{"text":[[{"start":7.65,"text":"Brookfield and two other suitors are circling Gulf fertility business Fakih IVF in a deal that highlights how private equity continues to chase speciality healthcare opportunities and other sectors in the Middle East despite the Iran war."}],[{"start":22.05,"text":"The sale of Fakih IVF, which has also drawn the interest of US buyout firm TA Associates and Indian healthcare chain Cloudnine, could value the fertility specialist at roughly $1bn at the top end of the range, according to people familiar with the discussions."}],[{"start":39.1,"text":"Investment bank Alantra is steering the sale, which would rank among the largest healthcare deals in the Gulf in recent years, the people said. Discussions are ongoing and no final decision has been made on whether to sell a minority or majority stake, they said."}],[{"start":54.35,"text":"Alantra and Brookfield declined to comment. Representatives for TA Associates, Fakih IVF and Cloudnine did not respond to requests for comment."}],[{"start":64.2,"text":"With a presence in the United Arab Emirates and neighbouring countries, Fakih IVF is one of the Gulf region’s major players in the assisted-reproduction sector, one of the fastest-growing healthcare areas worldwide that has increasingly drawn private equity interest. "}],[{"start":80.10000000000001,"text":"Reproductive health is an attractive sector for buyout firms especially in a region where disposable incomes are on the rise and insurance coverage for citizens is generous, but fertility rates have been in decline. "}],[{"start":92.7,"text":"Last year, IVI-RMA Global, which is backed by KKR, acquired a majority stake in the Middle Eastern operations of a fertility chain owned by regional private equity firm Gulf Capital."}],[{"start":104.85000000000001,"text":"A successful deal would suggest that Gulf dealmaking has not entirely been frozen despite the disruption caused by the Iran war, which has seen Tehran target its Arab neighbours after being attacked by the US and Israel in late February. "}],[{"start":119.30000000000001,"text":"Investment banking fees in the Gulf fell in the first four months of this year, hit by a slump in mergers and acquisitions activity, according to data platform Dealogic. "}],[{"start":129.70000000000002,"text":"But bankers say transactions in defensive sectors such as healthcare and payments are still proceeding, while other areas like tourism and retail have suffered because of the conflict. "}],[{"start":140.75000000000003,"text":"Other Middle Eastern deals that are currently drawing private equity interest include the sale of DataFlow, a regional provider of credential verification services held by alternative asset manager Arcapita, according to people familiar with the matter."}],[{"start":155.75000000000003,"text":"Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank is also selling its payments business, according to the people. "}],[{"start":161.95000000000002,"text":"“These businesses are long-dated, the current conflict won’t affect a five-year storyline,” said an investment banker focused on the Middle East. “At the right price, deals will continue to happen,” he said."}],[{"start":173.9,"text":"Brookfield in recent years emerged as one of the most prolific overseas investors in the Gulf region with deals for a payments business and large school operator. Funding for the IVF deal would likely come from its $2bn Middle East buyout fund, which was announced in 2024 and anchored by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund and the country’s social security and pension arm. "}],[{"start":196.45000000000002,"text":"Fakih IVF is currently owned by Blue Ocean Health, an investment vehicle led by Michael Fakih who founded the fertility group and opened its first Dubai clinic in 2011 before selling a majority stake to NMC Health five years later."}],[{"start":212.00000000000003,"text":"London-listed NMC went into administration in 2020 after a fraud scandal but was later restructured and is currently still owned by its creditors. Fakih’s Blue Ocean bought back his fertility business from NMC last year."}],[{"start":233.15000000000003,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1779435020_8572.mp3"}