BDA appoints new Representative Director for Japan, moves to larger offices, and forms new Japanese entity

March 6, 2007

Business Development Asia (“BDA”) today announced growth initiatives in its Tokyo office. These reflect the firm’s increasing commitment to Japan, and belief in Japan’s strategic and economic importance. BDA recorded record revenues and profits worldwide in Q1 2007. BDA’s Tokyo office has been reorganized as a newly incorporated Japanese joint stock company, called Business Development Asia Kabushiki Kaisha (“BDA KK”). BDA has appointed a new Representative Director in Tokyo. BDA KK has moved to new larger offices, at the address below.

BDA is pleased to announce the appointment of Yuuichiro Nakajima as Representative Director of BDA KK. Mr. Nakajima joined BDA from Crimson Phoenix KK, a Tokyo-based advisory and investment firm. He has 20 years’ experience in mergers and acquisitions advisory and principal investment work. Prior to BDA, he spent 10 years at S.G. Warburg and SBC Warburg (now UBS Investment Bank), Crosby Corporate Advisory, PricewaterhouseCoopers and, since 2003, Crimson Phoenix, which he co-founded and co-managed.

Mr. Nakajima has a bicultural and bilingual background, having grown up, studied and worked in both Japan and the United Kingdom. He will, with immediate effect, join BDA’s Executive Committee. Mr. Nakajima will work closely with BDA’s incumbent Director in Tokyo, Jeff Acton, who will report to Mr. Nakajima. They will together lead the effort to expand BDA’s fast growing business in Japan.

Yuuichiro Nakajima said: “I relish this opportunity to build on BDA’s existing Japan business, and to work with Jeff to bring a fresh perspective to BDA’s team and business here.”

Jeff Acton, Director at BDA KK, said: “I am pleased to bring Yuuichiro on board, to drive forward our growth in Japan. We already enjoy an excellent relationship, having worked together on a number of projects. BDA’s clients are reacting warmly to our new leadership team.”

Charles Maynard, BDA co-founder and Managing Director, said: “Yuuichiro brings to BDA a diverse set of skills, acquired through his extensive exposure to cross-border transactions, a deep understanding of the Japanese corporate market and the entrepreneurial spirit of an independent advisor and investor. We are grateful to Jeff Acton for his success in building the business to date, and for his enthusiasm and support in bringing in a new senior Director and Head of our Tokyo office.”

Euan Rellie, BDA co-founder and Managing Director, said: “BDA has been working closely with Yuuichiro for over a year. We are confident that he is the best qualified investment banker in the Tokyo market to take our Japan business to the next level.”

Andrew Huntley, BDA Managing Director, said: “These moves are designed to position BDA as the leading cross-border M&A boutique in the Japanese market.”

BDA KK continues to service clients inside and outside Japan on mergers, acquisitions, disposals and other corporate transactions in the Japanese market. Further expansion of the Tokyo-based team is planned and the firm is well-placed to take advantage of the increasing volume of cross-border deals which will require independent advice.

BDA KK’s new address is:
Business Development Asia KK
4th Floor
T3 Gates
3-8-25 Toranomon, Minato-ku
Tokyo 105-0001, Japan
Telephone (unchanged): (81) 3 3433 5803
Facsimile (unchanged): (81) 3 3433 5269

About BDA

Business Development Asia LLC was founded in 1996. BDA assists multinational corporate and financial sector clients to identify and execute acquisitions, divestments, JVs, restructuring and capital raising, in Asia and internationally. BDA competes against the leading specialist and boutique investment banks, and against certain consulting firms in its respective markets. Founded in 1996, the company is headquartered in New York with offices in London, Bahrain, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul, and Tokyo. BDA employs 50 full-time professional staff across its eight offices, supplemented by a team of senior advisors around the world. BDA’s client list includes Air Products, Cadbury Schweppes, Celestica, Dow Chemical, DuPont, Ecolab, Great Lakes, Hercules, Huntsman, Inabata, Kimberly-Clark, Lear, Lubrizol, Mars, Morgan Stanley, Nalco, Parker Hannifin, Reuters, Rohm & Haas, Ryder, Siemens, SigmaKalon, Sumitomo Chemical, TATA Auto Components, Tenneco, Tredegar, Visteon, WR Grace, and the British Government. Further information on BDA is available at www.bdapartners.com.

For more information, contact:
Yuuichiro Nakajima, Tokyo (81) 3 3433 5804
Jeff Acton, Tokyo (81) 3 3433 5803
Euan Rellie, New York (1) 212 265 5300
Charles Maynard, New York (1) 212 265 5300
Andrew Huntley, London (44) 20 7655 326