BDA and BOCOM announce strategic partnership for crossborder M&A involving China

NEW YORK and BEIJING – Business Development Asia LLC ("BDA") and Bank of Communications Ltd ("BOCOM") have entered into a strategic partnership agreement to co-operate on cross-border M&A transactions involving Chinese companies. This agreement will offer BOCOM enhanced access to BDA's global platform and network of contacts, which BOCOM can use to enhance the M&A dealflow for its client base of leading Chinese state-owned and private enterprises. The partnership will also supplement BDA's strong contact network across Greater China. The partnership means that both firms' M&A clients will be introduced to the optimal investors and strategic buyers and sellers, regardless of location. BDA already enjoys a successful global partnership with William Blair & Company.

BDA is a leading independent pan-Asian middle-market investment banking advisory firm. It was founded in 1996 and led by Euan Rellie, Charles Maynard, and Andrew Huntley, who continue to manage the firm. BDA advises on international mergers and acquisitions, and provides advisory services for blue-chip corporate and financial sponsor clients. BDA today employs 75 professionals across nine countries. BDA specializes in cross-border transactions with enterprise values up to US$1 billion, involving Asia.

Charles Maynard, co-founder and Senior Managing Director of BDA, said, "We are delighted to be partnering with BOCOM, one of China's five leading commercial banks. We see tremendous opportunities from bringing BOCOM's comprehensive China national coverage into focused contact with BDA's M&A expertise and worldwide reach".

Shan Yue, a Director in BDA's Shanghai office, will be leading the partnership from BDA's side.

About Bank of Communications Ltd
Established in 1908, Bank of Communications (BOCOM) boasts a long history in China. It was one of the first banks to issue banknotes in modern Chinese history. Listed on the Stock Exchanges of Hong Kong in 2005 and Shanghai in 2007, BOCOM is the fifth largest commercial bank in China, with over 3,000 branches spanning 200 cities. BOCOM also has a network of international branches and representative offices in global financial centres such as Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, London, Frankfurt, Sydney and San Francisco. BOCOM recorded revenues of US$24bn in 2012, and had an asset base of over US$850bn. It ranked 326nd among Fortune 500 companies in 2012 revenues. www.bankcomm.com

About BDA
Business Development Asia LLC ("BDA") is a leader in cross-border investment banking in Asia. BDA advises on M&A, capital raising, and restructuring. BDA has been consistently owned and managed by the same team since 1996. BDA has a track record of providing independent advice to blue-chip corporate and financial sponsor clients from North America, Europe and Asia. BDA was named Investment Banking Firm of the Year by The M&A Advisor in both 2012 and 2010. BDA is headquartered in New York with offices in London, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Bahrain, Seoul and Tokyo. BDA formed a partnership with William Blair & Company in 2011. BDA carries out its US securities business through BDA Advisors Inc. BDA Advisors Inc. is a broker-dealer, registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and SIPC. www.bdallc.com www.bdaadvisors.com

For more information, please contact Euan Rellie in New York at +1 212 265 5300, or Shan Yue in Shanghai at +86 21 5407 5580.