New Team Seeks Investment Opportunities Related To Greater China
CHICAGO, March 4 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Baird Private Equity, the global private equity group affiliated with Robert W. Baird & Co. (Baird), today announced the establishment of Baird Capital Partners Asia (BCPA), an investment team focused on providing growth equity capital to smaller, high potential companies in China or with substantial operations and growth opportunities in Greater China. Baird Private Equity and its affiliates have raised and managed more than US$2.4 billion in venture and buyout capital across the U.S. and European markets.
"We see an attractive number of investment opportunities in Greater China, and BCPA's investment strategy is a natural extension of our proven success in Asia," said Paul Carbone, Director of Baird Private Equity. "As private equity has flowed into China, smaller high potential companies have been left behind. Few investors in the region focused on these size companies can offer the global operating resources and relationships that Baird can provide."
"Baird Capital Partners Asia is well-positioned to support smaller, high growth companies and their management teams as they look to grow their businesses in Asia, Europe and the United States," said Huaming Gu, Partner, Baird Capital Partners Asia. "BCPA is the ideal partner for companies in China that want access to our global footprint, financial resources and operating expertise."
The Baird Capital Partners Asia team includes the following professionals and will begin identifying potential investments immediately:
-- Hock Goh, Partner -- Goh has been a Baird Capital Partners' Operating
Partner in China since 2004, and previously served as the President of
SchlumbergerSema's Asia operations and also President of
SchlumbergerSema's Network & Infrastructure Solutions business where he
had global responsibility.
-- Huaming Gu, Partner -- Prior to joining Baird, Gu was a Senior Vice
President at EQT Partners Asia Limited, a Greater China focused buyout
fund and held a number of business development positions in China at
both GE and Emerson Electric.
-- Brett Tucker, Partner -- Tucker, currently a Principal with Baird
Capital Partners ("BCP"), will be relocating to Shanghai. Tucker has
been originating and structuring transactions in the US for the past
four years with BCP. He has been doing business in Asia for over 12
years, including four years living in China in the mid-1990s.
-- Bruce Allen, Chairman of Investment Committee -- Allen previously was
the CEO of AIF Capital Ltd., a Hong Kong-based private equity firm that
managed two private equity funds that invested across Asia. Allen has
over 10 years of direct investment experience in Asia managing over
US$1 billion in capital invested in a variety of businesses.
-- Peter Chung, Operating Partner -- Chung joined Baird Capital Partners
in 2003 as an Operating Partner in China and oversees from Hong Kong,
Baird Asia Limited, Baird's China operating team. Chung previously
served as President of Racing Champions Limited, the Hong Kong-based
subsidiary of RC2 Corporation, from 1996 through 2003.
-- June Shen, Principal -- Shen previously was a Senior Vice President
with a US$650 million global fund, based in Shanghai, responsible for
deal sourcing, due diligence, investment reporting, deal negotiation,
and post-deal management. Prior to that, Shen was part of the
investment team at China Merchants & Fortune Assets Co., Ltd.
-- Helen Lin, Associate -- Lin previously was a Senior Financial Analyst
for Baird Investment Banking and Houlihan Lokey, providing analytical
support on equity offerings, mergers and acquisitions and other
financial advisory services. Lin will be relocating to Shanghai.
Through offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, the team will seek growth equity investment opportunities that complement Baird Private Equity's global operating resources and expertise in the Business Services, Manufactured Products and Healthcare sectors.
Baird Capital Partners Asia is the second phase of Baird Private Equity's strategic expansion in China. In 2003 Baird Private Equity established a team of now more than 20 operating professionals in China who have helped more than 15 Baird Private Equity portfolio companies create value through sourcing, manufacturing or distributing in Asia.
To complement that team, Baird Private Equity in 2004 raised Baird Asia Partners I LP, a US$37 million fund focused on co-investing with BCP in U.S. companies with strategic operations in China. A number of portfolio companies, such as Backyard Leisure, The Mayline Group and Xaloy Inc., have enhanced the profitability and efficiency of their Asian operations with support from Baird Private Equity's operating and financial resources.
In addition to the operating resources in China and India, Baird Capital Partners Asia is backed by an international network of relationships, which includes:
-- Baird Private Equity's team of 80 including 45 investment professionals
and 35 operating professionals across the globe providing industry,
strategic, operational and transaction execution expertise.
-- Buyout and venture funds in the United States and Europe.
-- The award-winning research, investment banking capabilities and
industry expertise of Robert W. Baird & Co.
About Baird Private Equity
Baird Private Equity, the global private equity group affiliated with Robert W. Baird & Co. (Baird), makes venture capital, growth equity and buyout investments in the United States through Baird Venture Partners and Baird Capital Partners, in Greater China through Baird Capital Partners Asia, and in Europe through Baird Capital Partners Europe and Granville Baird Ltd, an affiliated fund manager that invests in Germany. Baird Private Equity has 45 investment professionals in the United States, Europe and Asia, and over 20 operating professionals in Asia. Baird Private Equity and its affiliates have raised and managed US$2.4 billion in capital and invested in over 220 companies since the 1980s. For more information, please visit http://www.bairdprivateequity.com.
