UBS Set to Poach Staff for M&A

During this week’s Davos conference CEO Ralph Hamers, said UBS was looking to hire. Now we know which kind of bankers it is going after.

UBS is looking to bolster its M&A staff, citing people familiar with the plans.

The move contrasts with recent decisions by banks, including Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, to cut staff and reduce investment banking capabilities after last year’s dealmaking slump.

UBS focuses on experienced managing directors at target boutique advisory businesses, which it aims to lure with attractive compensation.

Since the financial crisis Boutique M&A advisory groups such as PJT Partners, Houlihan Lokey, Evercore, Lazard, Greenhill and Robey Warshaw — have been winning market share from traditional bulge bracket investment banks, it added.