Direct Access Partners, an institutional agency-only brokerage firm providing multi-asset trade execution and support services, has acquired the capital raising team of Channel Capital Group.

Channel Capital Group and its data licensing agreements were acquired from the parent company.

Since 2001, the team has assisted in the capital raising efforts of hedge fund strategies across the alternative investment spectrum by marketing hedge fund managers to institutional investors around the world. Over the last several years this team has raised over USD1.4bn.

“This group brings a unique skill set that understands the full life cycle of an allocation,” says Ben Chinea, chief executive of Direct Access Partners. “From marketing, prospecting, qualifying and closing, this team has a demonstrated track record of being able to move prospects into a qualified pipeline and then closing the deals.”

Each member of the sales team brings over 15 years of financial experience providing institutional-level service to both clients and hedge fund managers.

The team is headed by George Lucaci (pictured), senior managing director, and includes Eric Blessing, managing director, Tom Boyle, managing director and Edward Kuhnel, vice president.

“As part of Direct Access Partners we now have access to a larger universe of funds that have a real need for capital raising services,” says Lucaci. “We have already received a tremendous level of interest.”