Par IsraelValley Desk
Rubrique: Banque & finance
Publié le 30 décembre 2009

Phoenix Corporate Finance Partners (Royaume-Uni). La banque d’investissement ouvre un bureau à Herzliya pour conseiller les deals de l’industrie high tech entre acteurs européens, US et israéliens. Cette nouvelle a été saluée à Tel-Aviv car bien peu de banques d’investissements étrangères ont ouvert des bureaux en 2009 en Israël. Herzliya est l’une des plus importantes villes du Gush Dan, l’agglomération de Tel-Aviv. La partie occidentale de la ville est sur la côte méditerranéenne et possède un port de plaisance et un grand centre de Haute technologie, ce qui lui vaut parfois le surnom de “Silicon Valley” israélienne.—

ISRAELVALLEY PLUS: Phoenix Corporate Finance Partners, a leading European/US investment bank, has decided to open an Israel office “to better serve the innovative and fast-growing Israeli high-tech industry. Phoenix, established in London in March 2003 is a an independent investment banking firm to convergent technology, media, telecom and clean tech companies across Europe, as well as increasingly to clients in the US and Asia. The decision to open a local office follows the recognition that the range and scope of opportunities presented by Israel’s high-tech sector warranted a full-time presence”.

“Israel’s high tech sector, the creativity of its entrepreneurs and the nature of the local VC industry which is predominantly early-stage has created a need for cross-border M&A and private placement expertise for the mid-cap businesses typical of this market”, said Marc Iarchy, Phoenix’s co-founding partner. “This dovetails well with the interests of our US and European clients (strategic buyers, late-stage VCs and private equity funds) who are looking for investment opportunities where there is a proven product, established management and positive cash-flow. These strategic buyers and financial investors are well-placed to help the highly global local businesses consolidate their international presence and grow both organically as well as through acquisitions.”

As it opens its Israel office, Phoenix initially intends to leverage the reputation, track record and relationships it already enjoys, primarily in Europe and the US, to act as financial advisor primarily on cross-border M&A and funding situations involving both European/US and Israeli companies.

Phoenix has appointed David Richardson as a partner to spearhead its efforts in Israel. Richardson is a veteran of the local high-tech industry. Prior to joining Phoenix, he ran a French mobile TV start-up in Sophia Antipolis, France and before that was with NDS in a variety of corporate and business development roles for 13 years and established and ran his own business in the pre-press industry. Prior to his high-tech career David was a journalist, editor and a publisher. He has a background in economics and law and was trained in secure communications in the Israel Air Force.

Commenting on his appointment, Iarchy said: “David brings to our firm a wealth of relationships and experience acquired in fast growing sectors such as new media, broadcasting & mobile TV, embedded security and DRM. David’s career in Israel, Europe as well as the US, over a period of 25 years will make him a tremendous asset as we seek to build on the success Phoenix has enjoyed to date”.

“Local industry, VC-funded and otherwise has grown up and a management class has emerged which can take these firms far beyond the quick-exit model that has been the perceived success story until now” said Richardson. “Israeli managers have shown that they can build companies of $100 million in revenues but that often exceeds the financial and leveraging capacity of their local backers. Phoenix is ideally placed to help meet that need”.

The Israel office will focus on the general technology (hardware and software), media and media technology, telecommunications and clean tech segments, while also building relationships in the medical devices industry. The firm expects to add several senior professionals to work alongside David and focus on other segments of the high-tech industry.

For further information, please contact:
Marc S. Iarchy and Dr. Christopher Jaeger, Tel: +44 20 7898 9223, miarchy@phoenixllp.com and cjaeger@phoenixllp.com
David Richardson, Tel: +972-9-972-1088, drichardson@phoenixllp.com

Phoenix Corporate Finance Partners LLP is a private investment banking firm providing a comprehensive array of investment banking services, principally to middle-market growth companies in the TMT space. The Partners of Phoenix Corporate Finance Partners have over 100 years of bulge-bracket investment banking experience with amongst others Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, Lehman Brothers, and Bear Stearns. The Partners have originated and executed more than 200 transactions during their careers with over $200 billion in transaction value and are dedicated to bringing the breath and depth of this experience to bear for the benefit of their clients. With a portfolio of capabilities that includes Financial Advisory, Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Placements or Debt & Equity, Restructuring & Turnaround Advisory, Valuation Services and Opinions, Phoenix Corporate Finance Partners offers extraordinary resources for its clients seeking sophisticated financial advisory and other investment banking services.