Qatalyst Group, the San Francisco-based technology-focused merchant banking boutique launched last March by the controversial one-time technology guru Frank Quattrone, has announced the
Qatalyst Group, the San Francisco-based technology-focused merchant banking boutique launched last March by the controversial one-time technology guru Frank Quattrone, has announced the appointment of Jean Tardy-Joubert, former head of Merrill Lynch’s European technology group, as a partner and head of European investment banking.
Tardy-Joubert will open Qatalyst’s London office, where he will advise technology companies and private investment firms on mergers and acquisitions, financings and strategic investments, and play a major role in the firm’s global communications technology and semiconductor practices.
‘Jean is one of the most talented technology bankers of his generation, highly regarded by clients and colleagues, and a perfect fit with our culture of high impact, candid advice and excellent client service,’ says Quattrone (pictured), Qatalyst’s chief executive and a former colleague of Tardy-Joubert, adding: ‘I am personally thrilled to be working with him again.’
Qatalyst Group provides high-end merger and acquisition and corporate finance advice to technology companies globally, and makes selective principal investments, typically alongside venture capital and private investment firms.
The firm’s clients have included Google, which it advised on Microsoft’s USD45bn attempted hostile takeover of Yahoo!, and Brocade Communications Systems, which it advised on restructuring and completing the USD2.6bn acquisition of Foundry Networks.
Quattrone began his investment banking career in 1977 and specialised in technology at Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse First Boston before falling foul of the collapse of the hi-tech bubble at the beginning of the century, when he was accused of having inflated the value of technology firms he helped to bring to market through his research output.
He was subsequently convicted of obstructing a legal investigation into investment banking practices at CSFB before the judgement was quashed on appeal, and a ban from the securities industry was overturned.
Tardy-Joubert, 39, began his banking career at Deutsche Bank in 1993, and brings more than 12 years of technology banking experience to Qatalyst, having led the European technology investment banking groups at Merrill Lynch and CSFB.
His clients have included ADVA, Alcatel, Alvarion/Floware, Bosch, Cambridge Silicon Radio, ECI Telecom, Ericsson, Marconi, Nokia, NXP/Philips, Psion, Siemens, STMicroelectronics, Tenovis, Virata/Globespan, Vivendi, Wavecom and Xyratex.
Carl-Henric Svanberg, chief executive of LM Ericsson, says: ‘Jean has been advising us on a series of strategic matters over the last few years. My team and I have very high regard for his industry knowledge and candid advice in the matters we have been involved in, and I have absolutely no doubt that his new venture with Qatalyst will be successful in Europe.’
Egon Durban, managing director of private investment firm Silver Lake adds: ‘We at Silver Lake have benefited from Jean’s deep sector knowledge and transaction expertise in evaluating and closing complicated European transactions.’
Qatalyst Partners, the group’s investment banking business, provides merger and acquisition and corporate finance advice to technology companies globally. Qatalyst Capital Partners, its investment business, makes principal investments, mostly alongside venture capital and private investment firms.
