|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 4 January 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Singapore-based research firm expands Amba Holdings Ltd., a Singapore-based research firm floated by four experienced executives in Asia's financial sector, which set up operations in Sri Lanka late 2002, is expanding to cater to the demand from financial houses based in London and New York. Amba is an independent provider of investment research services with clients in the financial services industry. Its competitive advantages stem from the CVs of the four founders who collectively contribute 35 years of international management experience: Andrew Houston, ex-JP Morgan and Jardine Fleming Head of Asia Equity Research; Mohan Alexander, ex-Deputy Head of Deutsche Bank Asia Research; Brad West, ex-Head of Deutsche Bank Global Emerging Markets Equity Research and Head of Asia Equity Research for both Deutsche and CLSA Emerging Markets; and Anand Aithal, ex-Goldman Sachs Asia Strategist and Head of Goldman's Indian equities JV. Before choosing Sri Lanka, the Amba Research founders canvassed four other countries - India, Malaysia, Singapore and Philippines - over a two-month period. Thanks to the efforts of Sanjay Kulatunga, the local partner who formerly worked for Houston at Jardine Fleming, Amba chose Sri Lanka. Houston said: "Of all the countries we were considering, the partners probably knew the least about Sri Lanka. However, when we visited Colombo last May and met senior government officials, telecommunication executives and IT companies, we were convinced that Sri Lanka offered most of the features we were seeking. The one disadvantage is the comparatively small labour market". However, he pointed out that Independent Research (Pvt) Ltd (IRPL), AMBA's Lankan operation, do not need a huge labour pool to thrive. "We are in the quality, not quantity, game," he said. IRPL's partners formerly ran regional and global equity training programmes for their respective investment bank employers. IRPL analysts benefit from the modernisation and customisation of these programmes, which touch on every aspect of the process of equity analysis and the effective communication of the results of analysis. Only on successful completion of their training are IRPL Associates qualified to begin working on behalf of very demanding clients. Houston and Kulatunga said that every recruit will get an opportunity to experience how sophisticated financial markets function as they will be working with professionals with an international background. Kulatunga said the training every recruit gets at IRPL will open up tremendous opportunities. The qualified and talented financial professionals of our country will get an opportunity to put their skills into test with Amba opening their doors in Sri Lanka, he added. Houston concluded by saying that Independent Research was an equal opportunity employer. To date, IRPL has hired graduates from both local and foreign universities with Associate recruits ranging in age from early 20s to early 30s. The factors recruits shared in common were a record of high achievement, the prerequisite skill set to satisfy demanding clients and the urge to succeed. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
