Melqart Asset Management

What Melqart Asset Management does

Melqart Asset Management (UK) Limited is a London-based alternative asset manager founded in March 2015 and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority on 22 September 2015 as a Full Scope Alternative Investment Fund Manager under firm reference number 677228. The firm is also registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a registered investment adviser under CRD 287888. Operating from 5 St James's Square in London with a team of approximately 11 investment professionals and 10 management professionals, Melqart manages roughly $1.4 billion in assets under management (as of January 2026). The firm is led by CEO and CIO Michel Massoud, whose career includes over two decades of event-driven strategy experience at Morgan Stanley and Cheyne Capital, alongside Director Stephen Platts.

The firm's core offering is discretionary portfolio management delivered through Collective Investment Schemes classified as Alternative Investment Funds under AIFMD, pursuing event-driven and long-short equity strategies designed to deliver uncorrelated returns across economic cycles. Melqart markets a fundamental research-driven process with integrated ESG analysis and is a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment; the firm has indicated planned integration of third-party ESG data services (Bloomberg ESG, MSCI ESG, Sustainalytics, Truvalue Labs, and Vigeo Eiris). Performance disclosures cite Melqart Opportunities returning between 18% and 45% in 2025.

Melqart's business model is structured around traditional alternative asset manager economics: recurring management fees drawn throughout the year from the funds it manages, supplemented by performance fees. Distribution is direct-to-institutional, with existing investor access facilitated through the State Street Global Services Investor Portal. The firm has no disclosed parent company, external controlling shareholder, or public listing. In Q2 2026 Melqart applied for a license to operate in the Dubai International Financial Centre, signalling its first material geographic expansion beyond the UK and US regulatory footprints, with plans to staff the office with both investment and non-investment personnel.

Name

Melqart Asset Management

Legal name

Melqart Asset Management (UK) Limited

Website

https://melqart.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Melqart Asset Management is a London-based FCA-authorised alternative asset manager founded in 2015 that runs event-driven and long-short equity strategies for institutional investors through AIFMD-classified funds, managing approximately $1.4 billion in AUM and expanding into Dubai in 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alternative Asset Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)

akta.pro primary industry

Fundamental/Discretionary Equity Long/Short (FSAHAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Portfolio Management–Led RIAs (Discretionary/Model-Based) (FSAAACAC)

Keywords

• Alternative asset management
• Event-driven investing
• Hedge fund management
• Portfolio management services
• Investment management

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Management Fees: Revenue generated from management fees on funds under management. The firm's revenue is ultimately related to management fees received from funds, which are drawn throughout the year from the funds managed.
2. Performance Fees: The firm generates revenue through management fees and performance fees from alternative investment funds managed on behalf of clients.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Melqart Asset Management is a London-based alternative asset manager that provides discretionary portfolio management services through hedge fund vehicles classified as Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) under AIFMD. The firm pursues event-driven and long-short equity investment strategies on behalf of institutional investors and qualified clients, investing in a wide range of securities and instruments across multiple jurisdictions. The firm's revenue is generated through management fees and performance fees on approximately $1.4 billion in assets under management.

Product overview

Melqart Asset Management (UK) Ltd is a London-based alternative asset manager offering hedge fund investment management services. The firm provides alternative investment strategies including event-driven and long-short equity approaches, managed on behalf of various collective investment schemes classified as Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) under AIFMD. The firm's investment strategies involve investing in a wide range of securities and instruments across various jurisdictions without limitation. While the company does not publicly disclose distinct branded products or modules, its core offering consists of discretionary portfolio management services delivered through fund vehicles pursuing investment strategies with focus on achieving positive risk-adjusted returns through the economic cycle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Melqart Opportunities Fund Event-driven alternative investment fund managed on behalf of institutional investors and qualified clients, pursuing differentiated, uncorrelated returns across the economic cycle through fundamental research-driven strategies.
• Event-Driven Investment Strategies Investment strategies that involve investing in a wide range of securities and instruments across various jurisdictions, with a focus on event-driven opportunities, designed to perform across economic cycles through an idiosyncratic multifaceted approach.
• Long-Short Equity Strategies Long-short equity investment approaches delivered through AIFMD-regulated Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) vehicles managed on behalf of institutional investors and qualified clients.
• Discretionary Portfolio Management Services Discretionary portfolio management services delivered through fund vehicles pursuing investment strategies with focus on achieving positive risk-adjusted returns through the economic cycle, with integrated ESG assessment as a core component of investment thesis development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Melqart Opportunities posted returns ranging from 18% to 45% in 2025
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• State Street Global ServicesminorOthersState Street Global Services provides the Investor Portal used by Melqart to make information available to existing investors. Investors can access the portal to view fund information and related documents.
• UNPRI (Principles for Responsible Investment)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMelqart Asset Management is a proud signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment. The six principles cover incorporating ESG issues into investment analysis, active ownership, disclosure, and reporting on implementation progress.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Man Group: London-listed global alternative investment manager with alternatives, quantitative, and discretionary strategies. Comparable in alternative asset management focus and London base, but operates at vastly larger scale as a publicly listed firm.
• Bridgewater Associates: World's largest hedge fund, also explicitly cited as a top 2025 performer alongside Melqart. Comparable as an alternative asset manager pursuing differentiated institutional strategies, but vastly larger scale.
• D.E. Shaw & Co. Global multi-strategy alternative asset manager explicitly mentioned alongside Melqart as a top 2025 hedge fund gainer. Comparable in alternative-strategy focus and fundamental equity research, though at a much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Egerton Capital Partners: London-based long/short equity manager founded by John Armitage, focusing on fundamental research-driven stock selection. Comparable in fundamental equity approach, scale, and London domicile.
• Marathon Asset Management: London-headquartered event-driven and credit-focused alternative asset manager. Closely comparable in event-driven strategy focus, institutional client base, and European/UK regulatory positioning.
• CQS Asset Management: London-based alternative asset manager running multi-strategy credit and event-driven funds. Comparable in geographic base, fund structure (UCITS/AIF), and institutional client focus.
• Capula Investment Management: London-based hedge fund manager with event-driven and relative value strategies. Operates at a similar AUM scale with comparable institutional client focus and alternative fund structures.
• Cheyne Capital Management: London-based alternative asset manager known for event-driven and credit strategies. Most directly comparable given CIO Michel Massoud's prior tenure there and the overlap in event-driven investment approach.
• Toscafund Asset Management: London-based event-driven equity hedge fund. Directly comparable in event-driven strategy focus, UK domicile, and institutional client base.
• Pelham Capital: London-based long/short equity hedge fund manager with similar fundamental research-driven approach. Comparable in size, London base, and event-driven equity strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Melqart Asset Management