Mohamed Hedi Mejai

Key skills

Extensive experience in the financial sector in emerging markets and understanding of the development issues and multilateral financing institutions; have a wide international exposure and network. Held diverse senior managerial positions. Fluent in Arabic, English and French.

Education

2003 (Paid by employer) IDB-Management Development Program,                    
London Business School, UK

1998 Master of Business Administration,
Theseus/EDHEC Management School, France

1996 Master of Science in Development Studies,
SOAS, University of London, UK

Professional Experience

Jul 2010-Present Oryx Capital Bank, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Main Achievements

• Lead the licensing process and establishment of Oryx Capital in Dubai International Financial Center.
   
• Active role in capital raising, recruitment, office opening, budget preparation.
   
• Liaison with the Board, shareholders and regulators about various issues.
   
• Manages the various functions of the organization (investment, operations, finance, risk, compliance, internal audit).
   
• Oversee the transaction origination, due diligence and closing process.
   
• Develop partnerships and alliances.

Aug 2005 - Jun 2010 International Investment Bank, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain

Executive Director & Deputy CEO

Main Achievements

• Lead the investment origination and structuring team.
   
• Monitored the due diligence, negotiation and legal documentation process.
   
• Liaised with Central bank of Bahrain and auditors for required approvals for each investment and offering memorandum.
   
• Played active role in the capital raise of the bank.
   
• Chaired various in-house committees to prepare the operation and investment manuals, strategy and budget.
   
• Membership of the executive management and risk management committees.
   
• Served as board member of various banks, companies, funds.
   
• Managed the post-acquisition process to report on each investment and held Board memberships in financial and industrial sectors.

Sept 98- Aug 05 Islamic Development Bank Group, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Division Chief, Investment Operation & Marketing

Main Achievements

• Selected as member of the entire Group strategy team.
   
• Building of a deal flow and structuring of several equity and debt transactions.
   
• Monitoring the due diligence process and carrying out negotiations with clients.
   
• Enlarging the investor and client base of the institution.
   
• Initiating a web based solution to manage the deal flow pipeline.
   
• Staffing and preparation of budget of the division.
   
• Member of the investment committee.
   
• Speaker in several prominent conferences about investment and development issues in Malaysia, Turkey, Lebanon, Tunisia, France, Cameroon, Senegal, Kazakhstan, Iran, UAE, KSA, Bahrain, Egypt

Chief Executive Officer, Injazat Technology Fund

Main Achievements

• Participation in capital raising and negotiation with co-sponsors.
   
• Licensing of the Fund as the first Islamic technology venture capital fund by the Central Bank of Bahrain and establishment of an operation office in Dubai.
   
• Recruitment and training of the team, preparation of the operation manuals and investment guidelines.
   
• Various investments in innovative and performing companies and follow up as Board member.
   
• Significant cost savings on pre-establishment costs of the Fund for the shareholders.
   
• Speaker on several occasions about venture capital and technology investments. Several interviews on venture capital and private equity by Bankers Middle East, Arabian Business, etc.

Young Professional Program/Investment Officer

Main Achievements
 

• Completed the on the job training as investment officer.
   
• Appointed as member of the core team that has established the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), a multilateral investment institution. Co-prepared the feasibility study and business plan and participated in all pre-operation matters.
   
• Participation in several due diligence assignments in textile, cement, power and telecom sectors.

Sept 1996- Jul 1997 Mondex International Ltd, London, UK

Mondex is an affiliate of Midland Bank specialized in electronic payment.

Analyst

• Market research about potential franchisees of Mondex and their assessment.
   
• Review and negotiation of partnership contracts.
   
• Participation in the organization of business development and promotional events.

Other short assignments while studying.

Board Membership & Special Assignments

Board Membership:

- Amrah Commercial Bank (Azerbaijan), Anfal Capital (KSA), Islamic International Rating Agency (Bahrain). Ino-IIB Real Estate Fund (France), IIB Germany Fund (Germany), Ewaan Real Estate Development (KSA), Uniroll Steel Mill (Bahrain), Sahab RE Investment (Bahrain), Magros Holding (Bosnia),  Arabian Sugar (Bahrain), Queenex Paper Mill (UAE), IIB European Investment Holding (UK).

Special Assignments:

- Member of official delegations to several countries. i.e Kazakhstan, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Bangladesh, Senegal, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Egypt, Kuwait, Turkey.

