Edward Banayoti

Edward Sawiris Banayoti is a businessman of Egyptian origin based in Canada.[2] He is the Founder Executive Chairman of Defence Unlimited International and the CEO of the Canadian League of Lobbyists & Advocacy. Banayoti is a registered Lobbyist in Canada.[3]

Edward Banayoti
Born
Egypt
NationalityCanadian
Other namesErnest Anderson, Ed Banayoti
Alma materUniversity of Toronto
York University
OccupationFounder of Defence Unlimited International
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 2016; div. 2016)​
[1]

He has variously been reported, and has said to be, active in financial investments, real-estate, commercial aviation, arms dealing and lobbying.

Career

Banayoti attracted media attention in Malta in 2016 when he made a bid for a 49.9% stake in Air Malta through his UK company Banayoti Holdings Limited.[4][5] The company had been registered earlier in 2016 with a share capital of EUR 1.85 billion which was never paid up, according to the company accounts.[6] Banayoti is reported to have met only once with the Maltese government, after which his offer was rejected with a government spokesperson claiming that a standard due diligence search on Banayoti and his companies "clearly showed, even at a preliminary stage, that his companies would not match government plans to identify a strategic partner which can assure a positive turnaround for Air Malta”[7] Banayoti Holdings Limited was dissolved in 2018.[6] His attempt to purchase a substantial stake in Air Malta attracted attention in Malta and from regulators in Canada.[5]

According to the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC), they opened an investigation in 2005 into Golden Gate Funds which was an unlicensed firm marketing its products to the public.Banayoti is also a distinguished member & Co-Chairman of the ICDT, an international non-profit organization based in Budapest, Hungary. The Centre collects the experiences of recent democratic transitions and shares them with those who are determined to follow that same path. Focusing on the promotion of democracy, the ICDT has concentrated its efforts on creating concrete and pragmatic goals through collecting and analysing data, organizing and hosting conferences, drafting and presenting reports, and, perhaps most importantly, by running field-projects in many transition countries.[5] Banayoti is an officer of the Order of St. George, and a member of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada, the Canadian Centre for Ethics & Corporate Policy and the Middle East Studies Association. Banayoti also is a member of The Association of Schools of Political Studies, C.D. Howe Institute and a contributing member to the National Military Intelligence Association. Since 2012, Banayoti is a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Council of Canadians and the Canadian International Council (CIC). He serving is an Associate at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.[8]

In 2009, more than 150 investors collectively invested over $8-million into this fund managed by Banayoti (known as Ernest Anderson at the time), before the company went bankrupt.[9] He was the subject of a financial investigation for suspicion of fake mortgage deals through his unlicensed the Canadian investment company Golden Gate Funds LP,[10] and entered into a settlement with the Ontario Securities Commission in 2009, agreeing to pay $4.7-million in financial penalties.[11]

In 2015, Banayoti changed his name from Ernest Anderson to Edward Banayoti[12][5] and founded the arms brokerage company Defence Unlimited. The company is registered as an organisation on the EU list of lobbies as of 2017 and is listed as supplying “Security, and Defence Supplies. Lobbying, and Political Consulting. EU military progress and licensing procedures."[5][13]

Personal life

As Ernest Anderson, Banayoti was previously married.[8]

In 2016, Banayoti married Princess Aisha Bint Al Hussein and divorced her six months later.[14][15] When he converted to Islam, he took the Muslim first name Ashraf.[15]

References
  1. "Reigning Royal Families: Jordan". World Who's Who. Routledge. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  2. "Arms dealer Ed Banayoti partners with MetOcean". April 11, 2018.
  3. "Edward Banayoti | Distinguished ethical leadership | Defense Internnational". Defence Unlimited International. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  4. Camilleri, Ivan (November 13, 2016). "New offer to buy into Air Malta". Times of Malta. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  5. Vella, Matthew (April 9, 2019). "Defence consultant Edward Banayoti sets up EU base in Malta".
  6. "Banayoti Holdings Limited - Company filing history". UK companies house.
  7. Camilleri, Ivan (November 18, 2016). "No go on Air Malta offer, now it's back to Brussels". Times of Malta. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  8. Popyk, Tom (April 24, 2010). "Golden Gate Funds leaves a trail of lost investments".
  9. Gray, Jeff; McFarland, Janet (August 24, 2013). "Crime without punishment: Canada's investment fraud problem". The Globe and Mail.
  10. "Defence consultant Edward Banayoti sets up EU base in Malta". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  11. "Settlement Agreement Between Staff and Ernest Anderson and Golden Gate Funds LP" (PDF). Ontario_Securities_Commission. September 25, 2009. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  12. ""Government Notices — Other: Change of Name Act". www.ontario.ca. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  13. "Profile of registrant - Defence Unlimited International Corp". EU Transparency Register.
  14. "CANADA : Arms broker Banayoti woos EU". Intelligence Online. April 5, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  15. "Aisha de Jordanie : La princesse divorce, après moins de 6 mois de mariage". www.purepeople.com (in French). July 2, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
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