Yousef Alessa to chair session at Arabian Hotel Investment Conference

Notes and media contacts

For further information, please contact:
Mona Akhtarzadeh
TEL: +973 17 535 246

Yousef Al-Essa is Chief Executive Officer of Bahrain based Addax Investment Bank. Addax was founded in 2003 and has an authorized capital of $100 million. Addax provides corporate finance and wealth management services to clients in the Middle East region. Some of the major projects that Addax has undertaken include:

• Arranging $200 million capital from strategic investors to develop 19 Holiday Inn Express Hotels throughout the GCC
• Acquiring a 10% stake in $300 million Jordan Dubai Capital
• $20 million capital raising for MENA Business Services
• Alliance with The Ascott Group to launch a $1 billion services residence fund for the Middle East
• $50 million investment in Saraya Middle East Fund
• Establishment of $10 million restaurants holding company focused on opportunities in the Middle East.

Prior to joining Addax, Mr. Al-Essa was a co-founder and a Managing Director of Amwal, a company focused on bringing and developing advanced financial technology solutions to the Middle East region.

Prior to starting Amwal, Mr. Al-Essa worked at the National Bank of Kuwait where he worked in institutional and corporate banking.

Mr. Al-Essa serves on a number of corporate Boards including:

• Vice Chairman: Ishraq Gulf Real Estate Company, Bahrain
• Vice Chairman: Jordan Dubai Capital, Jordan
• Director: Kuwait Interest for Financial Investments, Kuwait
• Chairman: Mesk Hospitality Holdings, Bahrain
• Director: Tatweer Development Company, Qatar.

Mr. Al-Essa received his Bachelor of Science in International Finance from Georgetown University and his Masters in Business Administration from Harvard University.

About Addax Investment Bank
Addax Investment Bank has an authorised capital of US$100 million and is regulated by the Bahrain Monetary Agency (BMA). The Bank was formed in 2003 and has been involved in a number of high profile deals in the region.

Addax Investment Bank's landmark deals include: a US $150 million arrangement to launch 20 Holiday Inn Express hotels across the GCC; and participation with Dubai International Capital and other lead investors in creating JD Capital, a US $300 million (approximately) company targeting investment opportunities in Jordan. Additionally, Addax Investment Bank is launching a US $1 billion investment fund in collaboration with The Ascott Group of Singapore, to acquire and manage a chain of serviced apartment buildings throughout the Middle East.

Addax is fast gaining a reputation for launching innovative and unique deals in the Middle East region.