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UK-based emerging markets specialist Standard Chartered is on a hiring spree. The firm is planning to grow its leveraged finance and M&A team, currently numbered about 100 people, by 25 to 50 percent, StanChart head of corporate finance Sean Wallace told the FT.

Job opportunities are likely to come in the form of more senior roles. Says Wallace, “I have met 12 managing directors who have either substantial M&A experience or have put complicated capital structures together in London or New York who are on the beach and really interested in our platform.”

The entire firm employs about 73,000 and is headquartered in London. Its best performing markets by income are Hong Kong, Korea, Middle East, India, and Singapore.

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