HSBC Republic Investments - part of HSBC Private Bank - has changed its name to HSBC Alternative Investments. According to Jamie Murray, hea...

HSBC Republic Investments - part of HSBC Private Bank - has changed its name to HSBC Alternative Investments. According to Jamie Murray, head of institutional sales and business development, the change in name reflects the way the business has developed into one that is purely focused on alternative investments. According to Mr Murray, since HSBC acquired Republic in 1999, HSBC Private Bank client assets invested in alternative investments had risen to $35 billion as at 30 September 2006. Over the same period, the business had “transformed itself from one primarily focused at private clients to one where institutions now represent approximately 60 per cent of our overall client base, but still remains dedicated to the private client base.” He told WealthBriefing that he saw this as a continuing trend, involving no change of policy but rather a view of the company as being not just a fund of hedge funds but also offering expertise in, for example, private equity.