AUSTRALIA MOVES-Moelis hires JPM banker for Australia

SYDNEY, March 15 (Reuters) - U.S.-based investment bank Moelis & Co has hired Andrew Pridham from JPMorgan (JPM.N) to head its Australian operation as it moves into equity capital markets and sales, Moelis & Co said on Monday.

Pridham was most recently executive chairman of investment banking at JPMorgan Australia.

John Steinthal would also join Moelis & Co in Australia as head of equities from Edward Baillie Capital.

Moelis provides financial advisory and helps raise capital for firms. It set up shop in Australia in August 2009. (Reporting by Narayanan Somasundaram; Editing by Mark Bendeich)