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."