ESSA
ESSA Partners LLP (“ESSA”) is a deal origination firm focused on private capital opportunities.
By-passing the over-banked sponsored corporate credit market segment, ESSA focuses on under-served private market niches, including asset-based debt, hybrid capital and structured equity.
The firm was founded by leading practitioners in the fields of structured and special situations credit. Leveraging the principals’ expertise, ESSA sources deal opportunities focused on asset-covered situations within the following private debt segments:
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Core asset-based financing, typically at OpCo/AssetCo level
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Asset-backed and real estate debt and equity
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Leasing and Sale-and-Lease back structures
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Customised capital solutions, mainly at HoldCo level
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Non-sponsored private/illiquid debt
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Hybrid capital and structured equity
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Special situations debt, usually as rescue or bridge financing
Collectively, the multi-national ESSA team speaks ten European languages. Initial geographic focus is on the DACH, CEE, Nordic and Benelux regions, as well as the UK and Ireland.
Clients and Services
ESSA operates on a pure finder’s fee model: it provides no advisory work and is compensated solely by its investor clients, with no costs or fees arising for the entity seeking financing.
ESSA’s value lies in our ability to originate deals in situations that are off the radar of most investors and larger advisers.
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ESSA’s existing client base includes:
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Real estate private debt and private equity funds
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Private debt and private equity funds focusing on asset-based opportunities
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Family offices and investment firms seeking direct exposure to structured capital
The ESSA Team
Mehdi Khouadja
Partner
Mehdi is a seasoned financial executive with nearly 30 years of experience in credit trading, loan syndication, and special situations investing. As Managing Partner at ESSA LLP, he leads a pan-European platform focused on originating and distributing private debt and structured equity across corporate and real estate sectors. Mehdi has executed over EUR 550 million in complex transactions, leveraging deep relationships with institutional investors and hedge funds. His career includes senior roles at Davidson Kempner, Credit Suisse, and Raiffeisen Bank, with extensive experience across EMEA markets. He specializes in off-market deal origination, capital structuring, and cross-border restructurings.
Giuseppe Mirante
Partner
Giuseppe has over 30 years of corporate finance and private capital experience, including 25 years on the buy-side. He was a Senior Advisor with Kartesia, a European direct lender focused on mid-market corporate and asset-backed opportunities and a Managing Director at HIG Bayside Capital. Previously, he was Head of Loan & Distressed Credit Research at BNP Paribas. Earlier in his career, Giuseppe founded a buy-side advisory firm, and held positions in credit (Cyrus and Trafalgar), private equity (Rhône Capital and Morgan Stanley) and corporate finance (Goldman Sachs and Citigroup). He started his career as a forensic and tax accountant in Canada and Germany
Michael Moore
Partner
Michael has over 30 years of experience in financial services in the UK, Europe and Asia. Most recently, Michael was the Operations Director of a European family office investing in European property. Previously, Michael spent over 20 years with ABN Amro, RBS, and Barclays de Zoete Wedd as a senior project manager in equity derivatives trading risk technology and as a senior consultant at Uniper’s energy trading headquarters in Germany.
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Niels Troen
Partner
Niels is a seasoned corporate finance executive with over four decades of international experience in investment banking, real estate, and private debt. He has held CEO roles at multiple firms, leading complex restructurings and investment strategies. Currently Niels focuses on originating and executing private debt transactions. Niels has worked at JPMorgan, HSH Nordbank, and Reviva Capital, where he led Nordic operations for Davidson Kempner. He brings deep expertise in illiquid and alternative investments, board leadership across real estate and private debt funds, and a strong track record of strategic transformation and cross-border financial structuring.
Tomas Korganas
Senior Advisor
Tomas has over 20 years of experience in international strategy, M&A and boards. He worked for international companies including BCG, Goldman Sachs, General Electric and headed M&A and Strategy functions at Rusal, Vimpelcom, and SeverGroup. Tomas returned to Lithuania and joined Willgrow, a family office, where he held the position of COO.
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Leo Morozov
Senior Advisor
Leo has over 25 years of experience in global finance. Leo dedicated the last 16 years of his professional life to real estate finance (debt, equity, and debt restructuring) with a particular focus on CEE & SEE. During his career Leo worked for large banks such as Credit Suisse, SEB, Lehman Brothers, Bank Austria/Unicredit and Raiffeisen, as well as small finance firms, a VC and a large industrial conglomerate, and was located both in the UK and in continental Europe (DACH & CEE). He also co-founded a special situations debt boutique and acted as CIO of a proptech start-up. Leo started his career as an M&A analyst in the US before moving to Europe to invest in CEE equity markets, where he built a track record as a portfolio manager.
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Sensu Serpen
Senior Advisor
Sensu has over 25 years of experience in originating and trading special situations and leveraged credit in primary and secondary markets. Sensu was one of the founding members of H.I.G. Capital’s Bayside European team and spent over 12 years there as a Managing Director responsible for European deal origination and trading. Prior to joining H.I.G. Bayside, Sensu worked as a Director in the Barclays Capital and Bank of America Special Situations teams. She was responsible for sourcing and trading European and Asian special situations loans and high yield bonds, as well as selling special situations loans to hedge and private equity funds. Sensu began her career at Credit du Nord, in the London-based work-out team.
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Cindy Mcalister
Legal Advisor
Admitted to practice in 2001, Cindy has worked in the UK, France, Switzerland and Hong Kong, advising across sectors and practise areas including financial, competition, corporate fraud, tax and employment, data protection, AI, and business legal strategy. She was an associate at Baker & McKenzie, Herbert Smith Freehills, was a founding partner at Vanderbrook Chambaud, and worked at the Interpol General Secretariat. In addition to her work for ESSA, she acts as General Counsel for a non-profit organisation, and has an independent legal practice based in London.
Contact Information
Address
ESSA Partners LLP
71-75 Shelton Street
London
WC2H 9JQ
United Kingdom