Lichauco to head Siemer & Associates' Asian operations

MANILA, Philippines - Siemer & Associates LLC (S&A), a leading US-based merchant bank serving the digital media, software and technology industry, recently tapped long-time industry veteran, Filipino venture capitalist and investment banker Martin Lichauco, to head its Asian operations. Concurrent to his responsibilities as managing partner of multi-awarded cross-border venture capital firm Global Gateway Venture Capital (G2VC), Lichauco joins S&A as managing director. S&A’s venture capital arm, Siemer Ventures invested in a number of investments Lichauco had seed funded through G2VC including Morphlabs and MaestroDev, both of which have successfully penetrated the global tech arena.

Another common investment by both Siemer Ventures and G2VC is Exist, one of Asia’s leading software engineering firms, which continues to gain traction in the local market aside from its extensive track record of providing service to Fortune 500 companies.

S&A’s foray into Asia fulfills its vision of becoming a global boutique technology bank, able to better serve mid-market companies internationally. S&A’s expansion into Asia could not have come at a better time. The merchant bank’s recent slew of cross-border M&A transactions – over half of S&A’s deals in 2011 – exemplifies market trends that necessitate a greater presence overseas.

Lichauco brings to S&A his expertise in assisting global-facing start-ups and his ability to recognize disruptive technologies emerging from Asia. Lichauco has more than 15 years of cross-border private equity and venture investing experience, having worked at H&Q Asia Pacific, formerly a division of the US investment bank Hambrecht & Quist (H&Q) and Walden International where he served as country manager for several years. Both H&Q and Walden are recognized as the pioneers of US-style venture investing in Asia. Lichauco’s previous investment banking experience included stints with the ING Group and AO Capital Partners.

“I look forward to working with such a dynamic team,” said Lichauco. “We share the same approach in structuring transactions and have the same vision for the future of the industry, which will translate into one seamless financial operation.”

 “With major tech corporations developing and expanding at an ever-increasing pace throughout the world, Martin’s addition to our firm provides an essential component for doing business in today’s marketplace,” said David Siemer, managing director at S&A. “It is rare to find such a like-minded individual on the other side of the world, and we are delighted that he’s joining S&A to provide top notch financial services to even more clients.”

Lichauco obtained his MBA with Honors from the Arthur D. Little School of Management in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts and is an Economics graduate from the Ateneo de Manila University.