Further focus on transaction advisory services in connection with pension obligations
Mark T. Müller and Andrew Simon expand the management level of the KENSTON GROUP. After both had already jointly taken over the management of the KENSTON companies – KENSTON CORPORATE GmbH and KENSTON GLOBAL Advisory GmbH – at the end of last year and the beginning of this year respectively, the next step is now to be taken. With immediate effect, Mark T. Müller will therefore act as “Head of Client Solutions”, Andrew Simon as “Head of Business Development”.
Mark T. Müller joined KENSTON GROUP from UBS Investment Bank in London, where he was Managing Director responsible for the German capital markets business. Before joining UBS, he spent eight years at Credit Suisse in London and Frankfurt, where he was Managing Director of the German and French fixed income and foreign exchange business. At Lehman Brothers, Mark T. Müller was responsible for the German fixed income business. He began his career at Dresdner Bank in Frankfurt, where he became Head of Interest Rate Derivatives Trading for the Italian Lira, Euro and French Franc in October 1992. He has also attended the Frankfurt School of Finance, is a Certified Credit Analyst (DVFA) and a participant in the FIT program of the Haas School of Business, Berkeley. During his career, Mark T. Mueller has been a trusted advisor to state-affiliated companies such as the KFW, FMSw and the German Finance Agency. Over the last five years, he has spent most of his time developing innovative solutions for the low interest rate environment for his insurance and pension fund clients.
Andrew Simon is co-founder of the Eschaton Opportunities Fund, a hedge fund with a value of over USD 100 million, which focuses on “Global Thematic Value Investing”. Previously, he was head of JP Morgan’s institutional European sales business for the Foreign Exchange and Emerging Markets divisions. He also led initiatives to hedge individual risks and structure assets. Prior to JP Morgan, Andrew Simon was responsible for the global derivatives business at Lehman Brothers and Deutsche Bank’s European foreign exchange options trading and derivatives business. Andrew Simon began his career at Cooper Neff / BNP.
With this step, KENSTON GROUP is also underlining its core specialisation in the form of outsourcing and transaction advice in connection with pension obligations. The purchase and sale of companies and parts of companies continuously employs shareholders and corporations of all sizes. A key component of such sales transactions is regularly the further processing of pension obligations. Pension obligations in particular can lead to deal breakers as a result of pension provisions to be discontinued or continued in the event of improper treatment. This is where KENSTON’s special skills come into play. In this context, the focus of the consulting activities is on ensuring the further treatment and administration of pension obligations entered into in the context of sales processes or internal company restructuring. In addition to the relevant advisory support, KENSTON GROUP – as the owner – also administrates and manages specially set up pension companies for the direct assumption of pension obligations. As a transaction consultant with leading national and international market access, in order to “bring together” buyers and sellers with specific knowledge, not only standard specifications are given, but also effective special solutions are developed and implemented. Mark T. Müller and Andrew Simon will use their market-leading expertise to help shape and further position this focus.