US firm Mesirow Financial is planning to open a Hong Kong office in Q4 this year as it expands its global reach into Asia, streghthening its client relationships and capabilities within the region.

Mesirow Financial Hong Kong Limited will be a subsidiary of Mesirow Financial Holdings, and will be initially staffed with senior investment professionals and client relationship personnel of the firm’s fund of hedge funds division, Mesirow Advanced Strategies.

“Being on the ground in Hong Kong will provide many benefits to our clients,” stated Marty Kaplan, CEO Mesirow Advanced Strategies. “It will foster stronger relationships with our existing client base in Asia, which represents approximately 30% of our assets under management. It will also strengthen our research capabilities by enhancing our market knowledge within the region and providing for greater sourcing opportunities in selecting Asian hedge fund managers.”

 With the opening of the Hong Kong office, Mesirow Financial will now have a presence in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East – the move follows the firm’s joint venture partnership with Mubadala Development Company in Abu Dhabi in February 2011, and the opening of a London office in June 2007.

“An unwavering trend in our industry has been globalization,” said Richard Price, CEO of Mesirow Financial. “In order to serve our increasingly international client base, it is critical to have local presence in all major markets.”