Merchant Banking · Strategy · Advisory
The Firm
Whitestones Partners is an independent merchant bank founded by former senior bankers from Goldman Sachs and strategy consultants from McKinsey & Company. We combine deep capital markets execution with the structured strategic thinking that defines how the best institutions make decisions.
We operate at the intersection of Gulf sovereign and institutional capital and the frontier markets of North Africa and Europe. Our model is deliberately concentrated. Few mandates. Senior execution on every transaction. No conflict between proprietary activity and client advice — our only asset is our judgment.
With offices in Dubai, London, and Rabat, we bring an irreplaceable knowledge of the MENA–Europe corridor, built across more than two decades of cross-border transactions and strategic engagements. We do not scale through volume. We grow through trust.
Advisory Services
Sell-side and buy-side mandates across MENA, Europe, and Africa. Senior-led from inception — no handoff to junior teams. Institutional rigour in markets where most advisors bring only relationships.
Debt structuring and syndication, bond issuances, private placements, and Sharia-compliant instruments. Financing solutions matched to the complexity of the markets our clients operate in.
Sourcing and evaluating opportunities for sovereign wealth funds and family offices, with particular focus on cross-border transactions in the MENA–Europe corridor.
McKinsey-grade strategic advisory for boards and executive teams. Market entry, operating model design, commercial due diligence, and post-acquisition integration — delivered by former McKinsey partners, not seconded juniors.
Built on a decade of senior coverage at Goldman Sachs. Direct access to the decision-makers who allocate Gulf capital. We do not intermediate. We advise.
Our People
Former Head of Strategic Coverage Group, EMEA Sovereign Wealth Funds — Goldman Sachs. CEO Middle East & North Africa, Man GLG (Man Group). MD & Head of Special Situations, Exotix. MIT.
Former Senior Manager, McKinsey & Company (5 years, MENA). Goldman Sachs. CEO & Co-founder, Fairjungle. École Polytechnique · Mines Paris · Sciences Po.
Former Engagement Manager, McKinsey & Company (5 years). M&A, Société Générale TMT. COO & Co-founder, Fairjungle. École Centrale Paris.
Former Principal Finance, Merrill Lynch, Nomura & RBS. Subordinated debt fund, Terra Firma Capital Partners. Sorbonne University.
Former Junior Partner, McKinsey & Company (7 years). Co-founder, Faktus (€56M raised). HEC Paris · ENSAE.
CDG Capital Private Equity, Casablanca. Financial modelling, portfolio analytics, and investor reporting. IFRS consolidation and fund administration.
Selected Transactions
| Transaction | Type | Geography |
|---|---|---|
| Payments infrastructure platform — Series A capital raise Exclusive financial advisor to the Company |
Equity Advisory | UAE |
| Senior secured term loan — institutional client Structuring and placement advisor |
Debt Advisory | GCC |
| Acquisition facility — natural resources asset Arranger and financial advisor |
Structured Debt | Eastern Europe |
| Construction fintech — bond issuance Arranger |
Capital Markets | France / MENA |
| Sovereign wealth fund — strategic coverage programme Ongoing advisory |
Advisory | GCC |
Selected transactions shown. Transaction details anonymised for confidentiality. Further references available upon request under NDA.
Contact
Independent advice.
On the decisions that define you.
Emirates Towers, Level 42
Sheikh Zayed Road
Dubai, UAE
United Kingdom
Kingdom of Morocco