Financial services firm Avendus Capital has appointed Deepak Bhandari to head its European subsidiary Avendus Capital (UK) Pvt Ltd, the company said in a press release.
Forty four-year-old Bhandari has almost two decades of experience in financial, strategic and transaction advisory and prior to joining Avendus Capital, he was working with Axiata Group Berhad, Malaysia as an independent advisor where he led several M&A transaction discussions on behalf of edotco Group, the communication infrastructure business of Axiata across Asia.
Previously, he worked as head of technology, media and telecommunications investment banking at Barclays Capital for five years. In his tenure, he advised on marquee deals like Bharti Airtel’s acquisition of Zain’s Africa business for $11 billion as well as disposal of Essar Group’s telecom tower assets to American Tower for $460 million and Qualcomm’s Broadband Wireless Access business to Bharti Airtel.
He has also associated with the companies like CIBC World Markets and UBS Investment Bank.
"Deepak’s addition to the team will strengthen our European footprint. Deepak brings a unique combination of European/Asian experience having worked extensively in the UK, India and across Asia. His addition to the team, coupled with our US presence, will strengthen Avendus Capital UK’s position as a prominent advisor for cross-border and global IT/BPO deals," said Gaurav Deepak, MD, Avendus Capital.
Bhandari is chartered accountant and company secretary by education and completed MBA from London Business School.
Avendus Capital (UK) focuses on corporate finance advisory services, offering advice to corporate clients, entrepreneur-owned businesses and private equity houses on mergers, acquisitions, disposals and equity capital raising.
Mumbai-headquartered Avendus Capital is one of the top mid-market investment bankers in the country and also has a separate alternative asset management unit. In the last five years, it claims to have closed around 34 international transactions. In India, the company has one office each in New Delhi and Bangalore.