Alta to open Middle East branches, sees private deal flow jumping

[SINGAPORE] The growing investor appetite for alternative assets is leading Alta Group, which runs a digital securities exchange for such investments, to set its sights on expanding to the Middle East.

The Singapore-based company, which claims its Alta Exchange is the largest such platform in South-east Asia, said it is likely to open up to two branches in the next few months. These could be either in Saudi Arabia or United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kelvin Lee, co-founder and chief executive, told The Business Times.

“We’re ready to go… deciding between Saudi Arabia or the UAE is the main question,” he said, adding that if Alta decided on the latter, it would be in Abu Dhabi, likely with 10 employees.

Known formerly as Fundnel, Alta was founded in 2015, with offices also in Malaysia, Indonesia and India.

Alta’s digital marketplace gives investors avenues to trade shares of early to late-stage private companies, and private equity and venture capital funds, through more than 70 companies and products.