Baird Expands Global Platform to Include Investment Banking in China

Firm Adds Anthony Siu, Managing Director, In Shanghai

SHANGHAI, China, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Baird, an employee-owned
international capital markets, private equity, wealth and asset management
firm, announced today that it has expanded its global platform to include
investment banking capabilities in Asia with the addition of Anthony Yan-Hong
Siu, Managing Director. Siu, a 17-year veteran who was previously an
investment banker at Standard Chartered Bank in Hong Kong, will focus on
cross-border mergers and acquisitions working closely with Baird's investment
bankers in the United States and Europe. He will be based in Baird's Shanghai
office, which also houses Baird Private Equity operating and investment
professionals.
"We have long understood that in order to help our clients be successful
in China, it is vital to give them access to on-the-ground experts who are
deeply familiar with local business practices and know how to best navigate
the market," said Paul Purcell, Baird Chairman, President and CEO. "We have
taken that strategic approach with our successful global private equity
business, and are very excited about building out our investment banking
capabilities to create additional opportunities."
With 150 investment banking professionals based in the U.S., UK, Germany
and now China, Baird has one of the largest global investment banking teams
principally focused on the middle market ($50-500 million in transaction
value), and is uniquely positioned to advise on cross-border transactions.
In explaining Baird's global investment banking strategy, Director of
Investment Banking Steve Booth pointed to Baird's history in Europe.
"In the late 1990s, our clients valued us for our deep sector expertise,
but we were in danger of becoming less relevant due to our strictly U.S.
focus," he explained. "As we expanded into Europe and gave our U.S. clients
the access they were interested in, we formed relationships with European
clients who were similarly interested in our U.S. connections."
The situation today in China is directly analogous, Booth said, with both
U.S. and European clients increasingly looking to expand into Asia and needing
trusted advisors to help them access opportunities in the market.
"In order to best serve our clients, particularly those in the consumer
and industrial sectors, we must be able to effectively help them access
opportunities in China," said Booth. "We have been building networks and
relationships in the market for years and are delighted that we were able to
attract Anthony to our platform. We are confident that he will be an excellent
addition to our team."
Baird in Asia
While this is Baird's first investment banking office in Asia, the firm
has been establishing a significant presence there over the past several
years. In 2003, Baird established a team of now approximately 20 operating
professionals in China to support the sourcing, manufacturing and distribution
efforts of Baird Private Equity portfolio companies. Today, the firm has
offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing, and earlier this year added a
China-based investment team to its global private equity platform. Baird also
partners with Tholons, Inc. in Bangalore, India, to support the efforts of
Baird Private Equity portfolio companies in the Business Services sector, and
works with Boston Analytics in Mumbai to support Baird's U.S. and European
investment banking operations.
Bio - Anthony Yan-Hong Siu
Prior to joining Baird, Siu was a Director of Corporate Advisory at
Standard Chartered Bank, responsible for cross-border M&A transactions in
China. Before joining Standard Chartered, Siu was a Senior Vice President at
Daiwa Securities SMBC. He also previously worked at Dresdner Kleinwort
Wasserstein and Schroders where he was involved in a variety of M&A and
capital market transactions. Siu received his Executive MBA degree from the
Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and Hong Kong
University of Science and Technology (HKUST). He holds a B.A. degree from
Pomona College and is a certified CPA in California.
About Baird's Investment Banking Group
Recognized as the 2008 "Middle Market Investment Bank of the Year" by
Buyouts magazine, Baird is a leading international investment bank focused on
the middle market. More than 150 investment banking professionals in the U.S.,
Europe and Asia provide corporations with in-depth market knowledge and
extensive experience in merger and acquisition and equity financing
transactions. Over the past 10 years, Baird has advised on over 615 M&A and
financing transactions with a total value of more than $94 billion. Over the
past five years, European and transatlantic assignments have accounted for
approximately one-third of our M&A transactions. Baird was named "Middle
Market Bank of the Year" for 2006 by Investment Dealer's Digest. The firm has
received "Deal of the Year" recognitions from The M&A Advisor in 2005, 2006
and 2007, and was named 2008 "Manufacturing Sector Adviser of the Year" by
Acquisitions Monthly in the UK. For more information, please visit
www.rwbaird.com.
About Baird
Baird is an employee-owned, international wealth management, capital
markets, private equity and asset management firm with offices in the United
States, Europe and Asia. Established in 1919, Baird has more than 2,300
associates serving the needs of individual, corporate, institutional and
municipal clients. Baird oversees and manages client assets of more than $73
billion. Committed to being a great place to work, Baird is one of FORTUNE's
"100 Best Companies to Work For" in 2008 -- its fifth consecutive year on the
list. Baird's principal operating subsidiaries are Robert W. Baird & Co. in
the United States and Robert W. Baird Group Ltd. in Europe. Baird also has
operating subsidiaries in Asia supporting Baird's private equity and
investment banking operations. For more information, please visit Baird's Web
site at www.rwbaird.com.
SOURCE Baird

Angela Pittman Taylor, Public Relations Coordinator of Baird, +1-414-298-1902,
apittmantaylor@rwbaird.com