Global private equity specialist HQ Capital has opened a new office in Singapore and appointed Michael Hu as managing director and head of Asia, as part of its commitment, the firm says, “to offering differentiated alternative investment solutions for its growing investor base in the region”.

Hu, who has over 12 years of experience in private equity and 15 years of experience in finance, will lead the investment and business development activities in Asia, further enhancing the expertise and capabilities of the firm’s senior investment team.

Prior to joining HQ Capital, Hu was a managing director at Ardian, based in Singapore, where he was a senior member of the secondaries and primaries investment team and led investor relations and private wealth solutions. Before joining Ardian, he was a principal at Greenhill & Co in Singapore and Hong Kong, where he was responsible for the capital advisory business in Asia-Pacific.

The new Singapore office, the company points out, “will serve the growing base of private wealth and institutional investors in the region, while acting as a gateway for ongoing investment activities in markets like Australia, Greater China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia".

As well, the company has submitted its application for a capital markets services licence, which is currently pending approval, from the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Marc Brugger, the company’s CEO and CFO, adds: “Hu has a great track record in private equity investing, on both a primary and secondary basis, as well as co-investments, and a strong network in the region.”