REVIEW MY CV: My employer doesn't appreciate me, help me move on
I have been working for one of the largest private equity firms in the GCC for three years now. I'm responsible for some of their biggest transactions and am currently in the process of executing a $400m mandate for a fully-owned group company.
My employer doesn't recognise my contribution and there's been little opportunity for career growth here, despite the fact that they obviously appreciate (and need) the work I've been doing. I also got caught up in the recent regional unrest, which has spurred me to look towards safe havens like Dubai or Qatar.
I'm looking for a principal level position in either a regional sovereign wealth fund or private equity company. So far, I've had little success. Is this something to do with my CV? Can you offer any tips to improve it?
Work Experience
September 2008 - Present: Private equity firm, GCC
Role Profile: One of the first members of the Investment Team with the mandate to explore and invest in commercial investment opportunities globally and monitor the performance of existing portfolio companies.
The position involves the following responsibilities:
- Sourcing deals across sectors and evaluating new investment proposals and valuation models
- Structuring investments, issuing term sheets, and negotiating with various stakeholders
- Managing due-diligence with top tier international industry experts, legal counsels and financial advisors
- Preparing memos and presenting to Investment Committee for approvals and post investment updates
- Post-Acquisition Management - Providing guidance at portfolio Board of Directors and management level, reviewing business performance and organic/inorganic growth plans
- Plan and execute the timely partial/full exit from investments.
List of main projects executed and achievements:
Acquisition of the aviation training function of prominent local airline and launch of a full-fledged aviation training provider firm within this
-Analyzed the performance of the existing training department of airline
-Prepared the business plan for a standalone aviation training entity and established training function
- Worked on the strategy and executed the smooth transition to training firm from airline
-Managed the hiring of top management and finalization of their KPIs
-Secured debt financing for startup phase and negotiated contracts for simulators and other training equipment
-Continuously working with company management to ensure the proper execution of business plan- aligning strategic and financial perspectives
- Restructuring of local mineral company: Reviewed the cost structure of the company with advisers and identified potential savings of over US$ 250 million as direct addition to the bottom line. Currently working with Management to implement the recommendations of the project.
- IPO and dual listing of mineral company on Local Stock Exchange and London Stock Exchange. Led the IPO structuring and execution team inclusive of financial advisors, legal advisors, underwriters, PR firms and other parties involved. Major highlights of the project were the following but not limited to:
- Financial, legal and strategic work-streams and due-diligence with respective advisors
-Liaison with respective regulatory bodies like Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Central Bank, Financial Service Authority, UK, Local Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange etc.
- Drafting of “Offering Memorandum” with company management and advisors
- Finalization and execution of Underwriting agreements, depository agreement, engagement contracts, listing agreements with stock exchanges and other agreements
-Launching of IPO and supervision of management road shows around the globe
-Successful listing of ordinary shares on Local Stock Exchange and GDRs on London stock exchange
- Other major deals
- a. Sale of 25.6% equity stake in a Singapore based telecom infrastructure company: executed the sale of equity stake in the company to an international player
- b. 75% equity stake buyout for US$ 300M in an IT firm in India: Sourced the deal, managed legal, commercial and financial due-diligence process, negotiated valuation and term sheet. Pulled out of the deal at the signing stage due to strategic reasons
- c. Equity funding for an automotive company in UK: Worked with Board of Directors and the company management to secure additional equity funding from new investor
- d. Minority equity stake in a large auto manufacturer in Germany: Strategic review of a minority equity stake purchase- recommended to pass the deal due to limited growth opportunities for the company
- e. 10% equity stake buyout in a firm in Media and Publishing segment in UK: Deal was called off at the due-diligence stage
- f. 20% equity stake buyout in an international oil and gas company: Recommended to pass the deal at due-diligence stage as our mandate was limited to Non-Oil & Gas segment
- g. Buyout of a Swiss catering provider to airlines and railroads: Strategic review completed and participated in bidding process
- h. Buyout of an Austrian wind-mill manufacturer: Strategic review completed. Pulled out of the deal due to strategic reasons
- Other projects and ongoing activities
-Raising USD 400 million debt funding for a group company: Currently working to raise USD 400 million debt funding for brownfield expansion of a group company
-Outdoor advertising company: Working on a startup company in outdoor advertising space, to be started as a joint venture with world’s no. 1 company in the segment
-Post-Acquisition Management – Board coordination, regular monitoring and evaluating new projects for existing investments in Industrial, aviation and shipbuilding sector companies.
