RISING STAR OF THE YEAR | THE SHORTLIST DAY 2
LUCKILY for all of us the City is full of rising stars, people we all think will make it to the top. This year’s selection includes Sam Smith, who has been making waves as head of the small cap broker finnCap. We’ve chosen two high-flying lawyers, one investment analyst and a fast rising star from the world of financial public relations.
Don’t miss the City event of the year – get online and book your table for the City A.M. Awards on September 21 at Grange St Paul’s Hotel, London EC4. www.CityAMAwards.com
SAM SMITH FINNCAP
Sam Smith established finnCap in August 2007, leading the buyout of JM Finn small cap corporate finance advisory and institutional broking businesses with some of her own money and cash invested by her team.
After qualifying as a chartered accountant with KPMG in 1998, Smith joined JM Finn to set up its corporate finance division.
She has worked on over 60 transactions, mostly IPOs and secondary fund raisings. She commands huge respect from staff and clients alike and during the downturn has grown market share to make the firm the second largest broker and adviser on the alternative investment market (Aim) by client numbers. “She is fun and interesting, as well as knowledgeable,” said a rival.
BILLY CLEGG
FINANCIAL DYNAMICS
Billy Clegg joined the consumer industries team at Financial Dynamics (FD) in July 2004, where he works on a growing number of clients. He has really come into his own this year.
Clegg joined FD after spending six years at Bell Pottinger Financial, where he worked for BAE Systems, P&O, Reg Vardy, Durlacher and many Aim clients.
He founded the Aim team at BPF and has undertaken eight Aim IPOs there. He has this year worked on the planned flotation of Ophir Energy. He also advised Edward Bramson on the EGM requisition to become chairman of F&C Asset Management in February 2011.
He is married with two daughters and is widely considered to be one to watch in financial PR.
OLIVER HOLBOURN
BOA MERRILL LYNCH
Oliver Holbourn has had a fantastically productive year at BoA Merrill Lynch, where he is responsible for execution of equity capital markets. He has been at the firm for over 11 years and joined straight from Oxford University, where he studied for a BA (Hons) in Jurisprudence. Since Holbourn took over responsibility for running the desk in 2007, he has overseen the successful execution of over 175 deals raising total equity capital of circa $310bn.
Recent landmark transactions in the last 12 months include the IPO of Glencore where the bank was a joint bookrunner; the $7.2bn Intesa San Paolo rights issue; the National Grid rights issue and the $5bn Danske Bank rights issue. He is widely regarded by colleagues.
LEANNE HOARE
LINKLATERS
Leanne Hoare’s performance for Scottish clients Standard Life (on its demutualisation and IPO) and Bank of Scotland (on its Savoy Hotel and Fairmont Monte Carlo investments) attracted City attention and, since joining Linklaters, Leanne’s star has continued in the ascendancy.
Playing a key role in disentangling RBS from the ABN AMRO Group and, more recently, completing Linklaters’ first transaction for Alliance Boots and global disposals for Schlumberger and Scotts Miracle-Gro, Leanne has excelled in the Magic Circle. Her recent representation of De Beers rounds off a sparkling year. A former national gymnast, clients praise her focus, flexibility and commitment. Irrespective of her stellar reputation, she also stands out for her down-to-earth approach to getting big deals done.
ALEX HAM
NUMIS
Alex Ham, a managing director in corporate broking at the investment bank and broking firm Numis, has been especially active in deals this year.
Ham, 28, has worked at Numis since 2005, and ran the broker’s involvement in the flotations of Horizon and Betfair last year as well as securing the 10 per cent Ocado cornerstone investor in the online grocer’s IPO fundraising.
He is currently advising Investcorp in their announced bid for Opsec, as well as Hugh Osmond’s Horizon in its £527m bid for power firm APR, where he sits on the deal alongside senior colleague Oliver Helmsley.
He is also a senior adviser on corporate broking and equity capital markets to online fashion retailer Asos, global software firm Micro Focus, student accommodation group Unite and Zooplus, the German online retailer.