New Zealand-based boutique advisory firm Jarden opens Sydney office

Initially, the group will have just analyst coverage out of Australia, but it may later extend to a full equities offering.

New Zealand-based boutique advisory firm Jarden is about to take on its Australian rivals this side of the Tasman as it opens a Sydney office.

Traditionally, Jarden, which has recently changed its name from First NZ Capital, has worked on Australian deals with Credit Suisse, which it counts as its global strategic alliance partner.

However, it is understood that the firm, run by James Lee, is eager to fill what it believes is a gap in the Australian small- to mid-cap market with respect to analyst research.

An office opened here just over one month ago.

Initially, the group will have just analyst coverage out of Australia, but it may later extend to a full equities offering.

Working for Jarden in Australia will be small cap analyst Wassim Kisirwani, who left Deutsche Bank when the German-based financial opted to close its equities operations internationally.

Jarden is one of New Zealand’s major corporate advisory firms and is currently advising on the sale of AMP’s New Zealand wealth management arm, which will start next year.