• NinjaTrader is a leading US-based retail futures trading platform, wholly owned by Payward Corporation.
• The deal represents an exceptional achievement, with an independent Gulf-based private markets firm concluding a private credit agreement with a leading US-based fintech company.

Manama, Bahrain – Gulf Partners Group (GBG), a leading private markets firm in the GCC region, in collaboration with Payward, the unified infrastructure platform and parent company of both NinjaTrader and the digital asset platform Kraken, today announced the closing of a $100 million private equity investment for NinjaTrader Group Holdings LLC (“NinjaTrader”), a leading US retail futures trading platform based in Chicago. This investment will support NinjaTrader’s continued growth and operational expansion, further solidifying its leadership in the US retail futures market .

This private credit investment represents JPG’s second transaction since its launch and reflects Payward Kraken’s strategic expansion in the Gulf region. NinjaTrader serves hundreds of thousands of retail futures traders across the United States, solidifying its leading position in the rapidly growing retail trading market. This transaction highlights the increasing role of Gulf investment firms in creating and executing global private credit investment opportunities and underscores JPG’s role in providing and structuring complex cross-border investments, enabling GCC investors to access high-quality global companies .

This facility also marks the beginning of a deeper strategic relationship between Payward and JPG. Building on a long-standing professional relationship between the management teams of both companies, this partnership aims to explore opportunities to connect Gulf investors with Kraken’s growing portfolio of products and services. Both parties anticipate that this relationship will create a leading platform that will foster future collaboration and capitalize on investment opportunities across the region .

Commenting on the deal, Mohammed Al-Qahtani, Co-CEO of Gulf Partners Group (GBG) , said: “This deal embodies the true objective behind the launch of GPG; which is to connect the Gulf with the most important investment opportunities around the world, at a pace and with standards that meet the aspirations of institutional investors.”

Waleed Abdul Aziz, Chief Investment Officer at Gulf Partners Group (GBG) , said: “Investors across the GCC are increasingly interested in institutional investment opportunities in private markets, both locally and globally. Our goal is to help bridge that gap by connecting these investors with carefully selected opportunities worldwide.”

Yousef Al-Abdullah, Co-CEO of Gulf Partners Group (GBG) , said: “This deal reflects the quality of our relationships and execution capabilities that we have built over many years. We see great potential to continue linking regional capital with high-quality investment opportunities on a global scale.”

Martin Franchi, CEO of NinjaTrader, said: "This facility reflects the confidence our partners have in NinjaTrader's business and growth trajectory. We have spent two decades building this leading US futures platform, and with the right capital partners, we are confident that the next chapter of our journey will be filled with success and prosperity."

Arjun Sethi, co-CEO of Payward and Kraken , said: “The Gulf region has been at the forefront of recognizing the importance of digital assets and their future role as market infrastructure. Therefore, obtaining a license from the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority was a significant milestone for us. This facility marks another equally important achievement. NinjaTrader already leads the US retail futures market, and this financial instrument is a cornerstone of all mature financial markets. This facility will attract Gulf capital to our platform, accelerating its expansion and laying a solid foundation for its long-term growth outside the US, as well as creating new opportunities to connect global capital to the next generation of market infrastructure. We have a long-term strategic vision, and Payward has many plans to implement across the region through both Kraken and NinjaTrader.”

Gulf Partners Group is a leading private equity firm focused on the GCC region, active in both private equity and private credit investments. The firm targets investments ranging from US$50 million to US$100 million and aims to build a portfolio with approximately 75% allocated to the GCC and 25% globally .

For media inquiries :

Gregor Ryman / Mithras Partners

gpg@mithras-partners.com
Malika Hamed

About Gulf Partners Group (GBG)

Gulf Partners Group is an independent private markets firm, led by its founding management team of three experienced Gulf partners with over 70 years of combined private market investment experience in the region, and supported by Arzan Capital. The firm targets private equity, private credit, and select real estate and growth opportunities, focusing on the mid-market segment across the GCC and select international markets. Leveraging local networks, regional expertise, and direct access, the firm serves high-net-worth families, family offices, regional institutions, and sovereign wealth funds seeking access to exceptional opportunities in the GCC private markets .

For more information, please visit www.gulfpartnersgroup.com .

About Payward

Payward is a unified financial infrastructure platform working to develop an open global financial system. Through its suite of products—including Kraken, NinjaTrader, and Payward services—Payward serves clients in over 190 countries and regions, offering cryptocurrency trading, derivatives, tokenized shares, storage, custody, and financial infrastructure for corporate clients. Kraken, founded in 2011, is one of the oldest and most secure cryptocurrency platforms in the world .

For more information, please visit www.payward.com and www.kraken.com .

About the Ninja Trader Group

NinjaTrader Group is a global leader in retail futures and trading technology. Since 2003, it has empowered a community of over 3.5 million traders by adopting cutting-edge technology, offering low commissions, and providing world-class support. This modern, cloud-based platform, accessible across computers, the web, and mobile devices, gives all traders the freedom to capitalize on market opportunities anytime, anywhere. NinjaTrader Clearing provides direct access to futures markets, while Net Technologies offers new tools and seamless integration between the NinjaTrader platform and advanced enterprise technology to support both retail traders and trading firms. For institutions, NinjaTrader Connect provides a comprehensive suite of B2B solutions, offering advanced technology and financial infrastructure to technology providers.

For more information about NinjaTrader, please visit ninjatrader.com .

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