MUNESH MELWANI

History of an outstanding finance professional

Professional Investor, former investment banker, specialist in capital markets, asset management and corporate finance.

milestones

1994-97

In 1994, the professor at the University of La Laguna Paco Calatayud (RIP), encouraged him to specialize in finance and financial markets, while he was studying the last years of the Bachelor of Economics and Business, accepting the research grant in his department.

Later, he introduced him to Emilio Ontiveros, professor at the Autonomous University, co-founder and president of Analistas Financieros Internacionales (AFI), who was his mentor, encouraging him to study his Master in Banking and Finance in the course 1996-97 in Madrid, being a teacher and friend for many years, RIP.

1997-2010

In 1997 he began his professional career in CajaCanarias, leading entity in the Canary Islands, where he was allowed to setup from scratch and develop various business areas such as Treasury and Capital Markets, Corporate Banking and the Holdings Portfolio, managing with his team more than € 1 Bn. in investments and raising more than € 5 Bn. of funding from the international capital markets, as Director of Investment Banking. He participated in the design and structuring of several corporate and institutional transactions originated in the Canary Islands during the period 2000-2010.

In 2010 begins a merger process within the sector, in which he was mandated to co-lead the merger with Caja Navarra, transaction that would finally imply the creation of Banca Cívica in Madrid, with the incorporation of Caja de Burgos and Cajasol to the project.

2010-2012

Banca Cívica (2010-12) was the first trans-regional merger between savings banks in Spain, achieving the full integration in just two years and reaching a size of € 80 Bn.. The challenge was to integrate four entities as Deputy General Manager of Markets and Finance, significantly enlarging the bank’s P&L with financial operations, assuming, apart from the wholesale banking areas, business areas such as Private Banking and Asset Management, and successfully co-leading its IPO process in 2011.

In 2012, the entity was acquired by Caixabank and he made the decision to leave the entity and to cover an old wish returning to the Canary Islands: to launch its own project.

2013-Present

In 2013 he founded Cross Capital, having made a small poll among friends, family and close businessmen: most of them thought that it was very risky to set up a regulated investment services company in the Islands, due to the demanding regulation and because it’s a business too intensive in terms of capital and resources. They encouraged him to return to Madrid, go to London or even New York due to his professional career and academic background.

After almost 10 years, Cross Capital is now a reference EAF (equivalent to IFA or RIA) in investment services sector at a national level, focused on meeting the financial advisory needs of individuals, families, private companies and public institutions, exceeding € 850 MM. advised, with more than 300 clients and investors, having received in 2021 the award for "Best EAF in Spain" by the international financial agency Citywire.

PHILOSOFY

of life

1
Life: “We’re passing through, there’s only one life. You have to make it enjoyable.”
2
“We should invest in ourselves and be happy.”
3
His parents taught him to always adopt a positive attitude towards life.
4
Values: Integrity, discipline, rigor, effort, perseverance, fidelity, commitment, giving and not asking.
5
Family: “They are what really matters, with whom we share our lives, those who are always there.”
6
Friends: always selective, good friend of his friends, toxic excluded, people who add are welcome.
7
Passions: an authentic "foodie", experienced chef, in love with gastronomy and pairing. Tireless traveler (+20 countries).
8
Sports: running, open sea swimming, fitness, cardio.
9
Outdoors: mountain and motorbike.

INVESTING

He conceives investment as an art, a journey that is undertaken and that is improved over time. Always with a long-term, global vocation, applying flexible and multi-asset management approach, with an eminently value bias, parameters that define his vision of the financial markets, after having been an active witness of several crises and financial events that occurred in the recent decades, in which he has successfully navigated, generating consistent returns with his management.

Firmly convinced that markets exist to serve us and enable us to achieve our vital goals through the magic of compounding, clearly advocates investment in quality companies at reasonable prices, with a safety margin and always understanding business. He demonstrates the important role that investment psychology and mental models play in success when investing.

Passionate about financial analysis and research, specially dedicated to asset management and the valuation of companies and projects. Given his multidisciplinary nature, he has historically taught finance in various postgraduate centers of different academic institutions, as well as given lectures and conferences, being very active in the dissemination of his knowledge and opinions through his numerous articles in the regional press and in specialized magazines of the financial sector, all this, with clear reflection in the Cross Capital Blog and the different social media in its most recent stage.

