Moelis & Company Expands to Asia; Acquires Hong Kong-Based Asia Pacific Advisers
Moelis & Company, the New York-headquartered independent investment bank, today announced its plans to expand into Asia with the acquisition of Asia Pacific Advisers (“APA”), an independent financial advisory firm based in Hong Kong. The acquisition of APA enhances Moelis & Company’s global presence and further strengthens its Asia Pacific capabilities, adding an established team in Hong Kong to complement the firm’s growing business in Asia Pacific. Closing of the transaction is expected in April 2011 and is subject to approval by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission.
Founded by Chief Executive Officer Richard Orders, and shortly thereafter joined by Bert Grisel as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, APA provides high-quality, independent advice to leading corporations, institutions and professional investors in the Asia Pacific region. APA’s capabilities include a comprehensive range of advisory services, including mergers and acquisitions, capital markets advisory and restructuring. Since its inception in early 2009, APA has advised on many notable transactions in Asia Pacific, including serving as Joint Financial Advisor to Swire Pacific on the mandatory general offer for HAECO, which valued HAECO at US$2.2 billion, and advising on corporate governance terms between GOME and the founding shareholders of GOME. APA continues to have a growing pipeline of current business with corporates and private equity firms across Asia.
“Building our presence in Asia is a strategic priority for our firm and demonstrates our continued commitment to delivering global knowledge and capabilities to our clients,” said Ken Moelis, Chief Executive Officer of Moelis & Company. “Richard and Bert bring extensive experience advising clients across the Asia Pacific region and we are very pleased to be partnering with them and their talented team on this exciting endeavor.”
Moelis & Company has advised clients on many of the largest and most complex transactions since its establishment in 2007, including Anheuser-Busch on its sale to InBev, Yahoo! on its unsolicited proposal from Microsoft and the Government of Dubai on the restructuring of Dubai World. Recently, Moelis & Company has advised on a number of cross-border transactions with companies in Asia, including representing Pacific Century Motors, an entity backed by Beijing’s Municipal Government, on its acquisition of Nexteer Automotive from General Motors, and Orkla on its sale of Elkem to China National Bluestar Group.
Mark Aedy, Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa Investment Banking for Moelis & Company, said: “There are currently many opportunities for independent advisory firms, particularly in Asia Pacific, where clients are seeking strategic counsel and conflict-free advice. We look forward to working with the APA team to grow our business in the region and enhance our ability to provide our clients with world-class independent advice and solutions.”
Mervyn Davies, Lord Davies of Abersoch, who serves as Special Advisor to Ken Moelis and Chairman of Moelis & Company’s Global Advisory Board, added: “Establishing local expertise and capabilities in Asia is critical to serving a global client base effectively. This important strategic step, together with Moelis & Company’s new office in Dubai, adds significant breadth and depth to our global franchise.”
“APA is excited to join Moelis & Company,” said Mr. Orders. “We will benefit from its strong momentum, global reach and partnership culture. Our firms share a mutual focus on independent advice and long-term client relationships and together will offer premier advisory services to clients in the Asia Pacific region.”
Mr. Orders has over 20 years of experience in advising corporate clients across the Asia Pacific region. Prior to founding APA, he was a Managing Director in the combined RBS/ABN AMRO group in Asia Pacific and before that was Vice Chairman and Head of Global Clients Asia Pacific for ABN AMRO, where he worked since 1996. Prior to joining ABN AMRO, Mr. Orders was a Managing Director and Head of Barings Investment Banking in Asia. He has also worked for Barings in other roles within corporate finance and debt capital markets based in Australia and London. Over the course of his career, Mr. Orders has advised on many of the landmark transactions in Asia.
Mr. Grisel has over 20 years of investment banking experience advising clients on corporate finance matters and capital solutions. Prior to joining APA, he was a Managing Director for ABN AMRO and Head of Industrials and Real Estate based in Hong Kong. He has also worked in Amsterdam for ABN AMRO in various product groups and management positions.
About Moelis & Company
Moelis & Company, recently named Best Global Independent Investment Bank by Euromoney, is a global investment bank that provides financial advisory, capital raising and asset management services to a broad client base including corporations, institutions and governments. With over 470 employees, Moelis & Company serves its clients through offices in New York, Boston, Chicago, Dubai, London, Los Angeles and Sydney. For more information, please visit www.moelis.com.
Notes to Editors
Moelis & Company recently appointed Lord Davies of Abersoch, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered PLC and Minister for Trade, Investment and Small Business for the United Kingdom, as Special Advisor to Chief Executive Officer Ken Moelis and as Chairman and founding member of the firm’s new Global Advisory Board.