SunGard, eFront update their software products

• Eaton Partners formed a secondary advisory group with the addition of three senior professionals, Michael Pilson, Alexander Mejia and Kevin Imhoff. Pilson, Mejia and Imhoff previously ran the secondary advisory business at Atlantic-Pacific Capital.

• Service providers can now register on Palico, an online private equity networking tool. Service providers can create profiles describing their expertise, areas of operation, and the backgrounds and specialties of their professionals. The profiles are featured in the SP Directory that Palico’s GP and LP members can see.

• Ipes, the European fund administration firm, appointed Chris Merry as its chief executive. Prior to this role Merry worked as chief executive of RSM Tenon before its sale to Baker Tilly in 2013.

• Ipes also entered into a partnership with US-based fund administrator Standish. Under the partnership, Standish and Ipes will work together to share their knowledge, experience and contacts in their respective markets.

• SunGard launched Investran 7, Data Exchange and Insight, which connects a GPs front, middle and back office data to help improve LP and regulatory reporting efficiency and overall data management. The new version gives LPs detailed capital account analysis and interactive reporting on investment details.

• eFront, a provider of software solutions for alternative fund managers, launched version 9.0 of its FrontInvest product. The new version has a range of added functionality, including a new compliance module designed specifically for the Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD).

• Placement agent Monument Group opened two new Asia offices in Hong Kong and Tokyo.

• Investec Specialist Bank hired Helen Lucas to its growth & acquisition finance team. Lucas joins Investec from Barclays where she has worked since 2007, most recently as a vice president in the bank’s debt finance origination team.

• Valuation specialists Duff & Phelps appointed Steve Billot and Keith Marshall as managing directors within the firm’s global restructuring practice. Billot, formerly of RSM Tenon, is based in the firm’s London office, and Marshall, formerly of Baker Tilly, is based in the Leeds office.

• Guernsey-headquartered fund administrator International Administration Group established joint ventures in both Hong Kong and Singapore with financial services provider the Tricor Group.

• BNP Paribas Securities Services hired José Placido as co-head of sales and relationship management until January 1, 2015, when he will become the team’s sole global head. Placido will lead the group alongside Charles Cock, the current head of client development, who will become vice-chairman, international, a new role effective until January. Placido was previously chief executive of custodian bank RBC Dexia.

• BNP Paribas Securities Services also hired Linda Morsia as head of its depositary banking business in the UK. Morsia joins from State Street Trustees, where she was head of client management, sales and business development.

• Kevin Wills joined turnaround advisory group AlixPartners as a managing director and chief financial officer. He previously was chief financial officer and executive vice president of high-end retailer Saks.

• Private equity software provider DealCloud partnered with private equity and hedge fund administrator ISIS Fund Services. ISIS clients will now be able to use DealCloud’s software.

• Steve Jones and Eric Karp joined Oak Hill Advisors as New York-based senior advisors, with a focus on private lending. Jones previously was president of specialty finance at Plainfield Asset Management, while Karp was a senior advisor to Sankaty Advisors.

• AT Kearney hired Mark Anglin, Michael Dart, and Todd Hooper as partners for its private equity practice. All three join from rival management consulting firm Kurt Salmon.

• Rachael Lyon joined Langham Hall to head the fund administrator’s UK depositary business. Prior to joining Langham, Lyon worked at Aviva Investors and was responsible for the fund accounting and reporting for real estate funds.

• Investment bank Keefe, Bruyette & Woods named Halle Benett as co-head of diversified financials investment banking. Previously, he worked at private debt firm Ares Management where he worked as senior advisor.