Want to sell your business?

Everybody knows private equity has hit a rough patch these past few months. According to Zawya, just one $250m PE fund has been announced this year. That compares to 6 funds worth over $1.4bn in the same period last year. Interesting, then, that there's now word of a new website, called capitalstreet.net, that aims to pair small-business sellers in the UAE (and elsewhere in the Middle East) with those interested in buying. Basically, CapitalStreet lines up "qualified" buyers - presumably people who have proven they have a substantial amount of money to spend - and allows sellers to pitch to them.

Despite the downturn, Pritvi Rajkumar, a director at Capital Street Partners, says it's still a viable way to invest. Here's his argument: "In the current market environment, buying a local business is among the best investments one can make. Buyers immediately receive a return on investment from the business' existing income. In addition they can improve the business' growth prospects by leveraging customer relationships, logistical platforms and proven managers who can increase revenue while reducing overhead costs."

The last part, to be sure, is the hard one. Especially now.