Ambrish Agarwal (MD & CEO)

Founder & Managing Partner | Esteema Capital Partners
Chief Editor | The Finance World Magazine (UK & MENA)

Leadership & Capital Markets Background

Mr Ambrish Agarwal is the Founder and Managing Partner of Esteema Capital Partners, established in 2002. With over 20 years of experience across the UK and global capital markets, he is a seasoned capital-markets professional, transaction advisor, and strategic mentor to investors, developers, family offices, corporates, and financial institutions.

His career spans structured debt and equity funding, capital markets advisory, and complex transaction execution, with deep exposure to both private and institutional capital across multiple jurisdictions.

Transaction Advisory & Execution Expertise

Mr Agarwal is widely recognised for his ability to originate, structure, underwrite, and execute complex transactions, including acquisitions, disposals, refinancings, recapitalisations, and special situations.

He has advised on numerous single-asset and portfolio transactions, often on an off-market and confidential basis, involving OPCO / PROPCO structures, multi-jurisdictional SPVs, lender-led restructurings, and investor-driven recapitalisations, delivered with substantial execution certainty and institutional discipline.

Credit Underwriting, Risk & Capital Structuring

His advisory approach is underpinned by institutional-grade credit underwriting and risk management, including LTV, DSCR, EBITDA / EBITDAR-based analysis, covenant structuring, downside protection, and credit risk mitigation strategies.

He has extensive experience structuring senior and mezzanine debt, preferred equity, joint ventures, and bespoke capital stacks, ensuring balanced outcomes aligned with investor returns, lender requirements, and long-term operational sustainability.

Sector Expertise & Strategic Value Creation

Mr Agarwal has deep sector expertise across real estate investment and development, particularly hospitality & leisure, healthcare, SMEs, and corporates.

Beyond funding, he provides strategic advisory support on capital planning, asset repositioning, refinancing strategies, business growth, transformation, and exits, guiding clients through the whole investment lifecycle with a strong focus on sustainable value creation.

Thought Leadership, Editorial Authority & Mentorship

Mr Agarwal plays an active role in thought leadership and market education across the capital markets ecosystem. He is the Chief Editor of The Finance World Magazine, a specialist publication delivering in-depth insights into capital markets and investment trends across the United Kingdom and the MENA region.

Through his editorial leadership, he curates and contributes to content covering private credit, structured finance, real estate and hospitality investment, cross-border capital flows, and institutional investment strategies, serving investors, developers, corporates, and financial institutions.

In parallel, he is a trusted mentor and strategic advisor to UHNW individuals, family offices, corporates, developers, and financial institutions, supporting them in capital structuring, financing strategy, business transformation, and long-term growth planning. He is a regular speaker, panellist, and mentor at real estate conferences, financial institutions, and investment forums.

Academically, Mr. Agarwal holds an MBA (Finance), MBA (E-Commerce), and an MSc (Chemistry), along with professional qualifications including DipFA, FPC, CeMAP, and Cert RGI.

He is an FCA-approved professional in the UK and a recipient of multiple national and international awards for excellence in financial services.

Professional Ethos

Discretion | Discipline | Execution Certainty
Quick Decision – Quick Funding

Ashok K Gupta (Global Corporate Finance Director)

Mr. Gupta,an extraordinary Investment & Corporate Banker with almost 40 years of experience with Bank Of Baroda(BOB) & thereafter.He is a strategist, out of box thinker,visionary leader,Innovative,Entrepreneur with strong Business acumen,an extraordinary Achiever & executor.

He has worked in DELHI,LONDON,MUMBAI & DUBAI,AFRICA with many prestigious leadership & Professional positions including Chief Executive (GCC Operations,Dubai),Dy Head International Operations of BOB having presence in 30 Countries,Head Large Corporate Branch to name a few. Travelled more than 45 countries. He has deep understanding of Indian,UK, African & GCC Markets along with Global Financial Markets.

He has exceptional experience of International Banking/Investment/Corporate Banking & International Treasury etc in various capacities in BOB.He has been involved in highly Specialized & complex structured Financing transactions both in India & all over.

Due to his strong business acumen wide experience of understanding of all kinds of Businesses-across diverse Geographies,have been & is able to come forward with innovative ideas/suggestions etc.Due to all this he has also been Guiding clients in improving their Business.

As Chief Executive, (GCC Operations,Dubai), he completely turned around the working of BOB with extraordinary growth in Business. He was ranked as “40th MOST POWERFUL INDIAN” in the Gulf in 2010 by an Arabian Business Magazine. He was also awarded by NRI Business Leadership and Excellence Award for the “GULF REGION” as part of ” INDIA EMPIRE” awards 2011. He got “NRI ACHIEVERS” award in 2009 & 2010 by NRI Institute, New Delhi. As Dy Head International Operations he made BOB as truly ”India’s International Bank” by huge business expansion & foot prints to 30 countries.

• He is Founder member of strategic Business Management Consultancy outfit ”Brains at work consultancy”(www.brainsatworkconsulting.com)”providing strategic guidance business restructuring,turnaround to make businesses viable & competitive.
• Hon Board of Mentors”Indian Institute of Investment Banking”
• Vice Chairman & MD,”Dhamani Real Estate”
• Director “Prime Reality Capital”SEBI Approved Cat II Alternate Investment Fund(AIF)
• Hon Regional Director” Institute of Corporate Social Responsibility & sustainability”

Apart from above,Presently he is not only active in the area of Investment Banking/corporate Banking activities arranging Finance of all kind including FDI/PE Funding,but also involved in Formulating Business Strategies with new Innovative business Ideas , for improvement in Business, venturing in new areas, Joint ventures, Mergers & Acquisitions,connecting in India, with UK, GCC Countries,Africa, and many other countries.