DISCREET, small, well-connected and armed with a war chest of over US$1 billion, Hellman and Friedman Asia can afford to be choosy as to how it defines itself.
''We're not an investment bank dammit,'' snapped Mr Mick Hellman, the usually laid-back managing director of the four-employee firm.
''Investment banks compete in beauty contests against others to sell services. We are long-term investors with great franchises and superior management.'' Luring former Jardines taipan Mr Brian Powers to head the group's Asia operations, the firm opened its offices in the territory on October 23 last year.
''We have known Brian since he was in charge of venture capital at the Ford Foundation in the 1970s and are incredibly impressed with his talents,'' said Mr Hellman.
''He wanted to move back into the investment business and got tired of living in New York, so joining us made a lot of sense as we sought to investigate investment opportunities in the region.'' Hellman and Friedman Asia is the Asia affiliate of San Francisco-based investment firm Hellman and Friedman.
Mr Warren Hellman, former president of Lehmann brothers, and Mr Tully Friedman, former managing director of Saloman Brothers, formed Hellman and Friedman in 1984 after becoming disillusioned with Wall Street's fee-driven culture.