Finance Kushner’s Affinity raises new capital from QIA and Lunate By Pramod Kumar December 22, 2024, 5:12 PM Reuters Talks about raising additional capital began in February and concluded before the US election, said Jared Kushner US investment firm Affinity Partners, founded by Jared Kushner, has secured an additional $1.5 billion from the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based alternative investment fund. Talks about raising additional capital began in February and concluded before the US election, Bloomberg reported, quoting Kushner on a podcast episode of Invest Like The Best with Patrick O’Shaughnessy. “We pre-emptively tried to avoid any conflicts, so we don’t have to raise capital for the next four years.” He said that Affinity’s investors agreed to the extended commitments “irrespective of the outcome”, referencing his father-in-law, US President-elect Donald Trump. “I made very clear to them that in the event that Trump was elected, they should not expect anything from me,” Kushner said. Affinity’s assets under management increased to $4.6 billion following QIA and Lunate’s investment. $500bn QIA to go ‘aggressive’ and close big deals says CEO QIA leads $125m funding round for AI startup Cresta What Massad Boulos can do for US-Middle East trade Affinity has invested in Dubai-based Dubizzle Group and Brazilian fast-food operator Zamp SA, the report said. Kushner said the company has a robust deal pipeline and will follow all laws and rules in coming years, including during Trump’s upcoming presidential tenure, which begins in January. Saudi’s Public Investment Fund, QIA and Lunate are Affinity’s three largest limited partners.
Mining Ma’aden signs $1bn contracts to develop industrial cities Saudi mineral giant Ma’aden has signed three contracts worth a combined $922 million with foreign companies to develop a third phosphate fertiliser project. The majority state-owned Saudi mining company announced the agreements in a note to the Saudi bourse on Thursday, coinciding with the final day of the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh. Ma’aden is […] 4 hours ago
Transport Tenders issued for high speed Abu Dhabi-Dubai rail link Tenders have been issued for the design and construction of central components in a high-speed rail link between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Etihad Rail, the national rail company of the UAE, has sent out tenders for designing and constructing civil works and station packages for the line connecting the two cities as part of the […] 5 hours ago
EXCLUSIVE Aviation Wizz Air increases flights from UAE to Israel after ceasefire The budget carrier Wizz Air is increasing the number of flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv after the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The airline had previously scaled back its Tel Aviv-Abu Dhabi service to four flights a week because of the conflict, down from its pre-crisis schedule of two flights a day. […] 6 hours ago
Construction Dubai Multi Commodities Centre announces “Crypto Tower” Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) and software company Reit Development have announced plans to build a 17-storey “Crypto Tower” that they say will demonstrate the use of blockchain technology. Blockchain will be used for tenant interactions and transactions through the use of on-chain voting mechanisms, shared resources, smart contracts and other automated services. The 150,000 sq […] 6 hours ago