DUBAI, UAE, December 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Abraaj Capital and Waha Capital backed Gulf Marine Maintenance and Offshore Service Company ("GMMOS"), a leading United Arab Emirates based provider of marine services to the offshore oil & gas industry, has secured a US$100 million term loan facility from Standard Chartered Bank, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank to refinance existing debt and fund acquisitions in the offshore supply vessel (OSV) sector, with a focus on the GCC and South East Asia markets.

The acquisitions are expected to lead to a significant increase in Group profitability and asset base, with the Group's current fleet increasing from 28 OSVs to 34 OSVs by the end of 2009. A number of the new vessels to be acquired operate on a term charter basis in South East Asia, supplementing the group's current activities in the GCC and India and further expanding the Group's client base. As a result of the acquisitions, GMMOS Group fleet age is estimated to be well below the average age in the sector.

The acquisitions are consistent with the shareholders' strategy to expand and enhance the GMMOS offshore OSV fleet and chartering capabilities increasing its scale and transforming GMMOS into one of the largest fleet owner operators in the MENASA region.

About GMMOS Group: GMMOS Group is comprised of four well-established business divisions centered on two main activities: Marine and Engineering. In Marine, GMMOS activities include Stanford Marine, a prominent Offshore Supply Vessel (OSV) charter operator in the Gulf currently expanding in South East Asia and India, and Grandweld, the leader in shipbuilding and ship repair in the Gulf focusing on the OSV segment. The company's Engineering activities include GMMOS Fabrication, an oil and gas specialized steel fabricator of pressure vessels and skid modules with operations in the UAE and Kazakhstan; and Gallagher, one of the largest mobile fleet operators in the UAE with a presence in the Dubai and Abu Dhabi markets. For additional information, please visit http://www.gmmosgroup.com. GMMOS is 51 per cent owned by a Fund managed by Dubai-based Abraaj Capital and the remainder by Abu Dhabi-listed Waha Capital.

About Abraaj Capital Group: Abraaj Capital is the Middle East's largest private equity group, and invests in the growing Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region. Since inception in 2002, it has raised about US$ 7 billion and distributed almost US$ 3 billion to investors. The group has made more than 35 investments in 11 countries and exited 20. Based in Dubai, the group operates offices in five countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey. More than 150 world-class professionals work for the group from 27 different nationalities. Funds managed by the Abraaj group have holdings in some of the region's most prominent companies, such as Air Arabia, the region's largest low-cost carrier; Acibadem Healthcare Group, Turkey's biggest privately owned operator of premium hospitals; and Al Borg Laboratory, the Middle East's biggest medical laboratory-testing company. The Abraaj group companies have won several international awards. Private Equity International magazine named it 'Middle Eastern Private Equity Firm of the Year' four years running. Abraaj Capital Ltd., a member of the Abraaj group, is licensed by the Dubai Financial Services Authority, which operates according to international regulatory standards. The group is an associate member of the European Venture Capital Association and a member of the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association. For more information please visit http://www.abraaj.com

About Waha Capital: Waha Capital PJSC is Abu Dhabi-based and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange-listed diversified investments holding company, which was created by restructuring Oasis International Leasing Company PJSC in February 2008. Waha Capital has adopted a clear vision and strategy to drive multi-sector business growth and diversification through acquisitions, joint ventures and creation of new business. Its current business portfolio includes big-ticket leasing, financial services, maritime and property development. Waha Capital's main institutional shareholders are Mubadala Development Company and Abu Dhabi Investment Company. In pursuing its vision and strategy as a diversified investment holding company, Waha Capital aims to be a world-class organization that will take the lead in implementing best practices and governance, and to position itself as a partner of choice in the UAE and Middle East for regional and global businesses. For more information please visit http://www.wahacapital.ae

    For further information, please contact:

    Neil Corbasson
    Group Vice President-Business Development
    GMMOS Group
    Email: neil@gmmos.com
    Tel: +971-4-880-3637
    Fax: +971-4-880-3647

SOURCE GMMOS Group

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