India-based Avendus Capital Private Limited, a financial services firm, has appointed renowned economist and currency expert, Professor Eisuke Sakakibara, to its Advisory Council. The move marks Avendus’ strategic expansion plan for increasing its presence in the Indo-Japanese investments and deals corridor.
As per Bloomberg’s mergers and acquisitions (M&As) league tables for 2011, Avendus Capital was the leading Indian financial services firm by number of deals. The company closed $2.2 billion worth of deals in 2011. Since 2007, the company has closed 40 M&A deals. Avendus Capital’s also provides customised solutions for financial advisory, equity markets and wealth management sectors.
Prof. Sakakibara, a key advisory to the Democratic Party of Japan, has been the country’s Vice Minister of Finance and International Affairs and has worked as an economist with the International Monetary Fund. He also presides over Institute for Indian Economic Studies (IIES), a foundation that promotes collaboration between India and Japan.
Ranu Vohra, Managing Director & CEO, Avendus Capital said, “Prof. Sakakibara’s experience with the Government of Japan and his expertise in the areas of business, international finance and policy making is of immense value and will support our strategic plans. His insights and relationships in Japan and understanding of India will prove invaluable for our clients looking to tap Japan for capital or partners.”
Sakakibara said, “Since India remains an important destination for Japanese companies and investors, Avendus with its strong record of cross border transactions will be the right partner for them.”
Avendus Capital has four subsidiaries, two in India and one each in NewYork and London. Its Indian subsidiaries, Avendus Securities private Limited and Avendus PE Investment Advisors Private Limited operate in research and sales & trading and alternative asset management (manages funds raised from its investors by investing in public markets and private equity) respectively. Its US and UK based subsidiaries, namely, Avendus Capital, Inc (US) and Avendus Capital (UK) Pvt. Ltd. offer M&A and Private Equity syndication services.