News

A boutique advisor set up by the former head of European investment banking at Jefferies is launching a new technology unit in London.

Bacchus Capital, which is led by Peter Bacchus — a former senior dealmaker at Jefferies, who was also global head of metals and mining investment banking at Morgan Stanley — has hired Chris van Wyk as its new head of technology banking advisory, it said in a statement.

Van Wyk has spent much of his career in technology firms, with previous roles including chief executive of Luxembourg-based clean technology firm, Weteq. He has also held senior positions in venture capital firms set up by Mitsubishi Corporation. His focus is likely to be on technology that dovetails with the natural resources sector, and will be based in London.

The hire marks a new direction for the boutique advisor, which has largely focused on advice and investment within the metals and mining space. Bacchus Capital counts a number of banking veterans among its ranks, and recently expanded into North America with the hire of Steven Latimer, who was previously head of Canadian investment banking at Jefferies.

Peter Bacchus, chairman and chief executive of Bacchus Capital, said in the statement that “themes around battery technologies, environmental technology and automation and artificial intelligence, resonate deeply within the natural resources space, and are increasing in importance.”