First State opens first office in Continental Europe
From Europe Jan 26 2012 BY: Simon Danaher
, Online News Editor
, International Adviser
First State Investments International has opened its first office in Continental Europe.
The company said the new office in Paris, as well as providing an on-the-ground presence, will “help grow and diversify First State’s unlisted infrastructure capability from both the client and investment perspective”.
Since launching its funds in the French market in 2002, First State said it has built relationships with fund-of-fund managers, multi-managers, family offices and insurance companies.
Philippe Taillardat, who was appointed co-head of European Infrastructure Investments in September, will be based at the Paris office together with Eva von Sydow, the firm’s sales director for Europe, who has been supporting First State’s distribution efforts in Europe for almost 10 years.
Gary Withers, regional managing director for EMEA at First State said: “Having our branch offices on the ground on Continental Europe is the natural step in our development. We are committed to this market and intend to broaden our business there in the future.
“As our product range expands and becomes more sophisticated, the branch office in Paris will afford us greater access to the French asset management industry, aiding both the growth and retention of our business in France. A local presence will also help us to develop our existing institutional relationships and acquire new ones.”
Withers added that strengthening First State’s on-the-ground presence in France will significantly enhance the credentials of its European unlisted infrastructure team and will help the group to raise funds, originate investment opportunities in infrastructure and maintain strong relationships with operators of assets across the Continent.