UAE-based Amanat Holdings is set to invest in opportunities across new markets and broaden its capabilities while building on the firm’s strong sector expertise in healthcare and education as part of its new strategy.

Amanat Holdings is a unique investment company focused on healthcare and education in the GCC. 

Following an assessment of Amanat’s business and its investing opportunities, the company’s refreshed investment strategy is built on three pillars:

•Investing in the healthcare and education sectors exclusively: Focusing on education and healthcare sectors exclusively, particularly in profitable segments.

•Complementary geographic markets: Investing in high-quality, high-growth potential companies in the GCC and beyond.

•Active investing style: Taking significant minority or majority stakes, thereby exerting an active investment approach with Amanat’s portfolio companies in order to unlock value.

Hamad Abdulla Al Shamsi, chairman of Amanat, said: “Since inception, we have built solid foundations and established an investment portfolio of high-quality healthcare and education companies.”

“Building on the firm’s strength as a sector specialist and a long-term investor, we are refreshing our strategy to take advantage of arising investment opportunities and to deliver greater value for shareholders and portfolio companies alike. This refreshed strategy will allow us to develop a healthy and well-diversified portfolio,” he said.

Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, vice chairman and managing director, said: “We are entering a new chapter for our company with a clear and unique value proposition centred on education and healthcare sectors in the GCC and beyond where we have the opportunity to take significant minority and majority stakes.”

“We will continue targeting leading companies with sustainable competitive advantage and strong growth prospects,” he added.

Over the past three years, Amanat has invested in four deals and deployed a total of Dh1.1 billion ($299.28 million) capital of its Dh2.5 billion ($680.65 million) paid-up capital in healthcare and education investments in the GCC, said the company in a statement.

Since last December, Amanat has deployed 15.6 per cent of its capital as part of Amanat’s increasingly active investment approach.

The company recently acquired a 35 per cent stake in Abu Dhabi University Holding Company, which is the market leader in the private higher education in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

Amanat also recently became the largest shareholder in Taaleem Holdings, one of the UAE’s largest providers of K-12 education, by acquiring an additional 5.3 per cent stake to bring its total ownership to 21.7 per cent of the company, it added.-TradeArabia News Service