ÜNLÜ & Co’s expansion into UK aims to tap alternative funding sources for Turkish companies
ÜNLÜ & Co, has taken an important step towards establishing a global footprint by opening an office in London. The Group has received a permission from the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK and will operate as UNLU Securities UK Limited. The UK office will initially focus on debt advisory transactions; introducing Turkish clients to global alternative/private investment funds.
Turkey’s leading Investment Services and Asset Management Group ÜNLÜ & Co is expanding its footprint globally. Following its New York and Singapore offices, ÜNLÜ & Co has received a permission in the UK and commenced its operations through its new office in London. UNLU Securities UK Limited aims to expand the Group’s services and funding alternatives.
UNLU Securities UK is planning to provide services in three main areas namely Debt Advisory, Capital Markets and M&A Advisory. The company will initially focus on debt advisory and aims to establish a new distribution channel, tapping alternative investors including private debt funds, to provide new funding sources to Turkish clients.
Diversifying funding sources
ÜNLÜ & Co Chairman and CEO Mahmut L. Ünlü has expressed pride for the growing presence of ÜNLÜ & Co in the world’s prominent financial centers, stating “With the mission of being Turkey's 'ambassador for channeling investments into Turkey', we aim to promote the Turkish economy through our office in London and be instrumental in attracting more funds flow into Turkey. Given the current global and local market conditions, diversification of funding sources is of great importance for Turkish clients. Through our office in London, we will both contribute to the placement of debt instruments issued by Turkish companies as well as introducing Turkish companies to new non-bank creditors.
Global alternative investment funds reaching USD 14 trillion in 2020
UNLU Securities UK Limited UK CEO Bilgitay Saybaşılı, emphasizing the opportunities created by the growth potential of global investment funds, said:
“Private Capital markets have been on the rise over the last decade. As at the end of 2017, the total asset managed by the top 500 asset management companies is $94 trillion. In this, the UK's share is roughly $7 trillion, which has increased 11% during 2017. In the meantime, the sum of the capital allocated to global alternative investment funds have reached $10.7 trillion in 2017 and are projected to reach $14 trillion by 2020. We believe in the continued importance of London as the financial center for emerging market investors. Our aim as UNLU Securities UK Limited is to achieve the capability and depth as a distribution platform that would meet the diverse capital needs of our clients by tapping this huge potential."
About ÜNLÜ & Co:
Established as an independent financial advisory firm in 1996, ÜNLÜ & Co, is now Turkey’s leading investment services and asset management group.
ÜNLÜ & Co, Turkey’s market leader in mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships, primary and secondary public offerings and block sales, also provides debt markets advisory services to its corporate clients. The Group also offers tailor-made investment propositions and a wide range of investment solutions to individual investors through its DAHA Investment Advisory and Brokerage Services platform.
On the Asset Management Services front, the Group advises or manages mutual fund, alternative asset funds and non-performing loan portfolios.
ÜNLÜ & Co is headquartered in Istanbul with offices in New York and Singapore and employs over 350 people.
ÜNLÜ & Co in Figures:
- Financial advisor in 56 M&A transactions since 2010 with a total amount over USD 9,6 billion. (Source: Mergermarket)
- Lead arranger of 31 transactions in public offerings, private placement and block sales, reaching a trading volume of USD 3 billion since 2010;
- Leader in total stock placements since 2010 to date with a 30% market share, excluding privatizations and intra-group transactions. (Source: Bloomberg)
- Lead arranger and underwriter of 17 debt instruments with a total volume of TRY1.7bn since 2013 (Source: Borsa Istanbul).