Private equity specialist Advent International has opened an office in Shanghai, China.
The office is led by Filippo de Vecchi, managing director and co-head of Greater China, and Andrew Li, principal and co-head of Greater China.
Advent China will provide local market support to existing global portfolio companies looking to expand in the country through both organic growth and acquisitions. In line with the firm’s investment strategy, the team will invest in leading Chinese companies that operate in Advent’s core sectors (with a focus on chemicals, healthcare, and retail, consumer and leisure) and that want to implement change, achieve long-term earnings improvement and extend their international reach. In addition, the office in China will assist Advent’s global investment team in assessing and analysing the Chinese business opportunity when carrying out international transactions.
Advent has been involved in the Chinese market for over 20 years and has a team in the Shanghai office consisting of mainly Chinese nationals with extensive cross-sector investment experience in mainland China.
De Vecchi, who heads the Advent China office alongside Li, joined Advent in 2000 and has 13 years of private equity experience. He previously worked in Advent’s São Paulo and Milan offices before moving to Shanghai.
Li has 12 years of finance and private equity experience in the U.S. and China. Prior to Advent, he worked at Warburg Pincus, Solera Capital and Credit Suisse.
De Vecchi says: “Our presence in Shanghai will enable us to offer management teams operating in China direct access to our global network, sector knowledge and investment expertise, helping them to achieve their expansion plans and deliver sustainable performance over the long term. With a dedicated local team, we are also able to support our Advent colleagues around the world in assessing the value creation potential of the Chinese market for their investments.”