The Asia-Pacific region recorded a growth of 119% in mergers and acquisition (M&A) deal value in Q2 2022, compared to the previous quarter (Q1). Large conglomerates and players in a wide range of industrial sectors aim to enter across APAC markets in growth-oriented economies with large population. This strategy is driven by a desire for wider market penetration, and to enhance growth of the current portfolio of assets.
This has energised companies to explore M&A opportunities as a strategic tool, elevating deal volumes. In developing countries like Bangladesh, the expansion of M&A services is yet to gain its momentum due to fluctuating economic conditions. However, sectors like FMCG, pharmaceuticals and healthcare and essential items are demonstrating continuous growth due. This is creating and driving an enhanced demand for comprehensive solutions for investment banking solutions. This is where RSA Capital comes in.
It was established in 2004 to provide investment banking solutions along with independent advisory services to emerging market corporates. Starting with debt capital markets, RSA Capital is the pioneer of microcredit securitization for BRAC, the first transaction of its kind in the world. With a special focus on MENA region and Bangladesh, the company offers innovative structured finance solutions along with corporate advisory services. The company classifies its services in four verticals including mergers and acquisitions, debt capital markets, principal investments, and asset management. While merger and acquisition is a core area of focus, RSA also has deployed a principal investments unit.
It specializes in covering financial institutions, infrastructure, power and agricultural industry, healthcare and FMCG in emerging markets.
Services Offered
While providing advice to both the sell-side and the buyside, RSA identifies the hidden opportunities in terms of acquisition and divestment transactions in the market and enables additional advantages for the client. RSA Capital (DIFC) Limited is licensed by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and is based out of Dubai from where it covers MENA and East Africa Regions. RSA Advisory Limited which is based out of Bangladesh covers the South Asian region. Kazi Mahmood Sattar, Chairman at RSA Advisory Limited adds, “We recently have acquired a separate company for asset management, Blue Wealth Assets Limited. It is licensed by the Bangladesh Securities Exchange Commission (BSEC). We have just launched a domestic balance Fund, which is an equity and fixed income fund. We are working for raising the second fund which is going to be purely fixed income as we have not seen much fixed income funds in the Bangladesh market.”
The Road Ahead
The Founder of RSA, Sameer Ahmad added, “The deal pipeline that we are currently witnessing represents a substantial appetite for emerging markets of brick and mortar traditional assets in various sectors, which indicates we are still looking at a vibrant M&A market in 2023 despite high volatility and uncertainty in the global economic context due to inflationary pressures and rising interest rates.
Sameer Ahmad, Founder , RSA Capital (DIFC) Limited
Sameer Ahmad is the Founder of RSA Capital and currently is the Chairman and the Chief Executive of RSA Capital (DIFC), a DIFC company duly regulated by DFSA to operate investment banking and provide advisory services in the MENA region. Versatile structured finance investment banker with 29 years of experience in Europe, Middle East, Emerging Africa and South East Asia. His skills encompass merger and acquisitions, also treasure, credit and risk management, and advisory work.
Kazi Mahmood Sattar, Chairman , RSA Advisory Limited, Bangladesh
A business graduate, Kazi Mahmood Sattar started his career in commercial banking through ANZ Grindlays Bank as a management trainee in 1981. Over the forty years of his banking experience, he worked in several international banks. From working as a corporate dealer with treasury in Mumbai for one year to being a Manager in Corporate Banking in Australia, Sattar walked through a long journey of investment banking before founding Bangladesh’s first ever investment banking arm or corporate finance unit. He is the Chairman of Blue Wealth Assets Limited and IDPC Finance Limited at present, alongside performing his responsibilities at RSA Advisory Limited as the Chairman.
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