases the investments were made alongside leading investment groups. – TradeArabia News Service