DC ADVISORY PARTNERS APPOINTS NEW HEAD OF ITS JAPAN ASIA FOCUS GROUP

Appointment of Tosh Kojima to head the Japan Asia Focus Group

9 September 2010, London – DC Advisory Partners (formerly Close Brothers Corporate Finance), one of Europe’s leading independent corporate finance advisers, has appointed Tosh Kojima as Managing Director and the Head of Japan Asia Focus Group. Based in London, Tosh will be responsible for advising clients pursuing cross-border transactions between Europe and Asia, leveraging also the extensive global network of Daiwa Capital Markets.

Tosh has 15 years of advisory and banking experience, nearly all of which have been dedicated to cross-border work. Tosh joins DC Advisory Partners from Nomura, where he played a pivotal role in driving the growth of their European advisory business through the various stages of development, including the integration of Lehman Brothers’ European business.

He has advised on numerous transactions involving key Asian clients such as the leading automotive component manufacturer NTN on its acquisition of SNR from Renault; Sumitomo Rubber's sale of popular European mattress brands Treca and Dunlopillo; Ricoh on its acquisition of a pan-European print management and outsourcing company Danka; and sale of the OLED (next-generation organic display) business from its inventor Kodak to LG.

This is the second senior appointment that DC has made to its Japan Asia Focus Group in as many months. The appointments form part of DC’s strategy to capitalise on the increased volume of transactions between Asia and Europe; transaction volumes between Europe and Asia has been increasing since the beginning of 2009, with 128 transactions completed in the first six months of 2010.

Earlier this month DC Advisory Partners advised NTT Data Corporation, the leading international IT services and solutions provider, on its acquisition of the UK systems engineering firm Chelford SAP Solution Ltd.

Commenting on Tosh’s appointment Richard Madden, Chief Executive of DC Advisory Partners, said:

“I am delighted to welcome Tosh to DC Advisory Partners. He is an established senior banker, highly experienced in advising on cross-border transactions. Our Japan Asia Focus Group will form an important part of our business over the coming years and Tosh is well placed to advise our clients on opportunities into and out of Asia.”

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