Dunedin-backed Hawksford, the international corporate, private client, and funds business, today announced the acquisition of corporate services provider People & Projects Limited (P&P). The acquisition increases Hawksford’s Asian presence, giving the company new representation in China and Japan, building on its existing presence in Singapore and Hong Kong.
This is the sixth acquisition that Hawksford has made since it was backed by UK private equity house Dunedin and will significantly boost Hawksford’s geographical presence in Asia. The deal takes the company’s total headcount to more than 400, with 200 employees now based in Asia. Hawksford’s international clients will now have access to a greater depth of service across Asia, while P&P clients will be able to utilise Hawksford’s wider services in other locations.
Hawksford established a presence in Asia in March 2014 through the acquisition of Janus Corporate Solutions in Singapore, and expanded its Asian operations through organic growth in Hong Kong and a MAS regulated private wealth business in Singapore.
Michel van Leeuwen, Group Chief Executive of Hawksford, said, “Hawksford’s acquisition of P&P fits in with our strategic aim of having a truly pan Asian corporate services platform. Fifty percent of Hawksford’s employees are now based in Asia, underscoring the importance of the region to our operations and we are particularly pleased to have secured operating capability in a number of Chinese cities. Increasingly, corporate clients want to have access to our services across all of Asia as they look to expand their own businesses across the region.
Shaun Middleton from Dunedin who sits on Hawksford’s board commented: “The growth of the business in Asia shows Hawksford’s commitment to strengthening its international presence and forms part of the ongoing active expansion programme. Buy and build is a key driver for Dunedin backed growth and this is the sixth acquisition that Hawksford has completed since we backed the business. Hawksford has an exciting future ahead with significant opportunities in the pipeline.”
P&P is a corporate service provider with 140 employees operating out of ten offices across Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, Changshu, Shenzhen, Tokyo, Barcelona, and Milan. P&P provides back office and outsourcing support to a blue chip, international client base. The company has a strong track record in supporting European and international businesses to expand into Asia and navigate the complexities of doing business in the region, particularly China. The client-orientated company has a solid reputation for providing accounting, tax and corporate services in native languages, including English, Italian, Spanish, German, Mandarin and Cantonese.