FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
Messrs. Gray and Rivett will be responsible for further expanding Helix’s North American activities for fund sponsors and sophisticated investors (limited partners). Mr. Gray will join an established New York-based team that includes Managing Directors Mark V. Hallock, Philip S. Kemp, Jr. and Wanda F. Felton. Mr. Rivett will be based in San Francisco and will focus on establishing a West Coast presence for Helix, as well as aid in the integration of its US and UK efforts.
“Helix continues to gain traction in the North American market, particularly the middle market buyout sector,” commented Mr. Hallock. “The addition of Bob and Steve will significantly broaden our presence in the US. Steve’s extensive private equity experience and relationships in the US and UK as a general partner and placement agent, as well as Bob’s expertise, acumen and established profile in the private equity community, further strengthen the Helix offering in North America.”
Mr. Gray’s experience spans more than 22 years in finance in the US and UK. Most recently, he served as a Managing Director focused on private equity with Henniker River Advisors, a broker-dealer providing M&A and corporate advisory services to corporate clients. Prior to Henniker, he was a North American-based partner at Gateway Global Partners Limited, which served as advisor to Cambridge Gateway Fund, a technology-focused venture capital fund which he also helped found. Before his time with Gateway, he was Managing Director and head of private equity at Salomon Smith Barney.
Mr. Rivett has more than 20 years of experience in equity fundraising, including his most recent experience as co-head of the Private Fund Group of Credit Suisse. He was a founding partner and co-head of the Private Fund Group at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, which has since been absorbed by Credit Suisse. Prior to the Private Fund Group, Mr. Rivett spent 10 years at Merrill Lynch.
“I look forward to applying my skills and experience at Helix in order to bring world-class global fund placement services to premier fund sponsors and limited partners in North America,” said Mr. Gray. Added Mr. Rivett: “Helix’s reputation for conducting thorough research and due diligence combined with the resources of Jefferies were key factors in my decision to join.”
Just over two years after joining forces with Jefferies, clients of Helix Associates have closed on 11 funds, raising more than $12 billion. In the past five years, nearly 40 percent of capital raised by Helix has been from investors in North America. Investors have been a mix of public and corporate pension funds, endowments and foundations, insurance companies, financial institutions and fund of funds. Helix remains committed to the growth and development of its global business of placing private equity funds with investors worldwide and intends to continue leveraging its experience and reputation along with Jefferies’ strength in the middle market and relationships in the private equity community.
About Helix Associates
Helix Associates is a leading global placement agent for private equity funds, providing superior service to private equity firms. Founded in 1993, the firm's reputation is based on discriminating fund selection, thoughtful and balanced research, rigorous due diligence, and effective project management. This approach has generated a consistent track record of successful outcomes. Each year, Helix acts as the placement agent for a select number of high-quality private equity funds. Helix has developed relationships of trust with institutional investors and major family offices throughout the world. This network is strengthened and expanded through Helix’s agreements with its global partners in regional markets. Helix Associates is operated in the UK as Helix Associates Limited, an indirect subsidiary of Jefferies International (Holdings) Limited, and in the US as Helix Associates, a division of Jefferies & Company, Inc. Helix Associates Limited is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Services Authority. For more information, visit www.helix-associates.com.
About Jefferies
Jefferies, a global investment bank and institutional securities firm, has served growing companies and their investors for 45 years. Headquartered in New York, with more than 25 offices around the world, Jefferies provides clients with capital markets and financial advisory services, institutional brokerage, securities research and asset management. The firm is a leading provider of trade execution in equity, high yield, convertible and international securities for institutional investors and high net worth individuals. Jefferies & Company, Inc. is the principal operating subsidiary of Jefferies Group, Inc. (NYSE: JEF; www.jefferies.com).
For further information, please contact:
Tom Tarrant, Jefferies & Company, Inc., 203 708 5989, ttarrant@jefferies.com
Josh Passman, Cubitt, Jacobs & Prosek, 212 279 3115, jpassman@cjp.com
Desiree Maghoo, Jefferies International Limited, 44 20 7029 8085, dmaghoo@jefferies.com
