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Can anyone give me pointers on starting an equity Derivative Structuring Team. I'm thinking maybe startup with 3-4 staff. 2 in Structuring, 1 in Research and 1 in Documentation? Anyone who's got experience in starting a team. Location is in Malaysia. Team will look primarily at the Malaysian Market and regional markets i.e. Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Hong Kong. This would be a pure structuring team as the organisation I'm attached with is not ready to take any positions for the time being. Obviously this would make originating deals more difficult.

kevin, I am editing this one nowPlease allow to post my thoughts,since you asked.There are simple points to be noted.1. If you are like many bosses around here,then there is no need of starting a desk. Forget it. Heard that some of the bosses here do not know how to find the delta of a contract and they expect the quants reporting them to respect them. Strange! 2. Origination is good,but then don't think of doing a lot of deals. Structuring depends on How much you are going to pay. A very good quant probably would be a big asset in selling the product to houses(trend is catching up. I had to derive half of HW before a treasurer of a company. We got the deal,ofcourse. He was happy). I consider myself moderately OK. A good one would cost you a lot which you cann't justify in a world of origination only.3. This is not a joke. We have a competitor. They hired three stunners. All MBAs. No quant back ground. They have done business three times that we do in a year(some months still left,oh dear). You see, what matters is also whome to sell and how to sell.So the best COMBOFront - Stunners who can jazz up the pwerpoints.(take the quant with you and tell him/her to keep the mouth shut unless asked to open it)Back - a good quant who loves math,not stunners.The rest is luck. If you follow this diet,please send me some fees (Ringits would do).cheers.P.S. - Oh forgot, why two structuring guys for originations!!! One should do. cheers

having set up a similar type of group last year, I would recomend the following recipe:1 x structurer (someone with heavy structuring or derivs trading background)1 x quant (doesn't neceseraly have to come from the industry, as both the structurer and you should be able to delegate what you need him to do)1 x ops (you'll want a strong middle-office/ops guy who has an understanding of derivs and knows how to book/reconcile all of the stuff you plan on trading)1 x legal (having a lawyer on the front is very useful, as there are all kinds of regulator/tax issuer you'll be confronted with, and drafting the documentation will become much more efficient).

hi, i currently work at a structurer... would you like to discuss further ?please wrtie thanks