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Design Thinking & Strategy

Where design meets decision.

AFD explores the intersection of design thinking, business strategy, and human experience. Perspectives for practitioners who build things that matter.

Read the blog Our methodology
How We Help Clients

Let's turn your biggest opportunities into your next big moves.

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Industry Expertise ›

Deep industry insights based on years of strategic design counseling across sectors.

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Practical know-how on transforming how organisations work through design thinking.

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We help clients unlock the power of design at scale and build new capabilities to fuel growth.

Specialist Capital

Specialist Capital for Special Situations & Alternative Assets

AFD Fund Management Ltd is an Abu Dhabi Global Market authorised asset and fund manager, regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority under a Category 3C Financial Services Permission.

We structure and manage bespoke investment mandates for institutional investors and family offices across special situations and alternative asset classes.

2017

Year Authorised

Cat 3C

FSRA Licence Category

ADGM

Regulatory Jurisdiction

Pro

Clients Only

About The Firm

An Institutional Platform Built for Complex Mandates

AFD Fund Management Ltd is an ADGM-incorporated and FSRA-authorised asset and fund management firm, holding a Category 3C Financial Services Permission to conduct the regulated activities of Managing Assets and Managing Collective Investment Funds.

Established in December 2017, the firm was built to serve institutional investors, sovereign-aligned family offices, and professional intermediaries seeking exposure to special situations, alternative assets, and real asset strategies.

ADGM — the Abu Dhabi Global Market — is one of the world's leading international financial centres, operating under English common law and widely recognised by institutional counterparties.

“Special situations demand structural precision, regulatory clarity, and an experienced manager with the mandate to act decisively.”

AFD Fund Management operates exclusively with Professional Clients as defined under the FSRA Conduct of Business Rulebook, ensuring institutional governance.

Legal Entity

Private Company Limited by Shares

ADGM · Reg No. 000000989

Regulator

Financial Services Regulatory Authority

FSP No. 170026 · Category 3C

Authorised Activities

Managing Assets & Investment Funds

Discretionary mandates · Collective vehicles

Regulatory Framework

Financial Services & Markets Regulations 2015

English common law · ADGM

Client Classification

Professional Clients Only

No retail · Private placement

Registered Address

7th Floor, Al Sila Tower

Al Maryah Island · Abu Dhabi · UAE
INVESTMENT APPROACH

Special Situations: The Structural Advantage

MANDATE DESIGN
Bespoke Structuring for Complex Opportunities
Each mandate is structured from first principles around the specific opportunity, investor base, tax position, and target return profile. We do not apply generic fund templates. Mandate structures are developed in close coordination with legal, tax, and regulatory counsel across relevant jurisdictions.
ASSET SELECTION
Disciplined Underwriting Across Asset Classes
We apply a rigorous, multi-factor underwriting framework to every asset evaluated. Investments are selected where structural mispricing, operational complexity, or market dislocation generates entry advantages not available in efficiently priced markets. Quality of title, enforceability, and exit visibility are non-negotiable criteria.
CAPITAL ARCHITECTURE
Multi-Jurisdictional Capital Structures
AFD Fund Management has the capability to design and manage capital structures spanning multiple jurisdictions — including ADGM LP vehicles, Luxembourg SPVs, UK operating entities, and bond issuance vehicles — enabling institutional-grade leverage profiles, tax efficiency, and investor familiarity.
ACTIVE MANAGEMENT
Value Creation Through Operational Engagement
We are an active manager. Value creation is driven by operational engagement with assets, not passive hold strategies. This includes repositioning, refinancing, structural optimisation, and working intensively with specialist advisors in each target market to accelerate value realisation.
RISK FRAMEWORK
Structural Risk Management at Every Level
Risk is managed structurally, not reactively. Each investment mandate operates with defined concentration limits, leverage covenants, liquidity governance, and reporting obligations. FSRA-mandated prudential monitoring is supplemented by internal capital adequacy assessment processes.
INVESTOR RELATIONS
Institutional Transparency & Governance
Investors receive regular, structured reporting covering NAV, portfolio developments, capital deployment, and compliance status. Governance frameworks are aligned with ADGM FSRA requirements, including independent oversight, conflicts of interest management, and annual audited accounts.
Capabilities

What We Manage

Under our Category 3C Financial Services Permission, AFD Fund Management is authorised to manage both collective investment funds and individual discretionary asset mandates for Professional Clients.

Collective Investment Funds

Fund Management — Closed-Ended Vehicles

AFD Fund Management is authorised to establish and manage Collective Investment Funds, including closed-ended ADGM Limited Partnerships.

We design fund vehicles with institutional-grade governance, LP agreements, and full fund administration oversight tailored to investor requirements.

