CDC IXIS Capital Markets is planning to open an office in Hong Kong in the coming weeks to boost its marketing efforts in Asia. "We're looking to expand our presence in Asia by leveraging on our existing trading, pricing and structuring capabilities for interest rate, foreign exchange, equity, credit and fund underlyings," said Michel Labrousse, senior executive officer in Hong Kong. Labrousse recently transferred from London, where he was deputy branch manager, to spearhead the effort.
Labrousse said marketers will join in the coming weeks with the aim of hiring more marketing and structuring staff early next year. Additionally a team of three structurers will be shifted from Tokyo to focus on derivative products, predominantly linked to fund-related instruments. "As about a third of our business in Asia is being driven by the Hong Kong market we need to establish a local presence," said Fabien Labouret, Asian head of structured alternative investments in Tokyo.
From Hong Kong CDC will target clients throughout the region including mainland China, "We'll definitely cover this market actively," said Labrousse. Trading for Asian underlyings will be executed out of its Tokyo, London and Paris hubs.
