Morgan Stanley is planning to open a new investment banking office in Warsaw, Poland, to offer its clients in Poland and the surrounding region access to international capital markets and corporate advisory services.
The new office will be headed by Marcin Socha, an executive director with responsibility for Morgan Stanley’s investment banking business in Poland. In addition, Morgan Stanley will become a member of the Warsaw Stock Exchange to facilitate direct access to trading in Polish securities for our clients.
Franck Petitgas, global co-head of investment banking at Morgan Stanley, said: “Warsaw is fast establishing itself as a leading financial centre in Central and Eastern Europe. As it opens up to global capital markets, there is considerable demand from Polish clients for investment banking and capital raising solutions, and Morgan Stanley, with its global franchise, network and capabilities, is uniquely placed to deliver such solutions.”
The new office is expected to be opened by the end of 2010 once regulatory approvals have been secured.
In addition, Morgan Stanley has appointed Gergely Voros and Dmitri Avdeev as co-heads of investment banking for Russia/CIS, effective June 7. Both will be based in Moscow.
Mr Voros has 13 years of investment banking experience in Russia and CIS and he has led the origination and execution of capital raisings in the region including, among others, the IPOs OAO Rosneft, Evraz Group, MMK and Eurasian Natural Resources.
Mr Avdeev returns to Morgan Stanley after two years as the chief financial officer at Integra, a publicly-listed Russian oil services company. He brings with him 10 years of investment banking experience in Russia and was responsible for a number of sizeable M&A transactions and equity capital raisings chiefly in the oil and gas and mining sectors.
Elena Titova, president of Morgan Stanley Russia, said: “These appointments underline Morgan Stanley’s long-term commitment to Russia and the region, and come at a time of a strong revival in demand by domestic companies for superior advisory services and flawless capital raisings.”
Mr Petitgas said: “Mr Voros and Mr Avdeev bring to their new roles exceptionally strong capital-raising and advisory capabilities and a wealth of experience, which will be of great benefit to clients of Morgan Stanley in the region and those attracted to the area’s vast investment potential.”