UBS Group Strengthens Media and Telecoms M&A Division with Key Hire

UBS Group has made a strategic move to bolster its presence in the competitive media and telecoms mergers and acquisitions (M&A) sector within the Americas. The financial institution has announced the appointment of Evan Raine as the new head of this division, effective April 14th. This hiring is a clear indication of UBS's intent to capture a larger share of the lucrative M&A market in this dynamic industry.

According to an internal memo circulated by Jeff Hinton, global co-head of M&A at UBS, Raine will be based in New York. This geographical positioning underscores the importance of the American market to UBS's overall M&A strategy. Hinton's communication emphasized the strategic importance of this hire, stating, "We are committed to expanding our client relationships and capabilities in this important sector." This statement highlights UBS's dedication to strengthening its ties within the media and telecoms industry.

Raine's professional background reveals a wealth of experience. He joins UBS after serving as Chief Financial Officer at Adams Outdoor Advertising for the past two years. Prior to that, he spent a significant portion of his career at Barclays, where he held various managerial roles within the technology, media, and telecoms group. His 14-year tenure at Barclays, which began in 2008, provided him with extensive exposure to complex financial transactions.

Jeff Hinton's memo further elaborated on Raine's qualifications, highlighting his extensive track record. "Raine has led many high-profile strategic transactions across M&A, leveraged capital markets, and other deals in his more than 30 years of experience."1 The memo also noted that Raine has represented a broad range of industry leaders, including prominent names such as Cox Media Group, Endeavor, Clear Channel, Univision, Verizon, and Sprint. This appointment follows UBS's recent hiring of Ethan Sawyer as global head of media, signaling a concerted effort to reinforce its presence in the media and telecoms sector.