Bahrain: Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (Mumtalakat), the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and TRAIL, the French investment company, announced a strategic partnership under which Mumtalakat will be an investor in SLAM, the first private equity fund dedicated to the Sport, Luxury, Arts, and Music sectors.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the strategic partnership was signed in the presence of Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy and Chairman of Mumtalakat Holding Company, and Nicolas Forissier, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness of France, during their participation at the “Choose France” Summit, an international investment summit hosted by France.
The partnership combines TRAIL’s sectoral expertise and investment skills with Mumtalakat’s regional influence and long-term investment approach. The two entities aim to develop SLAM’s sectors within Bahrain and the broader Gulf Cooperation Council region through direct investments and supporting the regional expansion of the fund’s portfolio companies. As part of the agreement, TRAIL will establish an office in Manama to serve as its GCC hub, facilitating portfolio company growth and regional capital raising.
Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa stated that the strategic partnership highlights Bahrain’s position as a prime destination for high-quality investment and international collaborations. He remarked that the investment in the SLAM Fund aligns with Bahrain’s strategy to diversify investment opportunities and capitalize on emerging sectors to support sustained economic growth.
He further emphasized that the partnership is a significant step toward attracting more global investment and expertise to Bahrain, enhancing the Kingdom’s status as a regional business and investment hub, and contributing to the objectives of Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 through economic diversification and the creation of new sustainable growth avenues.
Shaikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of Mumtalakat, commented that the collaboration with TRAIL introduces the SLAM sectors as a new asset class to Bahrain and the wider GCC. This reflects Mumtalakat’s commitment to diversifying its portfolio and unlocking new avenues for value creation, aiming to deliver sustainable long-term financial returns and contribute to tangible economic impact for Bahrain.
Xavier Marin, President of TRAIL, expressed confidence in the development potential of the GCC region in the SLAM sectors, stating that the convergence of sport, luxury, arts, and music presents significant value-creation opportunities. Marin expressed delight in forming the strategic partnership with Mumtalakat.