He enjoys a very high recognition and an impeccable reputation in the national financial sector, after more than 25 years of professional experience.

Pioneer and Entrepreneur

His pioneering nature, impregnated in his DNA, characterized him enormously during his stage in CajaCanarias: in the investment arena, applying since 1999 the multi-management schemes with third parties funds, leading as president a Luxembourg based Sicav of Spanish investors (Spanish savings banks SICAV - CEDA) which exceeded € 1 Bn., launching structured products for Private Banking clients, as well as promoting the open architecture of investment funds through international contracting platforms. In Corporate Banking, he promoted investment via syndicated loans, club deals and project finance, becoming member of the Investment Committees of several national venture capital funds, with investments in the industrial, tourism and infrastructure sectors. In addition, he has been a board member in several companies (non-listed and some listed) of both, regional and national, belonging to the industrial, financial and services sector. In the capital markets (funding) arena, he promoted issuing through EMTN programs, senior bonds, covered bonds, subordinated bonds, preferred shares, commercial paper, etc.

Also at Cross Capital, they have been pioneers advising the 1st green bond issue in the Canary Islands. In addition, the company will be the first EAF (equivalent to RIA or IFA) to launch a 100% digital project that will allow customers to hire all their services wherever they are, enabling to grow its business in geographical terms.

MUNESH MELWANI

History of an outstanding finance professional

Professional Investor, former investment banker, specialist in capital markets, asset management and corporate finance.

MILESTONES

1994-97

In 1994, the professor at the University of La Laguna Paco Calatayud (RIP), encouraged him to specialize in finance and financial markets, while he was studying the last years of the Bachelor of Economics and Business, accepting the research grant in his department.

Later, he introduced him to Emilio Ontiveros, professor at the Autonomous University, co-founder and president of Analistas Financieros Internacionales (AFI), who was his mentor, encouraging him to study his Master in Banking and Finance in the course 1996-97 in Madrid, being a teacher and friend for many years, RIP.

1997-2010

In 1997 he began his professional career in CajaCanarias, leading entity in the Canary Islands, where he was allowed to setup from scratch and develop various business areas such as Treasury and Capital Markets, Corporate Banking and the Holdings Portfolio, managing with his team more than € 1 Bn. in investments and raising more than € 5 Bn. of funding from the international capital markets, as Director of Investment Banking. He participated in the design and structuring of several corporate and institutional transactions originated in the Canary Islands during the period 2000-2010.

In 2010 begins a merger process within the sector, in which he was mandated to co-lead the merger with Caja Navarra, transaction that would finally imply the creation of Banca Cívica in Madrid, with the incorporation of Caja de Burgos and Cajasol to the project.

2010-2012

Banca Cívica (2010-12) was the first trans-regional merger between savings banks in Spain, achieving the full integration in just two years and reaching a size of € 80 Bn.. The challenge was to integrate four entities as Deputy General Manager of Markets and Finance, significantly enlarging the bank’s P&L with financial operations, assuming, apart from the wholesale banking areas, business areas such as Private Banking and Asset Management, and successfully co-leading its IPO process in 2011.

In 2012, the entity was acquired by Caixabank and he made the decision to leave the entity and to cover an old wish returning to the Canary Islands: to launch its own project.

2013-Actualidad

In 2013 he founded Cross Capital, having made a small poll among friends, family and close businessmen: most of them thought that it was very risky to set up a regulated investment services company in the Islands, due to the demanding regulation and because it’s a business too intensive in terms of capital and resources. They encouraged him to return to Madrid, go to London or even New York due to his professional career and academic background.

After almost 10 years, Cross Capital is now a reference EAF (equivalent to IFA or RIA) in investment services sector at a national level, focused on meeting the financial advisory needs of individuals, families, private companies and public institutions, exceeding € 850 MM. advised, with more than 300 clients and investors, having received in 2021 the award for "Best EAF in Spain" by the international financial agency Citywire.

