Bureau van Dijk and MENA Research Partners report on regional M&A activity for the 1st Quarter 2015

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Sunday, April 12th 2015 [ME NewsWire]

The MENA M&A market depicted a steady activity during 1Q2015, prolonging its 9-month positive performance. Despite depressed oil prices and the regional political turmoil which have resulted in a slower transaction market during last months, recent strength reflects the investor confidence in the MENA region’s long-term compelling economic growth story.

While the total number of completed deals has been on a general declining trend since 2009, the announced value of M&As reached $9 billion during 1Q15, reaching its median level of the last 6 years. Such trend is reinstating the large deal sizes witnessed during the pre-2008 years, although the gap remains large to bridge. The below graphs 1 & 2 depict the rising trend of the growing value of deals against the backdrop of d ... Read more »

 Ultra-high capacity wireless communications links to connect underserved markets in Africa’s interior

LAGOS, Nigeria. - Tuesday, April 14th 2015 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AOptix, a pioneer in ultra-high capacity wireless communications, today announced that partner WaveTek has successfully completed deployment and field validation of AOptix’ Laser-Radio technology in Lagos, Nigeria. The seven-kilometer link connected capacity from submarine fiber-optic cables to a distribution point in the city’s interior, and proved the ability of Laser-Radio technology to provide high-bandwidth connectivity between mobile carriers in Nigeria and the rest of the world.

“Over the past several years there has been a push to lay submarine optical cables to connect the African continent,” said Michael Klayko, CEO of AOptix. “With the undersea cables largely in place, the challenge now is to pull that network capacity into Africa&rs ... Read more »

 Companies’ Combined Technology Produces a “Universal” Sample from Liquid, Fresh or Formalin-Fixed Paraffin Embedded (FFPE) Tissue for Multiplexed Cell Analysis by Flow or Image Cytometry

MENLO PARK, Calif. - Tuesday, April 14th 2015 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)--IncellDx, Inc. announced today the signing of a worldwide, exclusive license and supply agreement with Claremont BioSolutions (Upland, CA) to couple their enzyme-free tissue homogenization technology with IncellDx’s patented reagents. The combination forms a sample preparation system called IncellPrep™ Liquid Biopsy, to prepare “universal” cell suspensions formed from either fresh or FFPE tissue. The IncellPrep Liquid Biopsy can be used with IncellDx reagents for multiplex detection of protein, mRNA, and DNA in intact cells by flow or image cytometry.

Bruce Patterson, M.D., CEO of IncellDx commented, “This exciting marriage of technologies circumv ... Read more »

 Designs for Tiger Woods-Designed Trump World Golf Club, Dubai Completed; 1,500 Homes Under Construction

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Tuesday, April 14th 2015 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Luxury real estate developer DAMAC Properties has revealed more details within AKOYA Oxygen, making it one of the most progressive family lifestyle communities in Dubai.

It comes after a report by KPMG stated that golf courses increase the valuation of adjacent real estate by up to 20% when compared to similar real estate in a neighbourhood without the golf course component. The course in AKOYA Oxygen is being designed by Tiger Woods and managed by The Trump Organisation.

DAMAC Properties has confirmed the designs for Woods’ first course in the region are complete and work is underway on the 18-hole, par 72, 7,400 yard championship-standard Trump World Golf Club, Dubai - a key attraction of AKOYA Oxygen. The tender for main construction is being issued ... Read more »

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Sunday, April 12th 2015 [ME NewsWire]

The Al Ain Police apprehended five Arab nationals in Al Ain for attempting to steal 100,000 Dhs from a bank customer who had left his money in his vehicle before going into a shop.

Colonel Mohammed Suhail Al Rashidi, Deputy Director of the Al Ain Police Directorate, said that the Directorate received a report from an individual stating that he had been robbed by unidentified thieves after leaving the bank.

The preliminary investigations indicated that the robbery was conducted by breaking the vehicle’s window. The Directorate immediately formed a team of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in order to identify the thieves and to arrest them based on the available information.

