Talha Aquil

Al Kilma is a full service financial, strategic and dedicated secondary market advisory based in the UAE with strong ties into the rest of the GCC, Africa (North and Sub-Sahara), the Indian Subcontinent and East Asia.

Activities include:

- Primary Fundraising for European and Asian Funds
- Strategic Advisory for start-ups in region with large investor base
- Arranging of Finance (mostly Equity, some Debt via Mezzanine Vehicles)
- Secondary Sales Advisory

Working on a partnering relationship model, all Al Kilma Partners work on every deal with our clients.

Our portfolio of Institutional and Ultra-High Network Clients have enabled us to participate in deals across various sectors including (but not limited to);

- Aeronautical
- Automotive
- Construction
- Food & Beverages
- Infrastructure Development
- Mining
- Pharma
- Plastics
- Publishing
- Textiles

- Retained by my ex-employers to continue raising funds in the Middle East
- Raised capital for:
- Alternative Investments:
- PE Funds (USA & Asia) $390mln, Hedge Fund (USA) $120mln, REIT (Eastern Europe) $125mln
- Projects:
 - Power Projects in Mainland China $45mln, Upstream Petrochemical plant in Malaysia (Round A funding) $36mln
- Recruited and worked with 9 analysts
- Participated in developing the Data Room for a PE firm
- Developed Al Kilma Website, wrote text, finalised production, worked with technical team to make it ‘live’
- Managed Al Kilma publications, Al Kilma Social Media platform (LinkedIn)
- Advised government and semi-government agencies on alternative investments
- Advised family offices on asset allocation, specifically for Alternative Investments
- Completed Due Diligence for clients looking to invest in PE and Hedge funds not coming through Al Kilma
- Maintained good relationship with family offices, as well as SWFs and their related companies

Responsibilities include:
 Developing and implementing Marketing Plans for LODH PE to enter MENA markets
 Raise Funds for existing Fund of Funds (Last fund closed at €612mln, and total AUM of €1.4bln)
 Develop new products for new markets and expand the LODH franchise

Same as prior - name change of company as per May 2010
 Participated in the management buyout of LODH PE from Lombard Odier
 Led project on branding of LODH PE to Akina and completed within 3 months
Responsibilities continue as before and additionally include:
 Developing and implementing Marketing & Communications Plans for Akina
 Continue raising funds for the multitude of products available
 Work with Fund & Direct Investment teams to ensure timely roll-out and subsequent fund raising for new products

 Developing Global Marketing Plan for all business lines
 Increase Brand Awareness to ensure a successful IPO in 2009 (postponed)
 Align Swicorp’s different business units into one identity
 Work with acquired companies to ensure a successful roll out of re-branding
 Ensure that internal and external communication is homogeneous and seamless
 Ensure speaking engagements for Managing Directors & Executive Directors at conferences and events
 Organise events for Ultra-High Net Worth clients
 Develop & Maintain Investor Relations (report data, manage expectations, capital raising)
 Recruit and work with PR, Advertising and Event management agency to deliver Marketing plan for Swicorp
 Work with different business lines to develop new products/variants
Key Successes at Swicorp:
 Developed key messages, and mission statement for organisation
 Revamped and homogenised all marketing collateral to ensure a consistent overall brand
 Helped PE team produce and market funds (two funds, USD 1.6bn)
 Organised internal branding seminars and conducted media training for all Managing Directors and the CEO
 Ensured all communication with external parties was consistent and conveyed the key messages
 Arranged speaking engagements for senior management
 Secured sponsorship for most prominent conferences and events
 Successfully developed and launched marketing plan internationally

Responsibilities included:
 Direct Profit & Loss Responsibility; Ensuring revenue, sales, COF targets are met and maintained. Performance is judged based on year end figures. Responsible for managing the largest marketing budget of the bank.
 Developing & Managing Marketing Campaigns; Responsible for the one of the oldest, most innovative and largest products for the bank. Developed product variants to ensure longevity of the product group. Developing multiple campaigns for both product groups. Liaising with advertising agencies, internally marketing campaign ideas to senior management.
 Producing MIS; Produce timely MIS for Sales Meetings, and daily monitoring of product group. Use of Excel and Business Objects to ensure reports are produced in an easy to comprehend, usable format.
 Conducting Research; Conducting regular research to understand reasons for attrition from products, as well as requirements for new product development.
 Developing New Products; Understanding market conditions as well as customers’ requirements to develop new products. Involving all parties within the organisation to ensure system, audit, and operational cohesion.
Key Successes at Mashreq:
 MashreqMillionaire brand was awarded ‘Brand of the Decade’
 Was part of the successful rebranding exercise
 Increased profitability for entire Liabilities portfolio by 36%
 Was part of the direct team for setting up of the preferred banking offering
 Increased overall liabilities portfolio substantially while reducing costs

Responsibilities included:
 Product Launch; Two new asset products (Islamic Finance), and four new liability products were launched with above-the-line and below-the-line campaigns. Managed end to end process from product conceptualisation right the way through to launch event organisation.
 Corporate Re-branding; Worked with internal committees and external agencies to successfully launch the new brand identity.
 Process Mapping; Lead project for the bank to develop cross-functional process maps for credit, risk, marketing management, loan disbursal, and Islamic loans.
 Delivering Training; Responsibility was to deliver timely training with regards to all product groups.
 Product Management; General product management from monitoring of MIS & sales, to managing Relationship Managers and reporting to senior management on with solutions to possible issues.
 Internal & External Literature; The production, distribution and collection of feedback on staff publications, as well as external articles to newspapers.
 Core Banking System; Was responsible for the entire process from gathering information right the way through to implementation of the Core Banking System (Globus T24) for the Consumer Banking segment of the process.
Product Collateral Management; In coordination with the Marketing Manager, responsibility was on ensuring that all touch-points for the customer were being supported with marketing collateral as well as service standards.
 Internal & External Literature; The production, distribution and collection of feedback on Staff publications, as well as external articles to newspapers.