John Paul McGrath Joins Close Brothers

John Paul McGrath has joined Close Brothers as a managing director focused on expanding the firm’s European financial services coverage into the UK. He has spent the past nine years with NM Rothschild & Sons.

PRESS RELEASE

Close Brothers, one of Europe’s leading independent corporate finance advisers, has appointed John Paul McGrath as a new Managing Director to expand its European financial services (FIG) sector coverage team into the UK.  Based in London, John Paul and his team will complement Close Brothers’ existing FIG expertise in France, Germany, Spain and Switzerland.

John Paul McGrath joins Close Brothers from NM Rothschild & Sons Limited where he has focused on financial services since 1999. He has extensive experience in the FIG sector with a particular focus on the Asset Management and Insurance markets.  Past experience includes advising Fabien Pictet & Partners in relation to a dispute with The Ukraine Opportunity Trust PLC; advising Credit Agricole on the disposal of Phoenix Metrolife; advising AMP/Henderson on its demerger; advising the Rothschild family on the disposal of Rothschild Asset Management; and advising Charterhouse on the disposal of Charterhouse Securities.

Prior to Rothschild, John Paul worked at Samuel Montagu and latterly with HSBC’s FIG advisory team in London.

John Paul is the sixth senior hire Close Brothers has made in the last twelve months and forms part of Close Brothers’ continued European expansion.

FIG transactions Close Brothers has advised on in recent years include advising Saga on its ownership options, culminating in its £6.2bn combination with the AA; and advising both Equitable Life and the bondholders of Gerling Insurance in Germany on a series of bond buy backs.  In Spain, Close Brothers has advised both financial institutions and insurance companies on half of the c.20 currently existing bancassurance agreements; as well as being the sole advisers to Mapfre, the largest Spanish insurance company, on transactions such as its demutualisation (€ 3.0bn) and on the creation of MAPFRE – Caja Madrid Holding (€ 1.2 bn).

Commenting on John Paul’s appointment, Stephen Aulsebrook, Chief Executive of Close Brothers Corporate Finance, said:

“We are delighted to welcome John Paul to Close Brothers.  His appointment forms part of our continued expansion into new sectors and into new European regions. We are tremendously excited by the prospect of expanding our FIG practice into the key UK market.  In today’s rapidly changing world clients need specialist independent advice to guide them through these tough conditions, limit risk and position them ready to take advantage of opportunities when they arise.”

John Paul McGrath commented:

“Close Brothers has a reputation for providing excellent corporate finance advice, ranging from M&A to debt advice and restructuring.  I look forward to building the Close Brothers FIG franchise in the UK and further expanding the sector presence throughout Europe. Close Brothers’ independent advisory platform perfectly positions us to advise a broad range of financial institutions in these difficult times and in the years to follow.”

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Close Brothers (www.cbcf.com) operates as an autonomous and independent business unit within Close Brothers Group plc, the largest listed UK investment bank. Headquartered in London, it operates internationally, employing more than 200 professionals across Europe. Close Brothers has a strong international reach through its offices in France, Germany, Spain and Italy and through Close Brothers International, an affiliate network of independent corporate finance houses in all major financial centres across the globe.

Close Brothers offers independent corporate finance advice in six primary areas: Mergers and Acquisitions; Special Situations Corporate Finance (including corporate restructuring), Debt Advisory, Private Equity Coverage, IPO Advisory and Pensions Advisory.