Pimco hires head of asset-based originations for EMEA region

Pimco has boosted its asset-based finance business with a new appointment.

Jason O’Brien has joined the asset manager’s capital markets group as executive vice president, head of asset-based originations, EMEA.

He joins from ATLAS SP Partners where he served as managing director and head of EMEA. Prior to ATLAS, he spent nearly 12 years at Credit Suisse where he was managing director and head of European origination and syndication for structured products.

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He will report into managing directors Rick LeBrun and Kris Kraus, and will be based in London.

“Jason’s extensive background in originating, structuring, and financing specialty finance assets will be instrumental in further enhancing Pimco’s asset-based finance business in EMEA for the benefit of clients,” said the firm.

It emerged last October that Pimco had raised more than $2bn (£1.6bn) for its asset-based lending strategy, according to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

According to the filing, two investors are behind the new funding, although their names were not disclosed. The filing described the strategy as a pooled investment fund, which is not being made in connection with a business combination transaction, such as a merger, acquisition or exchange offer.

Earlier this year, Pimco portfolio manager Kris Kraus described specialty finance as “an expanding world of opportunity.”