KEY POINTS:
Two of Australasia's biggest investment banking names have joined forces.
New Zealand's Cameron Partners and Rothschild Australia - the Australian arm of the global Rothschild empire - have formed an alliance to extend their global reaches.
Rothschild Australia executive chairman and head of investment banking Trevor Rowe said it began looking to establish a presence in New Zealand two years ago because of the high number of Australian private equity players interested in New Zealand companies.
Rowe ran into a partner of Cameron Partners at a private equity conference in Australia and was told how Cameron Partners was already trying to model itself on the Rothschild business.
"That resonated with me so I called Rob."
Rob Cameron, considered to be one of New Zealand's biggest deal makers - he helped float Telecom in the 1990s when he worked for Fay Richwhite and re-structured Air New Zealand after the collapse of Ansett in 2001 - says it was "serendipity" as he was just days away from making the same call.
Both have had many dealings with each other over the years and Trevor says when it comes to investment banking they are industry "veterans".
Cameron says the link-up, which won't involve ownership changes in either business, is the next step in a review and restructure which began seven years ago.
Formerly Cameron & Co, Cameron decided to rebrand and focus on merger and acquisition activity in the mid-market - businesses generally considered to be valued under $150 million.
The company reorganised its management structure and built up its team to between 10 and 12 investment bankers while developing its relationships with financial institutions, banks and the Government.
Cameron said the alliance would allow it to help its New Zealand clients raise money or acquire businesses in Australia and throughout the world using Rothschild's global network. Rothschild has 40 offices in 33 countries.
Likewise Rowe said Rothschild would benefit from being able to put clients interested in specific types of businesses in touch with New Zealand companies.
Cameron said the relationship would also allow staff to move within the business to allow them to extend their experience and international training.
Cameron was this week appointed chairman of a new taskforce put together to develop New Zealand's capital markets.