Academic background

He has always believed in continuous learning as a formula for professional and personal improvement. He is considered a person who does not stop learning and acquiring knowledge through reading, courses, podcasts and other resources. At an academic level, this is his trajectory:

Colegio Casa Azul
Tenerife
1976
1992
Licenciatura en Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales
Universidad de La Laguna, Premio al Mejor Expediente Académico
1992
1996
Máster en Banca y Finanzas
AFI, Madrid
1996
2007
Diploma de Estudios Avanzados (DEA)
Universidad de La Laguna
2007
2017
Owners Management Program (OMP)
Instituto de Empresa (IE), Madrid
2017
2019
European Financial Advisor (EFA) Certificate
EFPA, España
2017
2019
Digital Business Strategy Executive Program
MIT Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts
2019
2020
Leadership and Management Executive Program
Wharton School, Pennsylvania
2020
Actualidad

Investing

He conceives investment as an art, a journey that is undertaken and that is improved over time. Always with a long-term, global vocation, applying flexible and multi-asset management approach, with an eminently value bias, parameters that define his vision of the financial markets, after having been an active witness of several crises and financial events that occurred in the recent decades, in which he has successfully navigated, generating consistent returns with his management.

Firmly convinced that markets exist to serve us and enable us to achieve our vital goals through the magic of compounding, clearly advocates investment in quality companies at reasonable prices, with a safety margin and always understanding business. He demonstrates the important role that investment psychology and mental models play in success when investing.

Passionate about financial analysis and research, specially dedicated to asset management and the valuation of companies and projects. Given his multidisciplinary nature, he has historically taught finance in various postgraduate centers of different academic institutions, as well as given lectures and conferences, being very active in the dissemination of his knowledge and opinions through his numerous articles in the regional press and in specialized magazines of the financial sector, all this, with clear reflection in the Cross Capital Blog and the different social media in its most recent stage.

He enjoys a very high recognition and an impeccable reputation in the national financial sector, after more than 25 years of professional experience.

Pioneer and Entrepreneur

His pioneering nature, impregnated in his DNA, characterized him enormously during his stage in CajaCanarias: in the investment arena, applying since 1999 the multi-management schemes with third parties funds, leading as president a Luxembourg based Sicav of Spanish investors (Spanish savings banks SICAV - CEDA) which exceeded € 1 Bn., launching structured products for Private Banking clients, as well as promoting the open architecture of investment funds through international contracting platforms. In Corporate Banking, he promoted investment via syndicated loans, club deals and project finance, becoming member of the Investment Committees of several national venture capital funds, with investments in the industrial, tourism and infrastructure sectors. In addition, he has been a board member in several companies (non-listed and some listed) of both, regional and national, belonging to the industrial, financial and services sector. In the capital markets (funding) arena, he promoted issuing through EMTN programs, senior bonds, covered bonds, subordinated bonds, preferred shares, commercial paper, etc.

Also at Cross Capital, they have been pioneers advising the 1st green bond issue in the Canary Islands. In addition, the company will be the first EAF (equivalent to RIA or IFA) to launch a 100% digital project that will allow customers to hire all their services wherever they are, enabling to grow its business in geographical terms.

media

resources

Recommended Books and Resources. Click on the image for more information. Consult more resources from the web version for computers.

Mastering The Market Cycle: Getting the odds on your side
Mastering The Market Cycle: Getting the odds on your side
View on Amazon...
The Dhandho Investor: The Low-Risk Value Method to High Returns
The Dhandho Investor: The Low-Risk Value Method to High Returns
View on Amazon...
Investing for Growth: How to make money by only buying the best companies in the world
Investing for Growth: How to make money by only buying the best companies in the world
View on Amazon...
The education of a Value Investor
The education of a Value Investor
View on Amazon...
The essays of Warren Buffet
The essays of Warren Buffet
View on Amazon...
The Intelligent Investor
The Intelligent Investor
View on Amazon...
Richer, wiser, happier
Richer, wiser, happier
View on Amazon...
The psicology of money
The psicology of money
View on Amazon...
The joys of compounding
The joys of compounding
View on Amazon...
The Body Shop: la caída de un icono
The Body Shop: la caída de un icono
Medios: Canarias 7 y Diario de Avisos
Posible inversión masiva en Bitcoin
Posible inversión masiva en Bitcoin
Medios: Canarias 7 y Diario de Avisos