When US banks searched the world for rescue capital during the early stages of the financial crisis, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority was the first leading sovereign wealth fund to provide assistance.
In November 2007 – after only three days of due diligence, according to people familiar with the matter – Adia agreed to invest $7.5bn in Citigroup in return for “equity units” that paid an annual 11 per cent dividend and were due to convert into common shares starting in March 2010 at a price of no less than $31.83.
The deal struck by Adia – then the world's wealthiest sovereign wealth fund – left its Gulf peers looking on from the sidelines with envy.