Deutsche Bank’s Global Banking division has appointed Henrik Aslaksen and Brett Olsher as global co-heads of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A).
Aslaksen and Olsher replace Tony Burgess, who is retiring from Deutsche Bank to return to Australia, and Jim Stynes, who becomes global chairman of M&A.
Aslaksen joined the M&A team at Deutsche Bank in 2002 and was appointed to the role of co-head of M&A for Europe in 2007. He has played a key advisory role in many significant cross-border and defence mandates for the bank including recently advising Pernod Ricard in its $9 billion acquisition of Vin & Sprit from the Kingdom of Sweden; SSAB in its $4 billion divestiture of IPSCO Tubulars to Evraz Group and TMK; Softbank in its acquisition of Vodafone Japan for $17.2 billion; the successful defence of Scania against MAN’s $13 billion hostile offer; and the Arcelor/Mittal Steel 33 billion transaction.
Olsher joined Deutsche Bank in 2001 as global head of Metals and Mining Corporate Finance before taking on the role of global co-head of Natural Resources in 2004. He took on the additional role of Co-Head of Global Industry Coverage in 2007. Since joining the bank Olsher has been the lead adviser on a number of landmark transactions including TATA Steel’s 5.1 billion agreed takeover of Corus; Xstrata’s $18 billion acquisition of Falconbridge; and the Arcelor/Mittal Steel 33 billion transaction. He was also a key adviser in BHP Billiton’s AUD7.8 billion acquisition of WMC Resources and to SSAB in its $4 billion divestiture of IPSCO Tubulars to Evraz Group and TMK.
“Henrik and Brett are two outstanding bankers who have strong relationships with many of our key clients and exceptional track records on major deals. They have played key roles in building the Deutsche Bank M&A franchise and have been integral to linking Client Coverage and M&A in pursuit of our business objectives. Maintaining and deepening this link will be vital as we drive our M&A franchise to the next level. With these appointments I am confident we will continue the momentum we have achieved under Tony Burgess and Jim Stynes as we build M&A market share around the world,” says Michael Cohrs, head of Global Banking, Deutsche Bank.
Aslaksen and Olsher will remain in London and will report to Cohrs.