Interests & Training

Interests: Reading, movies, swimming and horse riding.
Publication: “Impact of the financial crisis in Malaysia”, SOAS Economic Digest, London 98.
Master Thesis: Promoting foreign direct investment in developing countries: A case study of Tunisia, SOAS, University of London 96.
President of Tunisian Business Council (Bahrain)
Member of ATUGE since 1997.

With Oryx Capital

Compliance and anti-money laundering (Dubai)

With the International Investment Bank

Private Equity due diligence (Bahrain)
Real estate due diligence (Bahrain)
Anti Money Laundering (Bahrain)

With the Islamic Development Bank
Off site:

Familiarization visits with similar multilateral development institutions:
- International Finance Corporation, (USA)
- European Investment Bank (Luxembourg)
- European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, (UK)

In House

Corporate Credit Analysis by Dc.Gardner/ Euromoney, London (UK)
Financial Analysis and Forecasting by Dc.Gardner/ Euromoney, London (UK)
Project appraisal by United Nation Industrial Development Organization (Austria)
Balance scorecard.

Selection of Deals Completed

Private Equity

• Commercial Bank (www.amrahbank.com) : acquisition of 49% stake in a commercial bank in Baku in Azerbaijan and converting it into Islamic bank. Deal size in range of USD 50m. Also, Board Member .
   
• Steel Rebar Factory: establishment of a steel rebar factory in Bahrain. Deal size in range of USD 40m. Also, Board Member.
   
• Paper Manufacturing Co: establishment of a jumbo roll paper manufacturing company in UAE. Deal size in range of USD 50m. Also, Board Member.
   
• Ewaan Capital: establishment of an asset management company in Saudi Arabia with institutional partners from KSA and a commercial bank in Malaysia. Deal size in range of USD 15m. Also, Board Member.
   
• Automotive Company: investment in a car dealership and spare parts company in Tunisia and then listing it through an IPO. Deal Size in range of USD 200m.
   
• Lube Oil Plant: investment in a Lube Oil plant in Kuwait. Deal size in range of USD 50m.
   
• Sugar Plant: investment in a Sugar plant in Bahrain. Deal size in range of USD 130m.
   
• Venture Capital Fund: establishment of a USD 50m venture capital fund with institutional partners from MENA in Dubai in UAE.
   
• Commercial Bank: investment in a commercial bank in Sudan. Deal size USD 30m.
   
• Pharmaceutical Company: investment in a pharmaceutical company in Jordan. Then, exist through an IPO achieving an IRR in excess of 22%. Deal size in excess of USD 50m.
   
• Vaccin Plant: investment in a vaccine plant in Saudi Arabia. Deal size in the range of USD 50m.
   
• Establishment of credit rating agency in Bahrain with initial capital of USD 2m.

Real Estate

• German Portfolio: acquisition of three buildings occupied by Siemens in Munich in Germany. Deal size is in excess of USD 230m.
   
• French Portfolio: acquisition of five office buildings and a warehouse in Paris in France. Deal size in the range of USD 120m. Also, Board Member.
   
• UK Portfolio: acquisition of one office building in London in UK and then exit achieving an IRR of 67%. Deal size in the range of USD 305m.
   
• Business Bay 1: development of an office building in Business Bay in Dubai in UAE and then exit achieving an IRR of 23%. Deal size in range of USD 100m.
   
• Business Bay 2: development of an office building in Business Bay in Dubai in UAE. Deal size in range of USD 95m. Also, Board Member.
   
• Danet Abu Dhabi 1: development of mixed use two towers in Danet Abu Dhabi in UAE. Deal size in range of USD 200m. Also, Board Member.
   
• Ewaan Global (www.ewaan.com.sa) : establishment of a real estate development company with high profile institutional and private groups in Saudi Arabia with focus on affordable housing. Deal size in range of USD 150m. The first project is ongoing for about USD 500m in Jeddah. Also, Board Member.
• Sahab Al Khaleej: establishment of a real estate development company with GCC private groups in Bahrain. Deal size in range of USD 100m. Also, Board Member.  

Debt financing

• Hospital: financing and arranging of facility of USD 70m to build a 300 beds hospital in Sanaa in Yemen.
   
• Industrial Zone: financing facility of USD 15m for an industrial zone in Amman, Jordan.
   
• Hospital: syndication financing facility of USD 150m for a hospital in Madina in Saudi Arabia.
   
• Oil service Company: financing facility of USD 10 for an oil service company in Kazakhstan.