Entrepreneur Amir Shariki abandons Tel Aviv: "American companies have no chance here in the next two years"
Entrepreneur Amir Shariki decides to immediately redeem bonds issued by his company Aya New York in Tel Aviv worth NIS 292 million, following a conflict with bondholders over double pledging of assets. Shariki claims the Israeli market has no trust in American companies registered in the BVI, and that they have no chance of raising capital in the next two years. He raised alternative financing in the US at an interest rate below 7.7%.
Israeli entrepreneur Amir Shariki, founder of Aya New York, decided to immediately redeem bonds issued by the company in February 2026 in Tel Aviv worth NIS 292 million. The decision came after a conflict with bondholders, led by Yelin Lapidot and Meitav, following a discovery in the second quarter reports that subsidiaries of Aya entered into agreements to pledge future receivables, while pledging assets already pledged to holders. Shariki claims it was a misunderstanding that was corrected within 48 hours, but the holders appointed legal representation. In his first interview in Israel with Calcalist, Shariki explained that the Israeli market has lost trust in American companies registered in the BVI following the events at Simad, Cohen GFI, and others, and that such companies have no chance of raising capital in the next two years. He raised alternative financing in the US at an interest rate below 7.7% per year, and the repayment funds are already in his possession. The negotiations with the holders lasted only 40 minutes, and the company offered full payment without a haircut.