An exceptional history

Two decades at the forefront

Since 2005, Millennium has led international investment banking and private equity across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia — with completed transactions exceeding USD 50 billion in telecoms, oil & gas, natural resources, real estate, financial institutions, and infrastructure.

2005

The firm is founded

Keba Keinde and his partners establish Millennium Financial Advisory with Dubai Islamic Bank as anchor investor — management holding 35% through AFA, DIB holding 65%.

2006

DFSA license & a new name

Authorised by the DFSA under a Category 4 license, the firm is renamed Millennium Finance Corporation and opens at the DIFC Gate Building.

2006

Millennium Private Equity launches $5bn fund series

Millennium Private Equity is mandated by Dubai Islamic Bank to launch a $5 billion series of seven sector-specific funds — beginning with two $1bn funds in Energy and Telecom, Media & Technology, targeting under-penetrated markets across Africa, Asia, and the GCC.

2007

A leading regional bank

MFC completes over $20bn of transactions — lead manager and bookrunner on DP World's $5bn IPO, the largest ever in the Middle East, and advisor on ArcelorMittal's $2.2bn mining project in Senegal. KIPCO acquires 32.5% of MFC.

2008

Millennium Private Equity

MFC establishes MPE and raises $500m across the Energy, Telecom, and India funds, backed by DIB, KIPCO, KFH, IDB, and ICD. MPE invests $100m in Bharti Infratel alongside Temasek, Goldman Sachs, and KKR.

2009

MPE spin-off

Following a shareholder dispute, DIB and UGB acquire MPE and AFA becomes 100% shareholder of MFC.

2010

Refocused on Africa

MFC relaunches investment banking with a focus on Africa — advising IDB on a $200m port financing in Gabon and South Sudan on a $1.5bn pre-export facility, plus several natural-resources transactions.

2011–14

A period of transition

Keba Keinde takes a sabbatical to run for president in Senegal. He is later fully cleared by Senegal's Supreme Court of any involvement in any wrongdoing.

2015

Three sectors, one continent

Millennium concentrates on Natural Resources, Telecom & Technology, and Energy — with Africa at the center. The year includes an ICT LBO in KSA, a $1.5bn real estate transaction, and advisory on a multi-billion-dollar telecom operator.

2017

Freedium

Millennium launches Freedium, a stablecoin backed by commodities.

2018

Gold trading fund

The firm develops a dedicated gold trading fund.

2020

Natural-resources JV

Millennium establishes MPGL, a natural-resources joint venture.

2024

$7bn iron-ore asset in Guinea

MPGL acquires a proprietary $7 billion iron-ore mining asset in Guinea — one of the largest resource transactions in Africa.

Where we go next

Explore the sectors and regions shaping Millennium's direct-investment strategy.

Our sectors