Baird, the US-based investment bank and asset manager, is to expand its China business in a move that highlights the growing opportunities for mid-sized banks seeking to service deal activity involving mid-market Asian companies.

Milwaukee-based Baird will on Monday announce the launch of investment banking operations in Asia with the hiring of Anthony Yan-Hong Siu, a former senior banker at Standard Chartered in Hong Kong. He will be based in the firm’s Shanghai office and focus on cross-border mergers and acquisitions activity.