Who We Are
Merchant-Edge is an international capital advisory firm. We provide corporate and public advisory services in debt, equity, refinancing, buy and sell-side M&A, alternative investments and merchant banking.
We leverage our principals’ experience and market presence to identify unique opportunities, originate transactions and provide a suite of execution services.
We always align our interests with those of our clients and act as fiduciaries in order to become long-term trusted partners for clients, investors, corporations and governments worldwide.
We have affiliations with internationally recognized and regulated firms in various jurisdictions, ensuring compliance with local and international laws and regulations.
Why Choose Us
Our Team
Our dedicated team is international, multidisciplined, and pragmatic.
Deep Experience
Our deep experience and expertise encompass a wide range of financial situations and geographies.
Assist Clients
Our senior level advisors assist clients at every step of engagement and execution.
Effective Solutions
Our client solutions are designed to be flexible, efficient and evaluate impact on all stakeholders.
Management Team
Ibrahim Mardam-Bey
Chief Executive Officer
Ibrahim Mardam-Bey is an international executive with over 30 years of experience as a global finance professional and a track record in capital raising, structuring, and business development. He started and led several investment banking and private equity boutiques and participated in multiple transactions worldwide, including deals in securitization, M&A, real estate, energy, oil and gas, private equity, venture capital, and banking. He possesses a broad range of unique experiences and a track record in the international finance, merchant investment banking, and participating finance world. As an executive, Ibrahim has held numerous senior positions, and as an entrepreneur, he has been a principal in several successful ventures. He also maintains an active role in public speaking and mentoring.
As a published author, he has written on international finance, entrepreneurship, and Islamic banking and has been featured in Euromoney, Banker Middle East, Sukuk Insider, and other publications. Ibrahim has received numerous business and professional recognitions and awards for his pioneering work on several international sukuk transactions. He has successfully arranged and raised both equity and debt financing for multibillion-dollar projects and private equity funds.
He is a member of the Arab Bankers Association of North America, the London based Arab Bankers Association and Young Arab Leaders.
Abhishank Jajur, CFA
Managing Director
Abhishank Jajur has 14 years of experience in energy and infrastructure investment focussed on projects. He has been a financial advisor, a principal investor and a project financier. He is passionate about building assets that solve real world problems, generate value for investors and have a positive economic and social impact. The diversity of his training, sectoral and geographical experience has helped him develop a multi-dimensional problem-solving skillset. He is proficient at assimilating, de-risking and presenting uncertainties across political, economic and technological domains. He has led and managed transactions at TDJ and Reliance Industries Limited.
He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and holds an M.A. in International Relations from the John Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), M.B.A. in Finance from the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow, India and B.S. in Computer Science.
Shazilan Dahalan, CA FIPA FFA
Managing Director
Shazilan Dahalan has over 25 years of international business and finance experience. His experience covers a wide range of industries including telecommunications, renewable energy, oil & gas, hospitality, property development, information technologies, manufacturing, services, banking and finance.
He was the Group CFO of Impiana Hotels Berhad, a Malaysian PLC and Group CFO of ASN Satellites Corporation. Previously, he was the Managing Director of Taylor-DeJongh Ltd, UK and CFO of Siraj Capital Limited, based in Jersey, Channel Island with offices in Dubai, UAE and Jeddah, KSA. While at Siraj Capital, he was a key member and major contributor in the successful formation of several private equity funds and investments in several high-growth profit-yielding companies. Prior to Siraj Capital, he was the VP – Finance & Operations of Tricubes Berhad, a former Malaysian PLC. Mr. Dahalan started his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Malaysia.
He is a Chartered Accountant (CA) registered with The Malaysian Institute of Accountants, a Fellow (FIPA) of The Institute of Public Accountants Australia and a Fellow (FFA) of The Institute of Financial Accountants UK. He holds a B.A. in Accounting (Honours), University of Technology MARA, Malaysia.
Amer Mardam-Bey
Managing Director
Amer A. Mardam-Bey. With 35+ years of international project management experience and a track record in business development and entrepreneurship, Amer has successfully managed and lead international projects throughout the world, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Somalia.
He has also held numerous senior executive positions with US and International companies and has successfully help launch several award-winning startups in the region. He has received recognitions and awards throughout his career, including placing his startup, 5th, and 2nd respectively in 1998 and 1999 part of the top 50 Growth companies in the Greater Washington Metro Area.
