Daiwa Securities` North American M&A team joins Sagent Advisors

The team of eight professionals, led by Masayasu Kodama, 45, forms Sagent's Japan Focus Group, which will specialize in cross-border M&A transactions between Japan and North America.

This integration further formalizes the strategic alliance between Sagent Advisors and Daiwa Securities SMBC Co. Ltd. ("Daiwa SMBC"), one of Japan's leading providers of financial services. In April of this year, Daiwa America Corporation, the U.S. holding company subsidiary of Daiwa Securities Group Inc. ("Daiwa Securities Group"), acquired just over 20 percent of Sagent Advisors stock for $52 million. Daiwa Securities Group has two representatives on Sagent Advisors' seven-person Board of Directors, including Mr. Kodama.