Ajata "AJ" Mediratta is an American investor who has worked in financial markets, particularly in fixed income emerging markets and in sovereign debt restructurings. He is a president at Greylock Capital Management, LLC (Greylock Capital), an alternative asset investment adviser.[1] Mediratta is active in Greylock Capital's investment activity and debt restructuring efforts globally.
Ajata "AJ" Mediratta | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | |
| Alma mater | Williams College Columbia Business School |
| Occupation | Investment Advisor |
| Employer | Greylock Capital Management |
| Known for | Emerging markets, Sovereign debt |
Early life
editMediratta was born in Buffalo, New York and spent his childhood in Huntington, New York. He graduated from the Choate Rosemary Hall school and subsequently enrolled at Williams College, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics. He went on to earn an MBA in Finance and International Business from Columbia Business School. Mediratta received his CFA Charter in 1995.
Career
editFollowing Williams College, Mediratta worked for the Export–Import Bank of the United States in Washington DC before enrolling and earning an MBA at Columbia Business School. He began a career in investment banking, working successively for The Weston Group, Credit Lyonnais Securities and Bear Stearns. Mediratta joined Greylock Capital upon the conclusion of Bear Stearns' merger with JP Morgan.[2]
Mediratta chaired the creditor committee for an investor group working to restructure a large portion of the outstanding US$544 million sovereign debt of the nation of Belize.[3][4][5] The Belize sovereign debt restructuring was noteworthy because it demonstrated how sovereign borrowers and commercial creditors can reach an amicable agreement without recourse to lawsuits.[6] For this and for several other innovations in the deal, the Belize restructuring deal was awarded Latin Finance's 2013 Deal of the Year in the Restructuring category.[7]
Mediratta chaired the creditor committee restructuring the $220 million debt of Panama's Trump Ocean Club Project.[8] He also represented Greylock Capital on the $193.5 million USD sovereign debt restructuring of the nation of Grenada.[9] The Grenada deal was considered an innovative sovereign restructuring because it offered debt relief for the nation while also allowing creditors to participate in revenue growth. He also co-chaired the October 2019 restructuring of $7bn in Barbados sovereign debt. Both the Grenada and Barbados restructurings included hurricane clauses which permit payment relief in the event of future natural disasters.[10][11]
Mediratta represented Greylock Capital as part of a creditor committee formed to negotiate a restructuring of Suriname's $675 million in loans. The Suriname restructuring concluded successfully in mid-2023.[12][13][14]
He represents Greylock Capital on debt restructuring committees for Zambia, Ghana, and represents Greylock Capital on the ad-hoc restructuring committee for Sri Lanka.[15]
Mediratta is on the board of directors of the Emerging Markets Investor Alliance, an entity that enables institutional emerging market investors to support good governance, promote sustainable development, and improve investment performance in the governments and companies in which they invest.[16] He previously sat on the board of directors of the UTC North American Fund of the Unit Trust Corporation, a financial services company operating in Trinidad and Tobago.[17]
Personal life
editMediratta is married and lives in Manhattan with his wife and three children.
References
edit- ^ Current biography on Greylock Capital website
- ^ Mediratta to start hedge funds for Greylock, Pensions and Investments, June 13, 2008
- ^ Belize Default Looms as Negotiations Continue, Wall Street Journal, September 19, 2012.
- ^ Default Concerns Make Belize Bonds Worst in Emerging Markets Bloomberg Business, July 31, 2012
- ^ The creditor group led by Mediratta held approximately $300 million $500 million in outstanding sovereign debt.
- ^ Belize $547.5m exchange offer, Latin Finance, January 17, 2014.
- ^ Latin Finance 2013 Deals of the year
- ^ Trump Panama Hotel Bondholders May Back $220 Million Swap, Bloomberg Business News, January 31, 2013.
- ^ Creditors prod Grenada over lack of progress on debt, Financial Times, February 7, 2014.
- ^ Grenada adds warrants to bond restructuring, Reuters, April 10, 2015
- ^ "'Hurricane clause' in bonds helps countries struck by disaster". Financial Times. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
- ^ Creditors support Suriname's deferral plan; 'challenging' negotiations ahead, Reuters, November 30, 2020
- ^ Distressed nations lead emerging market bond rally, Reuters, July 28, 2023
- ^ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-24/suriname-offers-to-swap-675-million-bonds-for-oil-linked-debt#xj4y7vzkg Suriname Launches Terms of $675 Million Debt Restructuring Deal, Bloomberg, October 23, 2023.
- ^ https://www.euromoney.com/article/2c5rctapklxvw8cfave9u/capital-markets/how-debt-and-geopolitics-made-a-lethal-mix-for-development
- ^ Emerging Markets Investor Alliance Board of Directors
- ^ UTC North American Fund Statement of Additional Information, April 29, 2011, page 12.