Amer is a frequent speaker on such topics as entrepreneurship, small medium enterprise growth, angel, and venture capital funding. In addition to being featured in several articles in the US and MENA , Amer has contributed to various policy briefs and reports on various topics , in collaboration with the UN, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), Publish What You Pay, and The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and is also an active member of MIT’s regional mentorship program. Amer is currently the Executive Director of The Lebanese Oil & Gas Initiative a local NGO, focused on transparency and good governance in the extractive Oil and Gas sector.
Eng. Nick Ahmad, MBA
Director
Nick Ahmad has over 28 years of international business experience in business development activities in the ICT and technology sectors as well as real estate and construction. Prior to joining Merchant-Edge, he was the Operations Director for ASN Satellites Pte Ltd, a Malaysian technology provider for telecommunications satellites for ASNSAT-1 and ASNSAT-2 LEO High Bandwidth and availability satellites covering the Asian and Asia Pacific regions. In Saudi Arabia he was with Siraj Capital as Business Development Manager exploring opportunities in real estate and hospitality development and incubation activities for a number of start-ups including several Saudi top 100 companies. After Siraj Capital and still in Saudi Arabia, he was the Program Director for Anan Iskan Development company; one of the Middle East’s biggest providers of integrated worker housing solutions, housing over 150,000 tenants in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
He is a professional engineer with an MBA in International Marketing from York University, Canada.
Nour Fakih, CFA
Director
Nour Fakih has 9 years of experience in FMCG, Agriculture, Manufacturing and Infrastructure investments and projects. Nour has worked for several leading multinational companies including CMA CGM, Jubaili Agrotec, Transmed, Louis Dreyfus Company and Webcor Group.
He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and holds a BA in Economics from the American University of Beirut (AUB).
Independent Senior Advisors
Khaled Faisal Alhegelan
Khaled Alhegelan is a Saudi businessman and humanitarian with over 35 years of international investment and global philanthropic experience. He has formed and invested in multiple successful companies varying between medical supplies, health care diagnostics, telecom, as well as food & beverage. Moreover, he developed fundraising tools for the American Lung Association, Special Olympics International, The American Foundation for Aids Research (AmFar), and Avon’s Breast Cancer Program.
Thirty-three years ago, Khaled arranged a gift of five million dollars from King Fahad & the people of Saudi Arabia to Paul Newman’s “Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.” The camp provides “a different kind of healing” to seriously ill children and their families, free of charge. Today, the initiative has grown to support 1500 campers per year and carries out 20,000 individual hospital visits per year. The camp’s fund has grown just shy of a $100M.
Since 1988, Khaled has served as a “Hole in the Wall Gang Camp” founding board member. He is fluent in Arabic, French, and Spanish.
William J Gilliam
Bill Gilliam has a 47 year career as a chemist, pharmaceutical industry executive, M&A investment banker and as a merchant banker. Bill completed transactions in the energy, chemicals and specialty materials industries with transactions such as Calgon Carbon Corporation (CCC, NYSE), Rexene Corporation (RXN, NYSE) and ChemDesign Corporation (NASDAQ). BILL has a BS Degree from Wagner College, an MBA from Pepperdine University and a JD from Purdue International/Concord School of Law.
Karim G. Salam
Karim Salam has more than 20 years of experience working in the banking, insurance, and investment sector, with focus on business development, corporate relationships, trade, and investment. He has in country experience in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and Lebanon. Proven track record of assisting multinational corporations accomplish excellent revenue growth year over year in diverse sectors and new markets, particularly in the EMEA region. Extensive expertise in foreign direct investment, business development, and international relations. Success in developing budgets and increasing lending portfolio. Karim is an accomplished project leader with international and Middle East institutions and experience in working with prominent banks such as Merryll Lynch, Citibank, and Bank Audi.
Ara Melkessetian
Ara Melkessetian is a senior professional with more than 30 years of business experience and a recognized track record in transaction origination and international business development. His focus is global with experience in North America, the Middle East, and Africa.
In his capacity as a business advisor he has developed expertise in market analysis and strategic planning for market entry in industries such as Aviation & security, Oil & Gas, Energy and Telecom and major infrastructure.
During his business career, he had founded several successful companies in the Levant and GCC, and the United States.
Mr. Melkessetian has served as advisor and consultant to multiple companies around the Globe, including but not limited to France Telecom Mobile, Orascom, Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi Capital Corporation and Nortel Networks, The Ashcroft Holding and Law Firm. He has also completed transactions in fields such as aviation, infrastructure, security transactions, Construction & Engineering, Telecom.
Member of the Lebanese-American Business Association in Beirut, Member of the ICC International Chamber of Commerce, Member of the International council of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at JFK School of Government at Harvard University (2000-2002)
Participated in various World Economic Forum in Davos, USA as well as the MENA Middle East and North Africa – Forum.
Our Affiliates
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