DUBAI, UAE, July 15 /PRNewswire/ --     The Dubai office of Weil, Gotshal & Manges has advised KIPCO and Showtime
Arabia in one of the largest cross-border mergers in the UAE region.
The KIPCO Group is one of the largest diversified holding companies in the
Middle East and North Africa (MENA), with consolidated assets of US$ 19
billion.

Satellite broadcast company, Showtime Arabia, and Orbit Group, a member
of the Riyadh-based Mawarid Group, have merged to create the leading pay-TV
platform in the MENA region. "When such a consolidation takes place, it is a
kind of defining moment in terms of TV entertainment," said Marc-Antoine
d'Halluin, the chief executive of the new business.

Partner Mark Soundy, assisted by associate Natalie Gray, led the Weil
Gotshal Dubai office team, with support from partner Peter King and
associates Alicia Speake and Elizabeth Todd.

Mark Soundy said, "We are delighted to have been involved in one of this
year's landmark MENA transactions. This deal demonstrates the region's
growing appetite for ever more sophisticated M&A skills."

Joe Tortorici, Managing Partner of the Dubai office and Middle East
operations said, "Our Middle East initiative has got off to a very nice start
this year, with a handful of major transactions in the region now under our
belt and a few more in the pipeline".

DLA Piper assisted KIPCO with local due diligence. Linklaters advised
Mawarid Group. Credit Suisse acted as exclusive financial advisor on
the merger.

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Weil, Gotshal & Manges

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For further information please contact:

    Mark Soundy
    Partner
    +44-20-79031377
    Mark.Soundy@weil.com

    Joe Tortorici
    Managing Partner of Dubai and Middle East Operations, Dubai
    +971-4-4019650
    Joe.Tortorici@weil.com

    Jessica Orrill
    Marketing Executive
    +44-20-7903-1386
    Jessica.Orrill@weil.com