Executive Financial

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PAUL F. LASTRA

+1-831-***-**-** • *** W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007 • ********@*****.***

My name is Paul Lastra. I am both a former Managing Director for Santander Group as well as an independent freelance corporate and investment financial consultant to several lower-middle market companies and startups in Europe. Over the last few years I nevertheless was forced to make a career break to give care to a family member with Alzheimer’s desease and it also allowed me to exploit my interest in the Arts which led me to exhibit some of my paintings at the New York Art Center. I am now exploring to relaunch and adjust the trajectory of my career by rejoining the corporate world. I believe I could share knowledge and add value to your company with an unparalleled accumulation of transactional, managerial and talent development experience. Prior to my career break and voluntary work, my freelance and banking experience have allowed me to create and efficiently spearhead a diversity of multicultural teams in a total of over 175+ transactions. These included MBOs, LBOs, Acquisitions, Project Financings, Recapitalizations, Restructurings and Debt & Equity Offerings which resulted in annual revenues of $1.12BN (+27.3% growth) with an average asset portfolio of $2.57BN (+37.4% growth) and a record $356MM (+34.8% growth) in earnings before tax. Following my work at one of the world’s largest multinational European banks assisting companies like Morgan Stanley Infrastructure or Goldman Sacks Infrastructure Partners in their European acquisitions and most recently after helping start-ups like INSS or Pistachos Nazarí grow and diversify their asset portfolio, I am looking to restart my career at a company with a larger corporate and institutional setting in which I could help build its future success. I have no doubt I will be able to exceed your expectations.

I would very much appreciate an opportunity to discuss this possibility in more detail. I attached my resume to this cover letter for your reference. I am very thankful for your time and hope to hear back from you soon.

Sincerely,

Paul F. Lastra

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PAUL F. LASTRA

+1-831-***-**-** • 325 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007 • ********@*****.*** Gained strong analytical, consulting and conceptual skills, combined with superior planning and organizational aptitudes with excellent written and verbal communication competence. Able to communicate and persuade at all management levels, and to thrive in a cross-functional, evolving business and technical environment. Unhesitating leadership at the senior executive level through root-cause and risk-reward problem solving, team building and effective communication brought about growth and profitability. CORE ATTRIBUTES AND COMPETENCIES

Decisive, Resourceful, Encouraging, Honest, Charismatic, Independent, Astute, Detail-Oriented With a sound judgment, strong work ethic, creative, strategic and “out-of-the-box” thinking, cognitive flexibility, self-discipline, consistency, global focus and a proven track record in new business development, the result accelerated the creation of value.

MOST RECENT EXPERIENCE

Proven Managing Director Helping Companies Translate Their Business Goals to Reality

Risk Management FP&A (S/B/I) / Fin. Modeling Partnerships & Alliances

Asset Management Financial Forecasting Capital & Oper. Budgeting

People / Team Management Financial Metrics / Reporting Equity & Debt Financing

Acquisitions & Project Financing

LBOs / MBOs / Margin Loans

Valuation Analysis

Recaps / Restructurings

Strategic Planning

C-Level Reporting

Career Break USA/European Union

Artist 2016 - Present

Fascinated by simplicity, by scarcity of matter, by textures and by the intensity of colors and forms, my artwork allows the viewer to interpret what he/she perceives in different ways, at times with opposite intent. The aim nonetheless is to foster the viewer’s imagination as the main driving force.

Currently exhibiting a few of my paintings at the New York Art Center, New York (USA).

Participant at the Luxembourg Art Prize 2020, 6th Edition (Luxembourg). Pistachos Nazarí, Inmobiliaria Norte Sur, S.A. European Union Freelance Corporate Financial and Management Senior Executive 2015 - 2016 Small to medium-sized European companies faced either with mature markets with little room for growth due to lack of financial support, highly concentrated activities and competition, or exploring a move forward into the next stage of their project life cycle.

Rendered independent financial consulting services to private start-up companies and family owned businesses through the design & implementation of new financial strategies and fund raising initiatives.

Grew revenues from $70MM to $82MM with an asset portfolio averaging $250MM which resulted in

$21MM (+17%) in earnings before tax.

Santander Group Madrid, Spain

Managing Director and European Sector Head 2010 - 2014 Banco Santander, a world-distinguished Spanish financial institution (ranked 1st in the Euro-zone and 7th worldwide) facing a high cost of capital, drove its CFO to implement corrective measures: limitation of the use of the bank’s own resources to increase liquidity and profitability through off-balance sheet initiatives.

Originated, arranged, led and executed over 75 natural resources (Oil & Gas, Water and Waste) transactions for corporations across the globe through the successful awarding of advisory and debt arrangement mandates driven exclusively by fee income. 3

Created and spearheaded a team of 8 investment bankers in transactions involving LBOs, MBOs, Acquisitions (Buy-side), Project Financings, Recapitalizations, Restructurings and Equity & Debt Offerings.

Increased revenues to $1.12BN with an asset portfolio averaging $2.57BN and achieved a record

$356MM in earnings before tax.

Executive Director & Global Sector Head 2007 - 2009 With a highly concentrated asset class portfolio, the bank was in need to diversify its investment mix, from traditional to unprecedented new sectors of economic activity, to remain competitive vis-à-vis its peer competitors.

Launched and strengthened successfully, through effective team work and leadership, a specialized banking unit focusing in the origination, pitching, financial modeling/forecasting, structuring and financing arrangement, syndication and debt/equity participation in over 100 natural resources and TMT transactions worldwide for multinational corporations.

Hired, led, managed and coached a team of 26 corporate bankers in transactions involving Project Financings, Restructurings, Acquisitions, Debt Offerings and Sale and Leasebacks.

Produced and delivered $814MM in revenues with an asset portfolio averaging of $1.87BN and obtained

$260MM in earnings before tax.

EDUCATION

Schiller International University Heidelberg (GER) / London (UK) / Madrid (Spain) Bachelor of Business Administration – Management and Economics (Cum Laude & Dean s List) School of Banking & Money Management at Adelphi University New York, NY (USA) Master of Science – Banking and Finance (Cum Laude) The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA (USA) Advanced Management Program – Banking and Finance (Ranked 1st in class) IE Business School Madrid (Spain)

PDD Program – “Xth Advanced Senior Executive Development Program” (Ranked 1st in class) SKILLS AND INTERESTS

Languages: Proficient (trilingual) in English, French and Spanish Computing skills: Bloomberg, Capital IQ, Thomson One, Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word), Salesforce, Wave Analytics, GlobalData

Interests and Activities: Rugby (former athlete), contemporary art, jazz & blues music, poetry & literature US Status: Legal Resident Alien

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-f-lastra-02985b18

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