-Ensuring long term value creation in continuous coordination with company management for portfolio companies
-Analyze new global investment opportunities across the sectors and follow on legal and commercial due-diligence if deal passes through the internal criteria
August 2006- August 2008: US asset management company.
Sector Specialist Emerging Markets Team (Equity Research)
Role Profile: Research and analysis of Emerging Market economies and emerging markets from an Equity Research standpoint. Besides that I was instrumental in launching the US asset manager's - India Fund. The position involved the following responsibilities:
- Providing research to Emerging Markets Team for Power, Utilities, Infrastructure and Technology sectors in India and other Emerging Markets
- Analyzing sectors from a long term perspective and identifying investment ideas within Emerging markets
- Designing relative Valuation Models, preparing sector notes for the sectors, writing reports and building Financial Models for selected companies and analyzing financial results for selected companies
- Delivering certain ad hoc research projects as required by Portfolio Managers
This role enabled me to hone my analytical and research skills. I acquired valuable equity research experience from a global perspective, coupled with a key understanding of the Indian equity market dynamics. This job also enabled me to analyze sectors from a long term point of view and identify potential targets therein.
Achievement: Successful launch of US asset manager's - India Fund.
2006 - 2006: Large US investment bank
Analyst, Diversified Industrial and Transportation Sector
Role Profile: Research and analysis on global- mainly EMEA and Indian markets from an Investment Banking standpoint covering Mergers and Acquisitions. The position involved working on the following kinds of projects for mergers and acquisitions:
- Identifying potential merger and acquisition target in diversified industrial and transportation sector
- Deal origination and pitch-book preparation
- Conducting Feasibility studies
- Comparable analysis based on past deals within the same sector
- Financial modeling for proposed deals for valuation including calculation of premium/ discount
2004 - 2005: Indian power company
Management Trainee, Project Finance
Role Profile: Worked in Project Finance department in the capacity of Management Trainee.
The position involved the following responsibilities:
- Conducting operational and financial feasibility studies for various projects
- Capitalization of completed projects and logging them into asset book
- Worked on Annual Revenue Requirement statement
April 2003- June 2003: Oil company
Summer Intern, Cost Management
The internship involved identification of various costs for the entire value chain of the company and allocating the total cost in appropriate sections. This exercise was done for all 14 projects. This work helped me gain knowledge about cost identification and management.
Education
Top business school, London Master Class (2011)
CFA Institute U.S.A. (previously AIMR) Pursuing Chartered Financial Analyst Program
International Atomic Energy Agency Management of financial risks for Nuclear Power Plants
Business school, Bangalore Certification course for Financial Research in 2005
Top Business School, India Postgraduate Diploma in Management- MBA (2002- 04)
Indian university Bachelor of Technology in Electrical Engineering (2002)
Research Projects
- Enterprise Risk Management at US car manufacturer and global electronics company
- Study of movement of Beta across the Indian market for FY 2003-04
Computer & Database Skills
Application Software: All Windows based applications
Databases: Bloomberg, Factset, Zawya, Datastream, HAVER analytics
Extracurricular Achievements
- Ranked 4th in Regional Mathematics Olympiad (U.P. State Level).
- Captained the winning Cricket team of Meerut zone in C.K.Naidu Trophy. Also represented the state at the national level
- Captained the Meerut zone ‘Under 19’ Hockey Team.
