Atef Abou Merhi
Managing Director of Pelagic Partners
This is the blog of Atef Abou Merhi, the managing director and a founding member of Pelagic Partners. This blog will explore various aspects of Atef’s professional life, covering a range of topics including Pelagic Partners’ role in the shipping industry, the company’s recent acquisition of a stake in Golden Energy Offshore Services, the benefits of oil transportation by sea, anchor investors, the role of shipping in the global energy transition, and tips for young entrepreneurs.
Maritime and Logistics
Maritime and Logistics
Pelagic Partners Investments
Pelagic Partners operates the Pelagic Investment Fund, which invests in a range of maritime assets including oil tankers, bulk carriers, chemical and product tankers, ro-ro vessels, gas carriers, general cargo vessels, container ships and offshore support vessels. The fund aims to ensure a steady stream of dividend distribution to its investors.
In October 2023, Pelagic Partners announced its investment in Golden Energy Offshore Services, becoming the publicly listed company’s largest shareholder. As part of this stakeholding, Pelagic Partners was also given a seat on Golden Energy Offshore Services’ board of directors.
Maritime Industry Dynamics
Carrying liquid cargo in bulk, tankers are responsible for transporting the majority of the world’s energy needs, playing a vital role in getting refined petroleum products, crude oil, gas and chemicals to where they’re needed. Transporting crude oil by sea is cost-effective and, by using ocean waterways, helps reduce congestion on the roads.
Atef is one of Pelagic Partners’ anchor investors. This type of investor acquires shares in a company before the initial public offering (IPO) phase begins. In so doing, the presence of anchor investors can serve to boost the confidence of other potential investors, have a beneficial effect on a company’s valuation and increase the total shareholder returns.
Energy Transition and Entrepreneurship
The shipping industry will play a key role in the global energy transition. Interactions between the shipping industry and the energy system are likely to be a crucial determination of the success of new supply chains that align with the aim of limiting global warming.
As an anchor investor and the managing director of a company he co-founded, Atef is a highly successful entrepreneur. New young entrepreneurs inspired by this success should bear in mind that the start-ups most likely to survive and thrive are those based on the passion of their founders. It’s also vital to understand the relevant market inside out, which should be thoroughly researched before a new business is launched. Finding a mentor can also make a profound difference to a new enterprise’s chance of success.
