Equity Magazine June 2017 Issue

FINANCE
Being a Mustafa, knowing the region
and having Dubai as a hub for nationals
from Afghanistan, India and
Pakistan, initiated the decision to
set-up here.
in transition in India, Iran or Pakistan, coming
from a war-torn country – like how the Syrians are
currently feeling with the turmoil in their nation –
you know that when you go to a place like Australia
you feel safe and at home. The country accepted a
lot of migrants from any background and religious
ethnicity with open arms”.
Growing up Alande’s ambition was to become
a commercial pilot, however upon graduating
from high school he took to the finance world
as a commission-based mortgage broker. By the
time he was 23, Alande was the highest winning
national seller for the company and by the age
of 26, he was in the top three nationally for that
leading brand in Australia. “In 2008, I aspired to
open my own company called Paragon National
Home Loans. He attributes his successes to
being multi lingual. “One of the things that
assisted my journey was that I speak six
languages including Dari, Pashtu, Urdu, Hindi,
Farsi and English,” Having the ability to speak
these languages gave him the opportunity to
expand his network, and by using his multi
lingual skills to help educate the migrant
markets settling into Melbourne and expanding
their multi-culturalism to give these people a
better understanding of the property market.
Alande went beyond mortgages in 2011 “I
created two products that were approved by the
Federal government of Australia, which was
immigration by investment. I’ve been part of the
program ever since the inception and in November
2012, with these qualified products, we brought in
the China and Middle East market, currently
managing $284 million AUD." In 2012 Paragon
Business Group was then created, completing
deposit lending and now currently manages over
$950 million AUD in residential mortgage
aggregation, domiciled in Australia. Paragon
Business Group, the parent company, went on to
launch Paragon Premier Investment Fund in 2016,
securing an Australian Financial Services License.
Paragon is a development investment fund
programme in Australia. Paragon is dedicated to
building homes, factories, or any development
project that are feasible for the Australian
community, which is much needed due to the
population growth.
Alande noticed a shift within the Australian
market, since the banks have become stringent
with their lending policy and will not lend to these
developers, Paragon is filling the gap that they do
not. Paragon is able to offer lucrative returns
through development. Alande expanded to eleven
markets including the Middle East. “Being a
Mustafa, knowing the region and having Dubai as
a hub for nationals from Afghanistan, India and
Pakistan, initiated the decision to set-up here.”
The way Paragon Premier Investment Fund
operates is by offering people the chance to invest
in government-approved projects in Melbourne’s
South, East and West. “We don’t deal with
volume; however we have close to 20 relationships
within the region that aren’t generated just in
Dubai. We use this city as a hub. Currently from
Dubai we are looking into $7.5 billion worth of
assets under management.” Institutions, Sovereign
Funds and Private funds are his biggest clients in
the region.
Currently, a Fund in India is being launched –
Paragon Investment Fund India, with a presence
in Mumbai and New Delhi. “Due to the current
turmoil in the Indian financial market and
exchange rates, we are looking to provide a service
solution for diversification of funds into Australian
government-approved projects.” When asked if
he has visited Afghanistan ever since he left,
Alande states that he hasn’t, although he does
boast a presence there through his office in Kabul
and ownership of the Paragon Band-e-Amir
Dragons cricket team, which is a part of the Kabul
Premier League, equivalent to the Indian Premier
League (IPL).
What's his key to success? “I never ever talk
business with my clients on the first pitch. I talk
about my journey, where I want to be, and how I
can fit them into my journey.” It's all about
maintaining relationships.
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EQUITY