Discretionary Asset Management

Individual Client Mandates

The firm manages assets on a fully discretionary basis for Professional Clients.

Each mandate is governed by a bespoke Investment Management Agreement defining objectives, risk, and reporting structure.

Real Assets

Real Estate & Hard Asset Strategies

Expertise in structuring mandates around real estate, infrastructure, and physical asset-backed investments.

Multi-jurisdictional structuring ensures efficient capital deployment using ADGM, European, and local entities.

Special Situations

Opportunistic & Event-Driven

Targeting investments from corporate events, regulatory change, and market dislocation.

Requires deep structuring expertise and the ability to execute decisively in complex environments.

Regulatory Standing

Regulated to Institutional Standard

AFD Fund Management Ltd operates within one of the world's most respected common law financial regulatory frameworks. Our ADGM authorisation provides institutional counterparties with legal certainty and governance comfort.

Financial Services Permission

Category 3C — Managing Assets & Funds

Authorised under FSMR 2015 with FSP Number 170026, granted by ADGM FSRA.

ADGM Registration Authority

Commercial Licence

Incorporated December 2017 as a Private Company Limited by Shares (Reg No. 000000989), renewed annually.

Client Classification

Professional Clients Only

No Retail Clients. No Client Money held. Private placement only under FSMR Section 35 conditions.

Compliance & AML

Regulatory Obligations

Quarterly reporting, annual audits, MLRO designation, and full AML/KYC compliance aligned with ADGM & FATF standards.

Authorised Person

AFD Fund Management Ltd

FSP Number

170026

Licence Category

Category 3C

Authorised Activities

Managing Assets · Managing CIFs

Regulator

ADGM FSRA

FSP Granted

December 2017

Registered Number

000000989

Legal Framework

FSMR 2015 · English Common Law

Client Eligibility

Professional Clients Only

Public Register

registration.adgm.com

Verify Regulatory Status

The regulatory status of AFD Fund Management Ltd can be independently verified via the ADGM public register and FSRA register of Authorised Persons.

Verification Code: COMPANIES-17505651
Leadership

Experienced Principals

The firm is led by professionals with cross-jurisdictional experience in fund management, alternative investment structuring, and regulated financial services.

JG

Jérôme Guichard

Director · Authorised Signatory · CF1

Jérôme Guichard is a Director and Authorised Signatory of AFD Fund Management Ltd, holding the Controlled Function CF1 as an FSRA-approved Approved Person.

He brings extensive experience in international fund structuring, alternative investment management, and regulated financial services across European and Middle Eastern markets.

CF1 Director Authorised Signatory FSRA Approved
SW

Stéphane X.C. Woestelandt

Director · Authorised Signatory · CF1

Stéphane Xavier Christian Woestelandt is a Director and Authorised Signatory of AFD Fund Management Ltd, holding the Controlled Function CF1.

He brings expertise in structured finance, real asset strategy, and institutional capital markets across European fund structures and cross-border mandates.

CF1 Director Authorised Signatory FSRA Approved

FSRA Controlled Functions

Finance Officer (CF3), Compliance Officer (CF4), and Money Laundering Reporting Officer (CF10). All individuals are assessed as fit and proper and registered as Approved Persons.

CF3 Finance Officer CF4 Compliance Officer CF10 MLRO

Institutional Oversight Structure

Governance Framework

AFD Fund Management operates with a formal governance framework aligned to ADGM FSRA expectations. This includes Board oversight, compliance monitoring, capital adequacy reviews, and annual reporting.

Board Governance Compliance Monitoring Annual FSRA Reporting
Contact

Professional Enquiries

AFD Fund Management Ltd welcomes enquiries from institutional investors, professional intermediaries, and family offices. All communications are treated in strict confidence.

Access to investment documentation is available exclusively to persons who qualify as Professional Clients under FSRA rules.

Registered Office

Part of 7th Floor, Al Sila Tower

ADGM Square, Al Maryah Island

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Regulatory Status

Authorised by ADGM FSRA

FSP 170026 · Category 3C

Authorised Signatories

Jérôme Guichard

Stéphane X.C. Woestelandt

Public Register

registration.adgm.com

Company No. 000000989

Verify on ADGM Public Register

The authorisation status of AFD Fund Management Ltd can be independently verified via ADGM and FSRA registers.

Verification Code: COMPANIES-17505651

Regulatory Notice

AFD Fund Management Ltd is regulated by the FSRA of ADGM under Financial Services Permission number 170026 (Category 3C). The firm is authorised to manage assets and collective investment funds.

This website is directed solely at Professional Clients. Nothing constitutes an offer, solicitation, or investment advice. All investments are offered via private placement only.

Prospective investors must conduct independent due diligence. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Regulatory status can be verified on registration.adgm.com.