Investment Associate, Asia Event-Driven (Merge Arb & IPO)

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About Your Company

King Deux is partnering with an Asia-focused alternative asset manager with an opportunistic, multi-strategy approach across the capital structure. Established in 2013, the firm applies corporate-finance principles to Asian markets, with deep roots in event-driven and merger-arbitrage investing. The team is based in Hong Kong and works with a sophisticated institutional investor base across Asia, EMEA, and North America. 

About your role

Investment Associate, Event-Driven (Merge Arb & IPO) Full-time · 2 headcounts

We are hiring two Investment Associates for Hong Kong investment team to support the event-driven book. Coverage spans Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and China, alongside Japan where language capability allows. The work centres on IPO lock-up / block situations, M&A arbitrage, and broader corporate events, with robust Excel modelling and clear idea communication. These seats suit candidates from IBD M&A, research, or analyst / trader backgrounds at other funds who want deeper event-driven exposure. Japanese is preferred but not mandatory; Mandarin is not required.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Covering event-driven opportunities across Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and Japan (as language and bandwidth allow), working as an Asia sector generalist.
• Analysing IPO lock-up / block trades, M&A arbitrage, and other corporate events (restructurings, special situations, and related catalysts).
• Building and maintaining robust Excel models: deal math, scenario / sensitivity analysis, probability-weighted outcomes, capital structure, and downside cases.
• Conducting fundamental research on issuers, deal terms, regulatory paths, timelines, and catalyst maps.
• Tracking live situations, updating theses as facts change, and flagging risks (break risk, financing, regulatory / antitrust, lock-up overhang, and soft-catalyst slippage).
• Preparing concise investment memos, screens, and update notes for the portfolio team.
• Supporting idea generation across Asia event-driven and related special situations; coordinating with colleagues covering other markets where needed.
• Monitoring newsflow, filings, and market colour; maintaining clean workpapers and model version control.

What you will need to succeed

• 2–4+ years' relevant experience in investment banking M&A, equity / credit research, hedge-fund / prop trading analyst work, or a comparable buy-side seat.
• Strong event-driven instinct: comfort with M&A arbitrage, IPO lock-up / block dynamics, deal process, and catalyst-driven investing.
• Robust Excel modelling skills — accurate, transparent models that can be stress-tested quickly under time pressure.
• Willingness to be based in Hong Kong and cover Asia as a sector generalist (Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and Japan as relevant).
• English fluency for team communication. Japanese language ability is preferred (for primary research and local-language sources) but not mandatory. Mandarin is not required.
• Clear written and verbal communication; able to defend a view with numbers and a clean risk framework.
• High ownership, attention to detail, and the ability to move quickly when situations evolve.

Advantageous:

• Japanese speaking / reading capability for Japan event coverage.
• Direct experience in merger arbitrage, IPO blocks, or special situations at a hedge fund.
• Prior coverage of Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, or Japan corporate events.
• Familiarity with Asian takeover / listing frameworks across multiple markets.

How to Apply

Interested parties, please send your CV directly to y@kingdeux.com or apply directly.

Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.