“Our investigations led to the identification of the suspects and to their subsequent arrest,” he said. “The thieves admitted to monitoring and following the victim after he ha ... Read more »

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Sunday, April 12th 2015 [ME NewsWire]

As part of d3’s plan to build a fully integrated, thriving community including all aspect of the design industry, an impressive mix of over 220 local, regional, and international creative talent from across different sectors joined the project during the course of 2014.

d3 will welcome a wide range of local and regional designers from June 2015 .Each designer will bring their own perspective and style to design adding to the plethora of talent that will make up the face of d3’s community. Industry giants such as Chalhoub Group, and MARKA, along with renowned couture designers that have been receiving international accolades dressing Hollywood celebrities like: Rami Al Ali, Furne One Amato and Michael Cinco are establishing their presence at the district. Designers from this region will also have the opportunity to neighbour the world top Luxury brands as well as prominent labels such as, ... Read more »

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Monday, April 13th 2015 [ME NewsWire]

On Sunday evening, in the largest seizure of its kind in Abu Dhabi since the beginning of the year, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Abu Dhabi Police foiled an African gang’s attempt to sell and distribute counterfeit money amounting to $10 million.

Colonel Dr. Rashid Mohammad Borshid, Head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the Abu Dhabi Police, emphasized the commitment of the police to protect the interests of society and security, and to spare the public from any criminal activity that threatens their livelihoods or their gains. “Counterfeit money threatens the economic security and stability of individuals and institutions, it siphons away from their gains and undermines the confidence in cash currencies,” he said. Reassuring the public, he continued: “The eyes of the police are ever-vigilant and are always watching over the safety of the ... Read more »

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Monday, April 13th 2015 [ME NewsWire]

The Abu Dhabi Civil Defense General Directorate called upon the public to adhere to the regulations of installing fire prevention equipment in homes and to adhere to all of the safety procedures in place for the prevention of fires during the summer.

Captain Majid Abdullah Al Tamimi, Chief of the Media and Public Relations Section in Abu Dhabi Civil Defense General Directorate, stressed the importance of ensuring that all electric switches and wiring are of good quality and efficiency. He also advised the public to avoid using faulty electrical materials that are used for connecting the power to electrical appliances such as refrigerators, water heaters, air conditioners, and exhaust fans. He also pointed out the importance of ensuring that houses are equipped with fire extinguishers for emergencies, and to be consistent in checking and maintaining the validity of the extinguisher.

&ldquo ... Read more »

MIAMI - Monday, April 13th 2015 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- By 2020, most companies in the aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) sector will use new technology in a way that fundamentally changes how the industry works, cutting or re-distributing industry revenue by 15 to 20 percent.

Oliver Wyman released its annual MRO Survey today at Aviation Week’s MRO Americas Conference. This year’s survey, which queried more than 100 senior aviation executives, investigates the business impact of innovation and new technologies coming on line.

MRO providers need to invest in new capabilities over the next few years as manufacturers deliver next generation aircraft and engines with new technology and services.

According to results of the survey, the use of big data in the aviation industry will become pervasive, with the rise of aircraft health monitoring and predictive maintenance systems. The way MRO providers touch the aircraft will ... Read more »

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & INGELHEIM, Germany - Monday, April 13th 2015 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hydra Biosciences, Inc., a leader in the field of transient receptor potential (TRP) channel modulation, and Boehringer Ingelheim today announced that they have entered into a worldwide research collaboration and license agreement to identify small-molecule TRP inhibitors, with a primary focus on the treatment of renal diseases and disorders.

“This partnership between Boehringer Ingelheim and Hydra Biosciences provides an excellent opportunity to maximize the potential of novel targets that may offer meaningful improvements in the treatment of chronic kidney diseases and other related diseases and disorders. Boehringer Ingelheim’s long track record of research, development and commercialization success makes them the perfect partner for this program,” said Russell Herndon, President and CEO of Hydra Biosciences.

This marks the second collabora ... Read more »

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Thursday, April 9th 2015 [ME NewsWire]

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