UPDATE

Middle East panel event

The ICAEW Corporate Finance Faculty’s Middle East panel hosted a round-table discussion in Dubai in May, covering the United Arab Emirate’s (UAE’s) growth as a trusted destination for long-term investment. The panel discussed how regulatory transformation across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is helping shape a more resilient and investable regional economy.

The panellists included:

• Dr Tariq Bin Hendi, CEO and board member, Astra Tech
• Simon Williams, chief economist for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, HSBC;
• Raed Safadi, partner and chief economist, Whiteshield; and
• Salmaan Khawaja, partner and head of financial advisory at Grant Thornton in the Middle East, and chair of the ICAEW Corporate Finance Faculty Middle East panel.

Khawaja moderated the discussion. 

Panellists discussed recent updates to local company law, residency frameworks and broader legal policies aimed at creating a more accessible, predictable investment climate. Combined with large-scale infrastructure investment, these changes are attracting capital into priority sectors such as technology, clean energy and healthcare. The region’s strategic investment in digital infrastructure, from high-capacity data centres to artificial intelligence platforms, were also on the agenda. 

Hanadi Khalife, head of ICAEW Middle East, said: “At a time of global uncertainty, the UAE and wider GCC are entering a golden moment. A clear and well-structured regulatory environment has significantly raised the region’s global credibility. It is continuing to draw inward investment while putting in place the financial foundations required for sustainable, region-wide growth.”

UPDATE

New board member

James Wild has joined the Corporate Finance Faculty board. As national head of M&A at RSM, he co-leads the media and technology sector within the firm’s M&A team. Wild joined Baker Tilly in Manchester in 2002 and trained as an ACA, qualifying in 2005. He then moved into the firm’s corporate finance team. 

In 2013 Baker Tilly merged with RSM Tenon; the merged firm rebranded as RSM in 2015, and Wild became a corporate finance partner. Still based in Manchester, he was promoted to national head of M&A in 2021.

CONSULTATION

AIM response

The Corporate Finance Faculty has responded on behalf of ICAEW and its members to the London Stock Exchange’s discussion paper, Shaping the Future of AIM.

Submitted by ICAEW corporate finance senior manager, Katerina Joannou, the comprehensive response can be found here. It was noted: “There is a pressing need for the LSEG to better articulate the place and value of AIM in funding innovative, high growth companies and differentiate it from other sources of growth capital.”

CONSULTATION

Deal flow survey

The Corporate Finance Faculty is carrying out a survey of members to gauge their views on what is currently affecting deal flow. Input from faculty members will be appreciated. The survey can be found here.

FUTURE EVENTS

Diary dates

10 September

The Corporate Finance Faculty’s guideline Commercial Due Diligence, co-authored by KPMG and Luminii, will be launched at Chartered Accountants’ Hall.

13 November

The Corporate Finance Faculty’s Annual Reception will be held at Goldsmiths’ Hall, speakers to be finalised. The event will include the presentation of the faculty’s Corporate Development Award, and prizes for the highest-performing students in the ICAEW Corporate Finance qualification exams.

10 December

Save the date: the launch of the Corporate Finance Faculty’s guideline HR Due Diligence, authored by Deloitte, will be in the Great Hall at Chartered Accountants’ Hall.

Find out more about these events and more here.