Fimat looks to build alternative investment presence

Fimat Group, Société Générale’s brokerage subsidiary, has formed a New York-based Financial Services Group (FSG) to increase its presence in the alternative investment community.

The team, led by Stephan Solomon and Marc Cohen, will offer hedge fund managers, commodity trading advisers and other hedge fund market groups a suite of services related to both exchange-traded and over-the-counter derivatives products, with a particular focus on fixed-income and foreign exchange markets.

FSG will leverage the various capabilities of Société Générale, including high-end structured products such as equity-linked derivatives, structured notes and other customised institutional derivatives products, Fimat said.

Solomon joins as a senior managing director of FSG, and Cohen becomes managing director. Both Solomon and Cohen join from Prudential Securities.

FSG will also operate an energy trading desk, headed by Ron Caples, managing director of energy trading.

"Together, Steve Solomon and Marc Cohen have more than a quarter century's worth of experience in the alternative investment arena and have fostered relationships with many of the hedge fund industry's foremost players," Patrice Blanc, Fimat’s US chairman, said.

FSG also has an additional seven traders, as well as a three-strong operations team.